Adventures for Anyone

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Memorial Day Cometh, and We're Off to The Races!

Memorial Day is fast approaching here in America, and while most of us will spend a good deal of time honoring our veterans and lives lost in war and other military times; there's one thing that comes vividly to life on that weekend. We are off to the races!

I speak of racing this year with a fondness that I've not felt before as my young son goes into the racing world and training with a crew and gets to work at his very first Indianapolis 500. I'm a proud mama, and as a sideline, give a little root for Helio Castroneves and Simon Pagenaud for me.

The Indy 500 is the oldest continually run and arguably the biggest race in the world. This will be the 106th running of the race that started back in 1911. It is the only race in the world that celebrates its winner with a glass of milk, simply because it is the only race that weathered prohibition in the United States, and has kept the practice as tradition.

The 500 has gone through a lot of tough times and a lot of changes. The race used to run on Memorial Day, which didn't leave a rain date for spectators. Eventually the race was moved to Sunday, because weather in the Midwest in May is largely unpredictable. Now, if the weather is bad enough to cancel the race, the spectators can see it on Monday.

Other things to know about the Indianapolis 500. This is an entire month of events in Indianapolis, Indiana. There are other races, time trials, concerts, parades, festivals and more. It is the single busiest time of the year in that town, and worth a look.

This year, there is a rare chance to see a record broken. Helio Castroneves belongs to an elite group of drivers who have won four Indy 500 races. He is racing this year, which means he could become the only driver to ever win 5.

But, I don't mention racing today just to talk about my son's upcoming career or one race. Not at all. I bring it up, because Memorial Day Weekend here in America is one of the biggest racing weekends around the world.

As Tony Stewart for one, can tell you; the evening following the Indianapolis 500 is the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR race in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the longest NASCAR race of the year. A few drivers have done both the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in the same day. Tony Stewart was famous for it.

Once again, there are events all weekend long in Charlotte to celebrate both Memorial Day and the race, and its a lot of fun for everyone.

In Great Britain on Memorial Day Weekend they hold the British GT Championship Series at Donington Park. It's a huge event in England and a great weekend of events.

The Nurburgring in Germany is busy all month long during May, culminating in the Nurburgring 24 Hours. It is one of the biggest events of the year on one of the most challenging and famous race tracks in the world. The Nurburgring is roughly 13 miles long, making it one of the longest tracks in the world. It's open on certain days throughout the year to the public. Manufacturers bring their cars here to race for world record speed titles.

Australia hits the track in Sydney with a race weekend for all kinds of fans. For three days May 27 - 29, they race everything from supercars to touring cars to sprints and even Trans Ams. There's truly something for everyone during a wild weekend that even includes Radical Cup Racing.

Back on the American Front, Sprint Cars hit the track Memorial Day Weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee. Part of the American circuit and a sight to see. If you like dirt tracks, Sprint is a lot of fun to watch. If you see one fly through the air, don't worry. They're remarkably safe.

The Super GT crews hit Suzuka, Japan on Memorial Day Weekend. A key component to their circuit as well as an entire weekend of events. Once again, there are festivals, concerts, other racing events and so on.

And finally, the big puppy on my bucketlist. The Monaco Grand Prix is on Memorial Day Weekend. This F1 event is another one of the longest running races in the world with its first running in 1929. Every year the streets of Monaco yield to the giant race cars as they race one of the most famous races in the world.

Unlike many races, there are many ways to watch the Grand Prix, whether it be from a hotel balcony or even a yacht in the harbor, but it is a truly unique race in a truly unique place. As with many of these huge events, there are all kinds of things race related to do in Monaco in May.

So, Memorial Day is coming and the world is off to the races. Going to any kind of a race is memorable. I've been to Indy, and Daytona and they are something to behold. I highly recommend attending some kind of motorsport race. You can watch records broken, once in a lifetime happenings, and enjoy!

