Father snaps a selfie with teen son working on animation project at The Bakken Museum
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Engage in the Wonders of The Bakken Museum in Minneapolis

I love hands-on science museums. There’s something fun about challenging your mind to try new things. The Bakken Museum was a favorite stop for my son and I during our visit to Minneapolis. We spent the most time in the first exhibit area we came to. There were so many ways to engage in science-related…

Couple stands in front of the historic Belmont Mansion in Nashville
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Tour the Historic Belmont Mansion in Nashville

Researching “Things to do in Nashville” will likely turn up suggestions of touring the historic Belmont Mansion. It’s a beautiful house southwest of downtown Nashville and on the campus of Belmont University. What makes this a unique destination to visit while in Nashville? It’s one of the few 1850s era homes still standing in Nashville….

man standing next to Odyssey, the Apollo 13 Command Module on display at the Cosmosphere in Kansas
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Step into the Space Race at Cosmosphere in Kansas

In my quest to see all the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space capsules, we made a stop in central Kansas. Cosmosphere is an AMAZING museum in Hutchinson, Kansas – 30 minutes northwest of Wichita. It houses three capsules flown in space, along with other artifacts and information on the Space Race between America and Russia….

Entrance to Andrew Jackson's mansion at the Hermitage near Nashville
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Visit Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage: Home of the 7th U.S. President

Andrew Jackson is more than a face on the twenty dollar bill. He served two terms as President Andrew Jackson, from 1829 to 1837. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage outside of Nashville provides insights into his life. It’s not a presidential library built years after his presidency. Rather, it’s the actual place he called home from 1804…

Selfie of a man wearing headphones and selecting music on a touchscreen to build a playlist
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Groove to the Rhythm at the National Museum of African American Music

Gospel. Soul. Jazz. Blues. Rock. R&B. Hip hop. Rap. There are so many rhythms you can groove to in Nashville. But there’s one museum I couldn’t help but tap my foot while taking in the amazing sounds. The National Museum of African American Music has it all. You can walk through the progression of music…

entrance to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC
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Experience the National Museum of African American History & Culture 

There’s a reason the National Museum of African American History & Culture is one of the most popular museums in Washington, DC. The layout of the museum tells the story of African Americans. It begins with the slave trade of the 1400s and continues through the era of segregation, leading to the present day. Exhibits…

sign inside Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville with carltonaut figurine
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Rock Out at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville

People often associate Nashville exclusively with country music. And while that genre of music is popular, there’s a reason Nashville is known as Music City, USA. There’s a rich history of all sorts of music being recorded and performed in the city. My recent visit to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum taught me…

Experience the Somali Museum of Minnesota in Minneapolis carltonauts travel tips
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Learn Culture at the Somali Museum of Minnesota

One man has set out to preserve his heritage and culture. Over the years, he’s collected 1,500+ artifacts from Somali culture and heritage that help tell the story of the Somali people. Only a small portion of those artifacts are on display at the Somali Museum of Minnesota in Minneapolis. My son and I are…