The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
Walking up to the grounds of the Lorraine Motel it seemed that time had stood still here. The original 60's decor and the colorful sign were all left intact as they were on the day civil rights leader Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Walking up to the hotel we found a beautiful marble plaque with a poignant inscription from the old testament marking the day those tragic events took place. A very … [Read more...]
The Hermitage is the beautiful homestead of the 7th president of the United States and Tennessee’s favorite son, Andrew Jackson. These 1,000 acres were transformed from frontier forrest to a prosperous farm that sadly deteriorated into post civil war dilapidation. Finally rescued it is now preserved as a public museum and a National Historic Landmark. As a president Andrew Jackson was both loved and hated and … [Read more...]
It's really hard to explain Pigeon Forge. It's sort of like the Vegas strip but instead of casinos, it's chock full of kitschy entertainment built for family fun. The traffic during the summer was just ridiculous along the main drag as we headed to the Titanic Museum taking about 20 minutes to move about a mile. Thankfully I had already reserved our tickets and if you go I suggest you do the same as this place had … [Read more...]
Visiting The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum feels like you've gone on an adventure with Mel and his crew, searching for treasure at the bottom of the ocean and finding the mother lode that you can touch and feel. Key West because of it's geography is one of the most famous shipwreck sites in the world. As numerous ships from Spain, England, Portugal traveled during the early colonial during the 1600 and 1700's … [Read more...]
The Shipwreck Treasure Museum is literally right across the street from the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in the charming Mallory Square, and in all honesty, seems to be a little bit of a rip off of the same idea-with just a lot less exciting stuff. We probably would have enjoyed it more if a) we done it first and b) if it weren't trying so hard with it's theatrical shtick complete with costumed storytellers shouting … [Read more...]
After spending time at the beach hunting for shells the kids and I needed to know what kind of treasure we'd found so we headed to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. Wow, was this place fascinating-an entire museum devoted to shells. We learned all about the different sea creatures that make shells, their life cycle, and what shells are used for after the creatures die, such as tools and artwork or even homes for … [Read more...]
The Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum is a wonderful place to learn about an important part of Wisconsin history and an industry that was and continues to be an important part of the American economy- logging and lumber production. Paul Bunyan was a mythical figure; however, there were plenty of real lumberjacks that inspired his legend. Inside the logging camp, we learned about what life was like for many immigrant … [Read more...]
When we visited the National Mustard Museum it was located in a small town right outside Madison named Mt. Horeb but be forewarned, they renamed the town Middleton. This was such a cute, quirky and interesting stop and I highly recommend you don't miss it. We learned everything we could ever want to know about our favorite yellow condiment. The museum is literally one man’s obsession turned into a shrine and … [Read more...]
We were super lucky to be some of the first visitors to The Harley Davidson Museum as it had just been completed and opened about a week before we arrived. Of course I'd heard of Harley Davidson Motorcycles, they are the epitome of cool right? I just had no clue that the company was founded in Milwaukee. As we entered the museum the kids were given a scavenger hunt with items they needed to locate and answer … [Read more...]
I am not sure I even have words to describe The City Museum, but my kids could not get enough of this place. Imagine a junkyard on steroids that you can play in. It's the playground of your wildest imagination come to life. The "museum" encompasses 4 floors and a rooftop deck where my kids and I spent hours. The kids climbed, slid, hung from ropes, crawled and rolled and that was just the tip of the iceberg of all … [Read more...]
