How to be cool in South Florida: Our summer guide to indoor fun, from chocolate factory tours to candlelight concerts

South Florida is in the throes of record-breaking heat, making it hard to even consider opening the front door, let alone stepping outside for some summer fun.

So we’ve looked into indoor activities at venues throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties. Whether you want to be educated and entertained in a climate-controlled environment, or comfortably burn off calories, there’s something cool for everyone!

JUST CHILL

Start with art

• The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens , at 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, has a new exhibit, “Take Akari: Bamboo Lights,” on display through Sunday, Sept. 22. The immersive experience was created by Japan-based bamboo craftsman Akihiro Mashimo for attendees to experience a piece of Japan’s festival culture while bringing awareness to the importance of environmental conservation of bamboo forests. Museum admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and military, $12 for college students, $10 for children age 6 to 17, and free for guests age 5 and younger. Visit morikami.org .
• ArtServe , at 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, opens its new exhibit, “Ready-Made: Celebrating Business, Art and Community,” with a reception from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 19. On display through Friday, Sept. 6, “Ready-Made” spotlights crafters, wine-bottle label designers, ceramics enthusiasts, wig makers, jewelry designers, tattoo artists and other artisans whose works often go unnoticed in the art world. The show was open to submissions from artists of all genres. The only rule was that their artwork could not be perishable. RSVP for the free reception at tickettailor.com . Exhibit admission also is free. Visit artserve.org .

Animal encounters

• “Survival of the Slowest ,” a traveling exhibit through Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Museum of Discovery & Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, gives visitors an opportunity to meet species that have evolved to slow down as part of their survival strategy. The exhibit, which is produced by Little Ray’s Exhibitions, includes habitats with live animals and plants, as well as daily presentations with a sloth, tarantula, hedgehog, blue-tongued skink and tortoises, among others. Educational talks take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Museum admission is $27 for adults, $25 for seniors, $24 for military, $22 for guests age 2 to 12, and free for children up to 23 months. Visit mods.org/exhibit/survivaloftheslowest . Meet and greet JJ, the two-toed sloth, with a VIP experience from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27, which includes early-morning access to the museum, breakfast and an IMAX documentary. Cost is $65 for members, $75 for nonmembers (includes museum admission). Advance registration is required at mods.org/slothbreakfast .
• Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center, at 6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, provides education about manatees and the Lake Worth Lagoon. “Manatee Tales: Adventures with Mia and Friends,” a free program for guests age 3 and older, is offered from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every other Saturday throughout the summer. A Manatee Master guides attendees on a short tour of the facility, then heads to the classroom to read from books about marine life. Kids can create and take home a craft based on that day’s book. Register at visitmanateelagoon.com .

Behind-the-sweets tours

• Factory tours are returning to the 5150 Chocolate Co. , at 1010 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach. Set for 1 p.m. every other Saturday starting Aug. 3, participants learn about the chocolate-making process and can ask the tour guide questions. They also will get a free 5150 chocolate bar of their choice and receive a 25% discount on purchases made that day in the retail store. Tickets are $20 at bit.ly/3Y2CJ59 . Enthusiasts can find a variety of chocolate bars, sea salt caramels, peanut butter cups, dark chocolate-covered dried cherries, pecan coffee and vegan options, among other items, in the shop.

• The Bulk Candy Store , 235 N. Jog Road, West Palm Beach, takes visitors through the history of candy on 40-minute tours available weekdays and Saturdays. The journey begins in the retail shop with candy samples, then a guide shows how candy is made and packaged and leads a walk through decorated rooms with two-story ceilings as well as one room covered in candy. Tour participants receive store discounts for candies, chocolate-covered treats, fudge and more than 50 flavors of gourmet popcorn. Admission is $12.95 for guests age 13 and older, $8.95 for guests age 4 to 12, and free for children age 3 and younger. Reservations are required at bulkcandystore.com/tours .

A day at the movies

• The AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater at the Museum of Discovery & Science, 401 SW Second St.,Fort Lauderdale, has a six-story screen showing movies daily, including 2D and 3D IMAX laser projection. Featured this summer is “T. REX,” a documentary narrated by “Jurassic Park” actor Sam Neill. The film is “anchored by the true story of the young fossil hunters who made the discovery of a lifetime when they spotted a large, fossilized leg bone on a walk on public lands in North Dakota, with cutting-edge computer graphics that bring the iconic T. rex — from hatchling to hulking adult — to life,” according to producers Giant Screen Films and D3D Cinema. Visit mods.org/showtimes .
• VIP Cinemas Shadowood 16 movie theater complex has opened at 9889 Glades Road, Boca Raton, after an extensive remodeling of the former Regal Cinemas facility. Moviegoers will find new projection and sound equipment, and refreshed recliner seating, auditoriums and common areas, as well as a hot-food menu. Visit vipcinemas.com/vip-shadowood .

