Highlights from a St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer’s five-day trip to the region.

Since opening its doors in October in downtown St. Augustine, Fla., near the Flagler College campus, hundreds of animal lovers have visited the site to give the semiaquatic South American relative of the guinea pig head scratches.The café was created to financially support the Hastings, Fla.-based nonprofit Noah’s Ark Sanctuary Inc., an animal refuge.

Students from several Hillsborough County schools got to attend the first field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry’s new planetarium, located in the facility’s former IMAX theater, March 31. The old IMAX theater’s screen has been replaced by a high-tech porous metal NanoSeam screen that shows supersharp images —powered by 10 huge digital Christie projectors that have 8K technology — creating a brighter movie experience than has ever been seen in the Tampa Bay area, MOSI leaders said.

Gone are social distancing and temperature checks, but COVID-19 precautions still play a role in some of today’s theme park experiences.

Spring skiing can be a great way to save money, experience the best snow and find an excuse to wear those bright-pink leg warmers from the ’80s.

From March 20 to April 6, an immersive version of the iconic whodunit — with slightly updated rules — will take clue-hunting participants to 9 locations over 1.5 miles to figure out how and where Mr. Boddy died.

The full dinner experience, called “Elementa,” launches this Friday at the Gallery with a menu and projections that explore the 5 classical elements. It’s the first of what creators hope is many a show to utilize the space.

Tour the Point Fermin Lighthouse in San Pedro, which was built in 1874, to learn about its history and the families who ran it.

Writer’s teenage daughter wanted to stay in the storied Manhattan hotel after reading about it in Patti Smith’s memoir.

Tours, historically significant sites and memorials help visitors gain greater appreciation for the pain that many have experienced.