Best Beaches, MOSI Free For Kids, Giant LEGO Exhibit

Getting back into the swing of things after a long weekend is never fun. To help you ease back into the grind, Patch has rounded up stories from the past few weeks that might put a smile on your face:

Artistic Kids Get Into MOSI Free This Summer

Tampa Bay area parents hoping to kick off their kids’ summer vacations with an out-of-this-world adventure can do so for free thanks to MOSI. Between May 27 and June 30, the hands-on science museum in Tampa is offering kids entry at no cost, but there is a caveat.

Sales Tax Holiday Set As Hurricane Season Nears

Floridians who haven’t prepared for the June 1 start of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season may find an upcoming tax holiday of interest. Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed legislation that sets June 2-4 as Florida’s 2017 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.

Siesta Beach, Caladesi Island Named Among America's Best

Just in time for the kickoff of the long Memorial Day weekend, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as “Dr. Beach,” has released his annual roundup of America’s 10 best beaches. Two of those beaches happen to be along the central Gulf Coast of Florida.

Help Needed For Snooty's 3 New Manatee Friends

Snooty, the world’s oldest-known manatee, has three new friends sharing his habitat at the South Florida Museum. Randall, Gale and Baca arrived at the Bradenton museum’s Stage 2 Rehabilitation facility on Wednesday.

Giant LEGO Exhibit Set To Debut In Tampa

Tampa Bay area LEGO lovers will soon get a treat of epic proportions courtesy of the Vinik Family Foundation. The Art of the Brick, a giant, 100-work art exhibit, is set to open next month in downtown Tampa at no cost to the viewing public.

Florida Fire Dog Advances In National Contest

Clearwater Fire & Rescue’s four-legged arson investigator has a nose for sniffing out trouble. He also seems to have a knack for winning over hearts and votes as evidenced by his recent advance into the American Humane Hero Dog Awards’ semifinal round.

Rescuers Save Horse Trapped In Mud (Video)

A 25-year-old Plant City horse is back on solid ground thanks to a team that assembled to save her after she managed to get herself trapped in thick mud Monday night.

Man, 83, Joins Newsome High Class Of 2017

Marty Sullivan was young, adventurous and didn’t like school very much. Bound, set and determined to find something – anything – better to do, he and two buddies walked into a Marine recruiter’s office in Boston hoping to join up and see some action in Korea.

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