https://www.hotwire.com/

https://www.trivago.com/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/

https://www.booking.com/index.html?logged_out=1&label=msn-xg4ZOmBTK5SuGYj6JRlNIg-79920775792705%3Atikwd-79920976623190%3Aaud-808219487%3Aloc-190%3Aneo%3Amte%3Alp44736%3Adec%3Aqstravel+sites&sb_price_type=total&sid=c124479d0d6cc3b159e64c280f509756&aid=393655

https://www.kayak.com/flights?lang=en&utm_campaign=Generic+-+Group&utm_content=No+Location+-+travel+sites+-+T%3Dnone+-+P%3Dtravel+sites+-+D%3DNone&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=travel+sites&skipapp=true

https://www.travelocity.com/Vacation-Packages?SEMCID=TRAVELOCITY-US.UB.BING.GT-c-EN.EPACKAGE&SEMDTL=a1412282776.b11200667345337914.r1.g1kwd-75041904430114:loc-190.i1.d1.e1c.j144736.k1.f1.n1.l1o.h1e.m1&msclkid=c1398422390315075fede6a72f70a088&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=TVLY%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AX%3AX%3Acatchall%3A&utm_term=travel%20websites&utm_content=TVLY%3AUSA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3ASite%7CTravel%3A

https://www.expedia.com/Vacation-Packages?semcid=US.UB.BING.GT-c-EN.PACKAGE&semdtl=a1268809096.b11282030721185348.r1.g1kwd-80127032390034:loc-190.i1.d1.e1c.j144736.k1.f1.n1.l1o.h1e.m1&msclkid=b9273f11a86419ad1dda5d94be17ce47&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=USA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AE%3ANC%3A%3A&utm_term=travel%20sites&utm_content=USA%3AENG%3A%25%3AGT%3AGLOB%3AALL%3AXX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AX%3AE%3ANC%3Atravel_sites%3A

https://news.yahoo.com/10-cool-facts-indianapolis-500-194805342.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

https://www.motortrend.com/features/indy-500-history/

https://www.britannica.com/sports/Indianapolis-500

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/history/historical-stats/race-stats/race-results/2021

https://www.nbcsports.com/motors/indy-500

https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/results/2022/indy-500-543060/

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500

https://www.indycar.com/Schedule/2022/IndyCar-Series/Indianapolis-500

https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/event-info/schedule.

https://seatgeek.com/venues/indianapolis-motor-speedway/tickets?aid=10923&pid=276707292&gid=1207263846544400&rid=kwd-75454367832412:loc-190&dt=c&adId=75454085532684&mt=bp&n=o&xid=1&msclkid=b386f5e6eff31d8f25ca9763fa5826e9&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Venues%3A%20Indianapolis%20Motor%20Speedway%20(1612)%20%5BState%3AIN%5D%20%5BTurn%20On%20May%5D&utm_term=indy%20500%20race&utm_content=Info%20-%20Broad

https://tickets-center.com/search/Indianapolis-Motor-Speedway/Indy-500-tickets/?venueId=783&performerId=372&venueName=Indianapolis+Motor+Speedway&performerName=Indy+500&vaid=1018&pfaid=2045&tagid=103&atid=101&venueId=783&venueName=Indianapolis+Motor+Speedway&vaid=1018&performerId=372&performerName=Indy+500&pfaid=2045&tagid=103&nid=2&accid=140079355&cid=71605856339072&kwid=71606419216371&akwd=indianapolis%20500%20in%20indy&dmt=p&bmt=bp&dist=s&uq=2022%20indy%20500&device=c&ismobile=false&msclkid=5185e8db0e701a67cbf48a5e1bdb47c0&loc_physical_ms=44736&loc_interest_ms=49290&exid=&vx=0

https://www.stubhub.com/?AffiliateID=49&LCID=2057&PCID=PSUSBINSPOINDYC26268B1279&AdID=81226519629091&gclid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&ps_p=1&ps_ag=1299623110014772&ps_tg=kwd-81226633753054:loc-190&ps=&ps_p=1&ps_c=401766132&ps_ag=1299623110014772&ps_tg=kwd-81226633753054:loc-190&ps_ad=81226519629091&ps_n=o&ps_d=c&gclid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&gcid=C12289X021&keyword=1299623110014772kwd-81226633753054:loc-190_c&creative=&utm_kxconfid=s2rshsbmv&utm_campaign=401766132&kwt=nb&mt=e&kw=2022%20Indy%20500&ap=&ploc=44736&iloc=49290&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=paid-search&utm_sub_medium=prospecting&utm_term=nb&utm_content=default&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=2c929f75e06218f49315fdf0f5c9ce17&

https://indianapolis.ticketsales.com/indianapolis-motor-speedway/372/2022+Indy+500?msclkid=f9dfa2a7b7501156439bc022a2fb91e2&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=(e783)%20%7C%20Indianapolis%20Motor%20Speedway%20%7C%20Indianapolis&utm_term=2022%20indy%20500&utm_content=05%2F29%2F2022%20%7C%20783-3590591%20%7C%202022%20Indy%20500

