Museum of Science & Innovation - MOSI

MOSI — the Museum of Science & Innovation — is one of Tampa's most enduring family destinations, a large science museum on East Fowler Avenue that has been entertaining and educating Tampa kids for decades. The facility is genuinely substantial: multiple floors of exhibits, an IMAX dome theater, outdoor areas, and enough content to fill a full day without running out of things to explore.

The hands-on approach is what distinguishes MOSI from a traditional "look but don't touch" museum experience. Exhibits are designed to be interactive — kids launch simulated rockets, manipulate physics demonstrations, explore human anatomy models, and engage with technology displays rather than just reading plaques. This interactive design is what earns MOSI its position as the default school field trip destination for Tampa Bay schools, and it's equally effective for family visits.

The high-wire bicycle is a signature MOSI experience. A bicycle mounted on a thick cable suspended several feet above the ground, balanced by counterweights, lets visitors pedal across — it feels impossibly precarious but the physics of it keep you balanced. For kids ages 7-12 who are willing to try it, it produces a combination of terror and triumph that they reference for years.

The IMAX dome theater shows educational films on a massive curved screen with immersive audio. Shows rotate, so check mosi.org for the current screening schedule. The dome format makes standard documentary content feel dramatic in a way a flat screen can't replicate — space exploration and nature documentaries particularly benefit.

Note the 3.9 Google rating — lower than some venues on this list. The rating reflects a mix of reviews from different eras of the museum's operation and renovation phases. The underlying museum experience is well-regarded among Tampa families; the star rating doesn't fully capture the value for engaged science-curious kids.

Weekday morning visits avoid the school group crowds that can make navigating popular exhibits frustrating.