With so many things to explore across Chicago, the Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular hot spots. There’s a little something for everyone, from a fun 4-D theater experience to endless numbers of fish and wildlife from around the world. The Shedd Aquarium is worth a visit if you’re in Chicago, and with…
It’s one thing to learn about the presidents of the United States in school. It’s another to explore their presidential libraries. Over the past several years, I’ve taken the opportunities to visit presidential libraries to learn about their years in office, life before their presidency and what they did following their presidential term(s). Last summer,…
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of a new place is through the food. But rather than just planning to dine at a few restaurants in town and call it good, I recommend learning to cook the foods. In New Orleans, I took a hands-on Creole cooking class and learned…
As soon as I learned that an Apollo space capsule was in a museum in southern California, I added the venue to my list. I recently had a trip to San Diego, so I made sure I allocated some time to visit the San Diego Air and Space Museum to see not only the capsule,…
Many “Greats” have called Tennessee home. Do you know who they are? One of the most notable is Peyton Manning, but there are several others from hockey, racecars, college basketball, rifle shooting, some Olympians and more. If you’re a fan of sports and want to learn about those from the great state of Tennessee, visit…
You’ve likely seen the work of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. But if you’re like me, you’re terrible at identifying art and its respective artist. So as we entered the Rodin Museum (Musee Rodin) in Paris and I saw The Thinker, I thought – “Now that’s a piece of art I recognize.” And now I know…
I love engaging museums that give people of all ages the opportunity to dive into science, history or more. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has all of that and more. I was able to fly into outer space, watch a lightning storm over my head and go underground in a coal mine….
With so many great museums in Washington, DC, it’s hard to know where to focus your time. That said, one of the most inspirational exhibits about the United States is at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. The Star Spangled Banner exhibit, along with multiple other exhibits, make this museum a must-visit…
I’m not a car buff. I recognize names of fancy cars, like Ferrari, Corvette, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo. But I can’t tell you what’s under the hood or even the make and model of a car based on what the tire looks like. I’ve got a friend who can, but that’s just not me. That…
My son is passionate about Sweden. His maternal ancestors immigrated from Sweden many decades ago and setup shop in northern Utah. He’s done numerous school reports on the country and loves to learn more about the culture. That love for Sweden is what drew us to the American Swedish Institute when we were planning a…
