Summer 'Places To Go' List

We are in the second week of May.  My kids have four weeks of school left.  It's time to start planning some activities for the summer.  Yes our house has an in-ground pool, and believe me, it will be used!  And yes, we are a little more than an hour drive from the beach, and we will be going there as well.  I'd also like to do some other things with the kids this summer. 
Last week I bought my first Groupon.  It was a one year family pass for the MOSH (Museum of Science and History), so that is top of the list. 

http://www.themosh.org/Home.html

There are three other museums in the Jacksonville area that I'd like to take the kids to as well.  They are The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, and Hands On Children's Museum. 
The Museum of Contemporary Art doesn't sound like a great place to take kids, especially a toddler, but I found out that on the fifth floor, they have the ArtExplorium Loft.  This is a place where kids can have hands on experiences with all sorts of art mediums.  Sounds much more kid friendly now, doesn't it?

http://www.mocajacksonville.org/family/loft/

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens has a similar situation.  Sounds boring for kids, until you learn that there is a hands on place where they can go and create! 

http://www.cummer.org/education/art-connections

The last museum is the Hands On Children's Museum, and it doesn't sound boring for kids at all! 

http://handsonchildrensmuseumjax.startlogic.com/

Now, I don't want you to think that I'm going to keep the kids inside, going from museum to museum all summer!  What fun would that be??  However, It's nice to have a list of places to go, and things to see and do that are inside on days when it's just too hot to do anything outside, (or if it's raining).  Yes, even the pool doesn't cool you off anymore by the end of July, beginning of August!
There are a couple of outdoor places I am planning on taking them as well.  Hot or not, some things are way too cool to not do!  Of course we will visit the zoo, and the alligator farm, but there are other fun things to do outside too.  Like horseback riding, for example! 
There is a really nice place to go horseback riding that is about two hours away from here.  The thing I like the best about this place is that Nathan will be allowed to ride with me. 

http://www.north-florida-family-fun-guide.com/jnb-horse-haven-farm.html

There are a bunch of places that have go karts and water parks and things like that around here.  We aren't going to those.  Nathan is too little to do anything at any of those places and it would be very unfair to take him somewhere where all he can do is sit with me and wait for the big kids to finish having fun. 
I think that with this many places to visit, plus the pool and the beach, we will have a very good summer!  If ANYONE says, "I'm bored" I will have to put my foot in their.....