Beach alternatives for Memorial Day
Jim Abbott: Try Dalí Museum, Harn Museum of Art and more.
As the traditional openingweekend of summer, theMemorialDay holiday is typically celebrated at the beach. If you don’twant to fight the crowds for a square of sand next to the surf thisweekend, there are other options. Here are a few suggestions: TheDaliMuseum Where: 1Dali Blvd., St. Petersburg
What’s cool: Sitting across from theMahaffey Theater, next to Tampa Bay, the museum is distinctive for the “enigma,” a geodesic glass bubble that emerges from the building’s exterior on the waterfront side. Inside, visitors reach the third-floor exhibition space on a helical staircase that reflects Dali’s infatuation with the spirals ofDNAmolecules.
Nearby beach: St. Petersburg Beach is 10 miles west, on Interstate 275 Cost: $21 adults, $15 ages 13-17, $7 ages 6-12 Online: thedali.org The ElliottMuseum Where: 825NEOcean Blvd, Stuart
What’s cool: With itswealth of baseball and automotive history, the ElliottMuseum looks like an attraction designed for guys. The collection includes more than 40Model A Fords among dozens of restored and original automobiles.
Nearby beach: Hutchinson Island is 10 miles north on State Road A1A. Cost: $12 adults, $6 ages 2-12 Online: elliorttmuseumfl.org Harn Museum of Art Where: University of Florida, 3259Hull Road, Gainesville
What’s cool: Check out the museum’s modern works, an ongoing exhibit that features paintings by Claude Monet and Georgia O’Keefe.
Nearby beach: It’s only 60 mileswest on State Road 24 from the college town to the tiny fishing village of Cedar Key. Cost: Free. (The museum is closed o nMondays.)
Online: harn.ufl.edu National Naval Aviation Museum Where: 1750 Radford Blvd., Pensacola
What’s cool: Theworld’s largest naval-aviation museum has 37 acres of outdoor exhibits and 300,000 square feet inside. It’s part of the Pensacola Naval Air Station.
Nearby beach: Pensacola Beach is 16 miles away via State Road 30. Cost: Free
Online: navalaviationmuseum.org
jcabbott@tribune.comor 407-420-6213.