https://www.scca.com/pages/2022-majors-schedule

https://www.motorsport.com/supergt/event/suzuka-545102/545102/news/

https://www.porschesport.com/news/2022-porsche-michelin-sprint-challenge-calendar-announced

https://www.formula1monaco.com/

https://www.nuerburgring.de/events/categories/automotive/24h-race

https://britishgt.com/

https://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/Schedule.aspx

https://www.nascar.com/nascar-cup-series/2022/schedule/

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Drottingholm...Good One Jenn! Welcome to Stockholm!

Upon returning to my friends' bucket lists, I ran across one of Jenn's requests and couldn't resist. She asked if I could discuss a very specific site, Drottingholm Castle, the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Well, being that it's on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden; one of the most fascinating cities in one of the most fascinating countries in Europe, how could I possibly resist?

First, we'll discuss the castle. Built in 1580 by Johan III for his wife, the queen; it stood on Island Lovon in Lake Malar just outside of Stockholm. Drottingholm literally meant Queen's Islet. Sweden was a powerhouse during that time, and having a grand residence to show how powerful they were was of utmost importance. After all, who's going to respect your power if you don't have a massive castle, inspired by Versailles on an island to spend your summers at? I don't know, but it sure has made life for us Europhiles traveling the continent grand and amazing. There's nothing quite like visiting a grand palace.

But, as happened with many works of architecture in pre fire retardant times, Drottingholm burned in 1681. It was eventually rebuilt, but then was sold to the state in 1777. The royal family still used it as a summer residence until 1818 when Charles XIV abandoned the palace during his entire reign. He died in 1844.

As with most ancient palaces in Europe, there was more to Drottingholm than just the main palace. There were elaborate gardens and grounds. There were other buildings, like the church built in 1746 and the Chinese Pavilion built during the reign of Catherine the Great of Russia who also fancied all things Asian and had a Chinese Palace of her own.

Oscar I revived the abandoned palace during his reign, and since then, it has been maintained and the royal family, although these days they are largely figureheads, have used the palace as their residence consistently since 1981.

The Palace has many areas that are open to the public these days, and there are about a dozen different tours you can take. Over the centuries, world renowned artists and architects, sculptors and painters, garden designers and horticulturists have worked tirelessly to produce the collective work of art that we see today as Drottingholm Palace. It's an amazing place with an amazing history, and Jenn has officially landed it directly on my bucket list.

And now, I need to digress. I have always wanted to go to Sweden, and Stockholm has always been on my bucket list. So, just a little information on the city that is home to the amazing Drottingholm Palace.

First, there are at least a dozen other amazing palaces and castles to see in the area, including the official Royal Palace of Sweden right in the city. If you love a good castle and palace like I do, this is a city for you.

Stockholm is a city we've all heard of. It's one of those happy countries that none of us Americans understands, because it seem that the weather alone would drive a person crazy. In the winter it is cold, dark most of the day, and people do take their snowmobiles to McDonald's drive thru. We've seen that on TV. In the summer though. Wow. It really doesn't get dark and the weather is largely sunny and warm. People go swimming in lakes in the summer, not just in the winter after running out of one of their world famous saunas.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and one of the most progressive cities and countries on Earth. During the pandemic, Sweden took its own path to deal with Covid-19 by not trying to stop the spread with masks and lock downs. They did restrict entry into their country, and they have a fabulous vaccine rate, but they decided that it would have to run its course. And now, Sweden does fall on the low risk list. Were they right? Who knows.

But, Sweden has been celebrating science, art, and forward thinking pretty much forever. They have a city that sits on 14 different islands, and they have many ways for the citizens to get around on public transportation. Can you have an underground in such a watery area? Why, yes you can. And not only do they have a subway system, the stations are works of art. A working art museum if you will. They also have an intricate ferry system to navigate all those islands. There's also buses, taxis, ubers and whatever. Bicycle rentals are very popular.

You might recognize the iconic city hall of Stockholm. There are only a handful of cities in the world that has a city hall that is world famous, but Stockholm has made that happen. Every year, the Nobel Prizes are announced in that hall, and they are the single most sought after awards on Earth. Being a Nobel Laureate is a dream of just about anyone.

Stockholm has museums as well. The Vasa is preserved in its museum and is the best preserved ship in the world from the 1700's.

