By Jupiter Tide Staff
The science center's entrance in a 2013 photo, under its former name, South Florida Science Center and Aquarium. Photo: Joe (Eojmai) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
If crowds and noise make museum trips hard for your family, this Saturday's early hour at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium might help.
The center, at 4801 Dreher Trail N. in West Palm Beach, holds Sensory Saturdays on the first Saturday of each month. The next one is Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 10 a.m., an hour before the center opens to the public.
What's different
The center says the hour is designed for families navigating autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing or cognitive differences, and for anyone else who benefits from accessibility accommodations. During that time:
General lighting is softened and noise levels are lowered.
Visual stimulation on interactive exhibits is limited where possible.
Crowds are smaller, because the public isn't admitted yet.
Sensory kits with sunglasses, noise-canceling headphones and fidget toys are available on request. Return them before you leave.
The building is ADA accessible and wheelchair friendly.
Cost and how to go
Admission for the hour is $5. The center has an RSVP link on its Sensory Saturdays page, but it says pre-registration isn't required. The center opens to the general public at 10 a.m., so families can stay after the quiet hour as it gets busier.
The remaining 2026 date after this one is Saturday, Dec. 5.
Related: Our ideas for the Nov. 11 school holiday: https://www.jupitertide.com/p/no-school-veterans-day-nov-11-kids-jupiter
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Sources
Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Sensory Saturdays: https://www.coxsciencecenter.org/sensory-saturdays
Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Plan Your Visit: https://www.coxsciencecenter.org/plan-your-visit