Mark your calendar – Smithsonian magazine’s 15th Annual Museum Day – which offers free admission at participating museums — is coming up on Saturday September 21, 2019. And the good news is, you don’t have to visit Washington D.C. to take advantage of this free offer, as over 1,300 museums across the country are participating in this annual event. Continue reading
Tag Archives: museum
Visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis — For Free
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (https://www.childrensmuseum.org) is a fun place to visit any day of the year, but it’s an especially attractive option on their four free-admission days — Fiesta Familia (September 23), Christmas Eve, Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day. Additionally, on the first Thursday of the month, admission is a very affordable $5. Continue reading
Save Big Bucks on Accessible Alcatraz Tours!
An Alcatraz tour is a must-do for any San Francisco visit, and thanks to modern technology, tours of The Rock are now very doable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Continue reading
Soaking Up Some Wild West History in Southern Wyoming
Sometimes road trips don’t go exactly as planned, but that’s all part of the adventure. Lets’ just say that’s how we ended up in Rock Springs, WY. To be honest, before our visit I gave very little thought to this Southern Wyoming town. but after a “less-than-accurate” weather forecast, Rock Springs became our unexpected home for the night. Continue reading
Off the Beaten Path in Kansas
One of the great things about a road trip is that you can hop off the interstate at a moment’s notice and explore the road less traveled. And that’s exactly what we did yesterday when we drove from Dodge City to Wichita. Instead of taking Interstate 50 most of the way, we planned a little detour with a stop in Pratt, Kansas. And I have to admit, it wasn’t the day we planned, but in this case, that was a very good thing. Continue reading
Chihuly in the Desert
I love it when I can combine two of my favorite things; and yesterday it was the Desert Botanical Garden and Chihuly glass. Located in Phoenix Arizona, the Desert Botanical Garden boasts over 55 acres of native plants, and for a limited time, 21 Dale Chihuly sculptures are also tucked into the landscape. This is the second Chihuly installation at the Desert Botanical Garden – there was also one in 2008 – but sadly I missed the first one. Continue reading
Raptor Free Flight Show Returns to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Those of you who know me really well, know that I have a particular fondness for raptors. So much so, that I even spent some time working with a falconer near my mountain home in my younger years. Thinking back, I would do any volunteer job I could, just to be near those beautiful birds. Which is why I was thrilled when I found out that I was visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on the opening day of their Raptor Free Flight show. And I wasn’t disappointed one bit! Continue reading
Objects of Belief from the Vatican — Opening This Weekend

Mbulu-ngulu, (Reliquary Figure) Gabon, Kota people, (Obamba or Mindumu group) Late 19th-early 20th century Copper, brass, iron, wood, 101060. Photo © Vatican Museums
If you happen to be traveling to San Francisco between now and September 8, 2013, be sure and check out the excellent Objects of Belief from the Vatican exhibition at the de Young Museum. Although there are only 39 objects in this well-curated collection, they each tell a unique story. And since none of the artifacts have ever been out of the Vatican Ethnological Museum, this special exhibition is even more intriguing. Continue reading
The Right Attitude in Pensacola
In the course of my travels and editorial research, I talk to a lot of folks regarding access. Some folks really get it, while others are clueless. I’m glad to report that the former was the case today at Historic Pensacola Village in Pensacola, Florida. Continue reading