There's also the Skansen Open Air Museum just outside of town. It shows you what life was like in the past in Sweden and is the largest open air museum in the world. Pretty impressive.

Art is tantamount in Stockholm, and Fotografiska is their photography museum. They showcase photography from Sweden and all over the world. Hold onto your hat. This is a chain that is producing museums all over the world. I've been to the one in New York City. It's a great place to visit if you love the art of photography.

Now, what else is Sweden famous for? What do we Americans know about it? That's right, we Americans love IKEA. That's right. Stockholm is ground zero and the flagship store is right in the city.

Not only can you shop at the original, but they have a museum too, and you can see all of the designs from over the years. Sweden had both modern and museum together all over Stockholm. It's a little bit of world wide combined with a lot of Swedish creativity and ingenuity. What we call the Nordic Countries are some of the most creative countries on Earth. They've taken what could be a problematic environment and turned it into an area of some of the most inventive cultures on Earth, and Sweden heads that list of countries.

I had to leave one of my favorites for last. The very first 45 record I ever owned was the very first piece of music I ever owned and I got it for my birthday. That record was Dancing Queen and so began my lifelong love of ABBA. Yes, they are Swedish, and yes, there is a museum in Stockholm. Honestly, that place would be my first stop. And, don't forget, ABBA put out a new album last winter. They're still going strong.

There's so much to see and do in Stockholm, and Drottingholm is the pinnacle of any trip there. You should tour that Palace and any others you have time to see. There's so much that you shouldn't miss in that city. Yes, you should take a tour on some kind of boat. You should check out the old town. You should take a ride on a bike and check out the amazing parks and gardens. You should definitely go to some one of a kind museums. Stockholm is also a world famous food destination, they have a massive music scene, and they have festivals of all kinds all year long. They have one of the largest pride festivals in the world.

Sweden is one of the most progressive countries in the world. We know their artists, their products, their food, and their happy lifestyle. They have a socialist outlook, a royal family, a democratic government, a creative nature, a go with the flow attitude, an eye for beauty and an ear for great tunes. It's one of the places that we know so much about, yet don't realize how much we really know. It's a country that has gone from warring with Russia to celebrating the world's greatest acts of peace and greatest genius.

So, take some time to think about visiting the capital of a country that battled Covid-19 head on with no fear. Come and see forward thinking in action. Come and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. Come and study the past, see the future, sail all around it and enjoy!

https://www.kungligaslotten.se/english/royal-palaces-and-sites/drottningholm-palace.html

https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g19767947-d208281-Reviews-Drottningholm_Palace-Drottningholm.html

https://www.visitnordic.com/en/attraction/drottningholm-palace

https://www.historyhit.com/locations/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.getyourguide.com/drottningholm-palace-l3728/city-cards-tc101/?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=377151465&cq_con=1247946168886853&cq_term=www.getyourguide.com&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=o&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=377151465&adgroup_id=1247946168886853&target_id=dat-2329796419836470%3Aaud-806416223%3Aloc-190&loc_physical_ms=44736&match_type=b&ad_id=&keyword=www.getyourguide.com&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gclid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&gclid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&gclsrc=3p.ds&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=fc9d7db674311c494a1f1fcd86c36204&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ct%3Ddsa%7Cln%3D29%3Aen%7Ctc%3Dus&utm_term=www.getyourguide.com&utm_content=ct%3Ddsa%7Cfn%3Df1

https://visitworldheritage.com/en/eu/royal-domain-of-drottningholm-sweden/a78b9947-7ad4-4cb1-aae2-891b103c2eee

https://www.castlesofsweden.com/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.britannica.com/technology/palace

https://www.routesnorth.com/stockholm/visiting-drottningholm-palace-from-stockholm/

https://www.virtuoso.com/tours/12635093/drottingholm-palace#.YnvzmZLMK70

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/559

https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/drottningholm-palace/

https://www.roadtripsaroundtheworld.com/drottningholm-palace-sweden/

https://www.firebirdtours.com/welcome/sweden-tours?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT_Scandinavia_MISK_EN_US&utm_term=sweden%20tours&msclkid=a6f6262a62a4106f00d1445196be8aac&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FT%20%7C%20Scandinavia%20%7C%20MISC%20%7C%20EN%20%7C%20US&utm_term=sweden%20tours&utm_content=Sweden%20Tours%20%7C%20MT%3ABMM