Related Articles

• Things To Do | Summer savings: Don’t ‘pass’ up discounted admission at South Florida attractions

Let them entertain you

• The Broward Center for the Performing Arts , 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale, has shows for all ages — from Christopher Cross at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, to two summer theater camp Disney productions (“101 Dalmatians Kids” and “Newsies JR”). Visit browardcenter.org for information and other events.
• Boca Black Box Center for the Arts , 8221 Glades Road, No. 10, Boca Raton, is offering shows by tribute artists such as Simply Clapton (Friday, July 26), as well as “13 Jr. The Musical” by Barclay Performing Arts (Sunday, July 28) and comedians such as Brian Bates (Thursday, Aug. 1) as part of its summer performance schedule. For a full lineup, visit bocablackbox.com .
• Candlelight Concerts pop up at venues throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties featuring professional musicians performing a variety of genres such as classical, jazz, pop and movie soundtracks. Each venue’s architecture is illuminated by thousands of candles as part of the experience. Upcoming concerts include the Best of Hip Hop on Strings on July 26 and Aug. 23  and A Tribute to Coldplay on July 26 and Sept. 13. Visit candlelightexperience.com for a full schedule.

GET ACTIVE

Jump around

Sky Zone recently opened its 17th location in Florida at the Catalina Shoppes, 729 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, featuring a 32,000-square-foot park that includes a Ninja Warrior Course, Zip Lines, a Toddler Zone, Ultimate Dodgeball and Parkour Blox. Find other South Florida locations in Palm Springs, Pompano Beach, Doral and Cutler Bay. Visit skyzone.com for information about promotions.

Activities on ice

• Baptist Health IcePlex at FTL War Memorial , 800 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale, offers two regulation-sized indoor ice rinks, one of which is open for youth and adult hockey programs, and public and figure skating for all ages. Come out on Friday nights for fun skates from 7 to 9 p.m. with music. The IcePlex is also the practice home of the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers and the Pantherland retail shop. Grab a bite to eat at The Federal restaurant on site as well. Visit ftlwarmemorial.com .
• Boca Ice , 900 Peninsula Corp Circle, Boca Raton, opens up the rink for a battlefield with bumper cars on ice with lasers. To score points, target your opponent’s sensor and watch them spin on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They also offer public and figure skating, hockey leagues and classes, and alpine ski and snowboard lessons at the 73,000-square-foot facility. Visit bocaice.com .

Play pickleball

• The Diadem Pickleball Complex , 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek, does not require a membership to reserve courts, take classes or join a league for players of all ages and skill levels at the indoor facility. Learn from the pros in clinic sessions or register for summer leagues. Sign up for daily open play, including Dinks and Drinks from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays with $3 beers and seltzers and half-priced wine, at diadempickleballcomplex.com .
• Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation is inviting pickleball players of all ages and abilities to get out of the sun and into their air-conditioned gymnasiums for summer hours. Players must register at the front desk and pay a $5 daily fee. (Those younger than 18 must be signed in by a legal guardian.) Three pickleball courts are set up at each location. Participating facilities include: West Boynton Recreation Center in Lake Worth Beach, Westgate Recreation Center in West Palm Beach and West Jupiter Recreation Center . Courts are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit discover.pbcgov.org/parks/amenities .

Bowl in your spare time

• Xtreme Action Park , 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale, is one-stop shopping for a day of fast-paced activities from kart racing and escape rooms to mini golf and laser tag. Xtreme also has six full-sized bowling lanes with projection screens, LED lighting and touch-screen monitors. Hourly lane rentals for up to six players are available nights and weekends. Visit xtremeactionpark.com .
• Cordial — Fun Depot , 2003 10th Ave. N, Lake Worth Beach, is a 20-lane bowling alley with hourly rates every day, featuring a full-service restaurant with local craft beers, among other drinks. After bowling, walk next door to Fun Depot for the arcade, go-karts and laser tag. Visit fundepot.com .

Lace up the skates

• Astro Skate Family Fun Center , 3100 Jog Road, Greenacres, offers camps, skating lessons, public and open skates, and teen, adult and family nights at its bright-pink building that was formerly home to Atlantis Skateway for 47 years. Pick your rental skates — regular, inline or trainers — to lace up and get out in the rink. Check out the weekly schedule, which offers themed days such as Christian Night, Free Pizza Skate, Family Hip Hop Skate and Soul Roll, at astroskatingcenter.com/palm-beach-county .
• Galaxy Skateway , 3737 Davie Road Extension, Davie, lets adults relive the skating days of their youth with Flashback Thursday for age 18 and older, featuring Shuffle Skate and Jam Skating. Other themed events under the disco ball and lights include Cheapskate Wednesday, R&B Night, All Request Night, Hip-Hop Skate and Family Night, among others. See the full schedule at galaxyskateway.net .