It seems like no matter where we go online these days we are constantly being bombarded with gazillions of offers and I am sure like me, you've conditioned yourself to just tune them out. I was doing some online banking recently and somehow out of the corner of my eye a few key words caught my attention..."Free Museum Admission". After reading a little further I discovered that if you are a Bank of … [Read more...]
The Chicago History Museum (Chicago)
Wow, everything you ever wanted to know about the Windy City is under one roof at the Chicago History Museum. We found this museum to be a fantastic place to learn about the history of the city, it's diversity, and it's role in the American economy. We started off in the kids area which has some really fun interactive exhibits. The kids loved "becoming" a chicago hot dog and riding an old fashioned bicycle. … [Read more...]
Maine State Museum (Augusta)
So if you ask folks in Maine about the Maine State Museum they'll tell you it's just ok and a bit of a joke. I totally disagree, my kids and I loved this museum! For a little museum, they sure had a lot of cool stuff. We learned all what life is like living in Maine, Maine's brave men who fought for our country and many of the industries that Maine is well known for like logging and fishing. They have a great … [Read more...]
Historic District (Charleston)
Charleston is a beautiful and charming city that has a long and storied history as a port city on the shores of South Carolina. The Historic District is a wonderful place to explore some of the well preserved architecture and take a peek at life during an earlier time period. Everywhere you look, restaurants, shops, hotels are all housed in these amazing old buildings oozing with decorative charm. If you want to … [Read more...]
Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum (Boston)
This is the type of museum that is privately owned and run like a business (translation): It’s a little more expensive and feels a little more glitzy, but my kids and I all thought it was totally worth the money. Sometimes we get turned off by stuff that seems a little too glam or tourist trap-like, but not here. As you walk in to the “meeting room” and you are given a card by the costumed guides who are in … [Read more...]
JFK Presidential Library and Museum (Boston)
Traveling throughout the USA we've had opportunities to visit many Presidential Libraries. Some are absolutely incredible and some not so much. After being blown away by the Abraham Lincoln Library, and the Bill Clinton Library our expectations were very high for the library of JFK whose presidency was filled with dramatic events, who was so beloved and whose family possessed enormous wealth. We entered the … [Read more...]
American Textile Museum (Lowell)
What a waste of time! Not only of ours, but of the folks who put this jumble of a museum together. It's such a shame because there are some really cool artifacts but there are no explanations about what you are looking at. There was a whole display about linen and yet, there was nothing to tell you that linen comes from the flax plant or what's involved in making it all they had were a few swatches of woven … [Read more...]
Plimoth Plantation (Plymouth)
After seeing Plymouth Rock, head to the Plimoth Plantation and experience life as a Pilgrim. Living history museums are so fun because it's an experience and not just looking at displays. You get to take part and learn by participating. Learn about the Wampanoag tribe of Native Americans who lived side by side with the Pilgrims by visit ing a Wampanoag village with real descendants of the tribe who work here to … [Read more...]
Norman Rockwell Museum (Stockbridge)
There is no painter who better captures the spirit of America more than Norman Rockwell and that's why I thought it was so important to go to this museum even though it was a little out of the way in Stockbridge-which by the way, is the cutest town ever. This is where Norman Rockwell made his home and had his studio on the premises. Inside my kids and I were all blown away to see many of his very popular and … [Read more...]
OMSI – Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (Portland)
OMSI is probably the best science museum my kids and I have ever been to. It has tons of terrific, engaging, hands-on exhibits. Unlike most science museums that highlight concepts with a million buttons to push (which don't really engage the kids, all they're interested in is pushing the buttons) the exhibits here really encouraged learning. Lilia sat at an exhibit and learned all about money. The boys enjoyed … [Read more...]