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l50/?cmp=bing&campaign_id=377864073&adgroup_id=1250145317866631&target_id=kwd-78134413584677%3Aaud-806416215%3Aloc-190&match_type=e&ad_id=78134229928632&msclkid=faeb4dea7859149e60252f918c438f13&loc_physical_ms=44736&feed_item_id=&keyword=stockholm%20sweden%20visit&partner_id=CD951&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=dc%3D43%3Ase%7Clc%3D50%3Astockholm%7Cct%3Dcore%7Cln%3D29%3Aen%7Ctc%3Dus&utm_term=stockholm%20sweden%20visit&gclsrc=3p.ds&utm_content=lc%3D50%3Astockholm%7Cfn%3Df3%7Cci%3D937%3Athings%20to%20do

https://visitsweden.com/where-to-go/middle-sweden/stockholm/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g189852-Activities-Stockholm.html

https://sweden.nordicvisitor.com/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=stockholm%20sweden%20tourism&utm_content=sweden+tourist+planning+208&utm_campaign=SE+m13+sweden+agency&msclkid=5038a8e8a18e138ecac1ca935594a398

https://www.airbnb.com/stockholm-sweden/stays

https://www.kayak.com/Stockholm-Hotels.9880.hotel.ksp

https://www.cheapflights.com/horizon/sem/flights/destination/c9880?lang=en&utm_campaign=Destination+-+SE+-+Stockholm+-+City%239880&utm_content=City+-+trip+to+stockholm+-+T%3Dnone+-+P%3Dtrips+-+D%3DCity%239880&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=stockholm+trip&skipapp=true

https://www.europeanbestdestinations.com/destinations/stockholm/

https://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-stockholm/

https://gocity.com/stockholm/en-us/stockholm-tourism

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/sweden/stockholm

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/stockholm-sweden

https://alltouristmap.com/sweden/stockholm/

https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel-prize-award-ceremonies/

https://cityhall.stockholm/

https://abbathemuseum.com/en/

https://www.mammamiatheparty.com/se/en/the-party/

https://ikeamuseum.com/en/digital/the-story-of-ikea/ikea-in-stockholm/

https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/ikea-of-sweden/

https://www.visitacity.com/en/stockholm/activities/all-activities?activitiesSearchByName=hop&campaginid=428242986&adgroupid=1288628047379866&targetid=kwd-80539489246165:loc-190&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Stockholm%20ActivitiesM2X%20G-US-In-EUR&utm_term=stockholm%20hop%20on%20hop%20off&utm_content=hop%20on

https://www.visitstockholm.com/travel-info/public-transportation-in-stockholm/

https://www.booking.com/tourism/city/se/stockholm.en-gb.html?aid=1181029&label=msn-Ejb3n8EWRJZxqjzDCHEgtA-80126983909482:tidat-2331926723608638:aud-808219487:loc-190:neo:mtb:lp44736:dec:qsgetting%20around%20stockholm&utm_campaign=English_United_States%20EN%20US&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=Ejb3n8EWRJZxqjzDCHEgtA&msclkid=111bd7e48d1f16c9bc7ab59f755284fd

https://www.city-guide-stockholm.com/en/tourism/coming-to-stockholm/practical-advice/local-transport-getting-around-stockholm.html

https://stockholmtravelguide.com/stockholm-public-transport/

https://www.timeout.com/stockholm/things-to-do/stockholm-travel-tips

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g189852-Stockholm.html

https://www.visitstockholm.com/eat-drink/

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Sweden.html

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

There's a Museum for Everything!

I'm taking a little time today to talk about museums. We've all been to the nearest large city's history museum. We've all been dragged to notable museums all over the place to learn about the history of the country, our revolution, the civil war, and whatever dinosaurs may have been wandering around thousands of years ago. When I was young, we did the Philadelphia Freedom Hall thing and the Washington D.C. Smithsonian thing and the Natural History Museum in Chicago and so on.

As a child, I wasn't too fond of museums, unless it was The Henry Ford with its Rouge Tour and Greenfield Village, or The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Point blank, there were cool things to do there.

As an adult, I've discovered something; there's a museum for everything. And, the more offbeat the better. I've visited prisons, military monuments and museums, forts, out of the way art museums, mines, trains, planes, and all sorts of things. I still love The Henry Ford and The Museum of Science and Industry, but there's so much more out there. So, don't say you don't like museums. Maybe you just haven't found the right one yet.

