Whenever I travel, I end up buying tickets on the spur of the moment. I don't make a lot of plans about specific places I want to see, but that habit has to change since it usually means wasting time going back and forth with my friends on destinations. Which restaurant, which museum, which beach? Well, if you're looking for museums, I've put together a top 5 of museums in the United States.
The Getty-Los Angeles, CA
The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, has a wide variety of collections. One of the upcoming collections is Medieval Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art. This collection contains over 120 pieces, including items from the 3rd through the 16th centuries. There is also a family room area, so the smaller kids aren't too bored looking at illuminated manuscripts. What is the best part of The Getty, though? Admission is free!
Metropolitan Museum of Art-New York, NY
The Met offers one of the most diverse and comprehensive collections in the West. A popular place for native New Yorkers, there's something for everyone. Pick a collection or two to browse if you don't have an entire weekend to spend walking around. One of the current exhibitions is Frank Stella On The Roof. This collection features stainless steel and carbon fiber sculptures, and offers, as a bonus, a rooftop view of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park.
The National Air and Space Museum-Washington, DC
The National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian offers those who are interested in flight to learn about the past and take a peek into the future. America by Air, opening in November, will give you a chance to see how the planes, the industry, and even the flight attendant uniforms have evolved from the Wright brothers to the Jet Age.
The American Museum of Natural History-New York, NY
Besides the famous butterfly exhibition, The American Museum of Natural History has much to offer. Their Water: H2O=Life exhibition, opening in November, gives us a look at water using live fish and frogs, among other interactive tools. The aim is to educate us on the forms water takes, and remind us that this most important resource is limited.
The Museum of Modern Art-New York, NY
The Museum of Modern Art doesn't leave much to be desired for the mod squad. However, over one hundred thousand paintings, including such classics as Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and Monet's 20 foot wide "Water Lilie", various sculptures, film, and photography give everyone a taste from all the disciplines. With the semi-recent renovations, the museum itself is as spectacular as the art.