I love Russian stuff, except war. The Hillwood Museum and Estate in Washington D.C. is an out of the way hidden gem. There are tons of items on display that probably shouldn't have ever left Russia, but there they are in all their glory for us to see. Loved it.

I've also spent time looking at all the evidence of aliens at the UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. If you don't think that's interesting, you haven't been there. The famous cemeteries of New Orleans; that's a museum. Not joking. New Orleans does have a VooDoo Museum as well.

No matter what you're interested in or curious about, there's a museum about it. There's a museum down in the Grand Canyon, celebrating the Havasupai who live there. Someone parked a bunch of old military ships and submarines under a bridge in Fall River, Massachusetts and Battleship Cove was born. Fall River is also home to the Lizzie Borden House. Creepy but very cool. Also creepy is the Mutter Museum in Philly. You have to see that one to appreciate it. And, lest I forget, there's more than one museum on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire's beautiful White Mountains. There's also a historic cog railway to take you up to the top where the museums are.

London Bridge is a living museum in Lake Havasu, Arizona. There are any number of Native American Museums around the country. There are farm museums, old civilization museums like Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation. There are all kinds of museums. In Connecticut, where I live, we have a number of trolley museums, The Barnum Museum of the Circus, the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mystic Seaport, and so many other specialty museums. Lake Compounce is a living museum with roller coasters to ride. All you have to do is look.

Most sports have a hall of fame and museum. Basketball is in Springfield, MA. Baseball is in Coopertown, NY. Football is in Canton, OH. Hockey is in Toronto, Canada. Indy Car Racing is in Indianapolis, IN. NASCAR is in Charlotte, NC. If music is more your thing, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland, OH, as is The Christmas Story House; also a museum.

The Clark is an art school and museum, tied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and you can't really even find it if you don't know where it is. They have Monets. Not joking. And all of the Dutch Masters. You can visit various Frank Lloyd Wright locations around the country; all museums. Homes from the Vanderbilts to Mark Twain to JFK and beyond are all museums to tour. There's a Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, MA. Lots of fun. Provincetown, MA has a pirate museum. The Hemingway House in Key West, FL is a museum with six toed cats. There's something for everyone.

Tower on a mountain top? Hubleing Museum, CT. Steamtown in Scranton, PA? Museum. Coal mines, observatories, The Alamo, Alcatraz? All museums. Mount St. Helen's has a museum. Fairbanks, AK has a gold mining museum. Sault Ste. Marie has a museum of the locks. Mackinac Island, MI? Living museum. You can't even drive a car there. You want to see what being Dutch was like? Go to Holland, MI. King Kamehameha's Palace is a museum in Hawaii. They're everywhere, and there are so many kinds.

Bowling Green, KY? The National Corvette Museum, complete with sinkhole. Surprise! Broadway in Nashville? It's all basically a museum, and there's a lot of little museums in the neighborhood. Don't forget the Grand Ole Opry, the original building. That's a museum too.

Pretty much every town and every county has a museum. If you happen to be in a town, and wonder what went on there or why the town was ever created, there's probably a museum to explain that. It's something that we use as a fallback plan for rainy days while traveling, but it's interesting. I went to visit my son in Lima, OH. It poured. We went to the county museum and learned about why the town exists. It was interesting, and I don't know how someone got a train engine in the little museum.

So, don't rule out the museum. If you're interested in something like the history of nuclear testing and atomic bombs; there's a museum for that in Las Vegas, NV. I promise you, there's a museum for everything; even the witch hunts in Salem, MA. There are museums about everything. Shipwrecks, magic, earthquakes, paddle wheel boats, American Girl Dolls, and so on and so on.

So, if you're planning a vacation this summer, remember that it can't be sunny and beautiful out all the time, so museums are a great back up plan. Wherever you go for your vacation, look and see what kind of museums are around. Who knows? A Ripley's Believe it or Not can be a lot of fun. And, it can turn a rainy family vacation into a whole new adventure.

So, pack your kids, your bags and your back up plan and enjoy!

https://www.corvettemuseum.org/

https://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/

https://armstrongmuseum.org/

https://www.hillstead.org/

https://www.profootballhof.com/

https://www.packers.com/lambeau-field/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-inc

https://baseballhall.org/

https://www.rockhall.com/

https://www.hoophall.com/

https://www.hhof.com/

https://countrymusichalloffame.org/