USA Travel Magazine - Topics

The beauty of photography are the individual views capturing moments of old and new, which makes the Camera Heritage Museum collection a must see for photographers. The character of each photo depends on the camera and the museum has over 7,000 cameras as well as accessories and photos to admire. The antique cameras are most interesting and have many stories to tell about the events witnessed. Located at 1 W Beverley St. Staunton, Virginia , The Camera Heritage Museum is the previous home of Camera and Palette Inc. - a historic site of its own. Among the cameras to view are rare items like the complex miniature camera the size of a pack of playing cards built by a Swiss watch company, Le Coultre. Always in the collection is the Street Camera that was designed so photographers could develop film on the go.  Thank you to David Schwartz, Photographer and Founder of the Camera Heritage Museum and Curator in Staunton, Virginia - We appreciate his hard work and dedication to preserving ...

"For 50 years, Joe Bonsall was the Oak Ridge Boys’ sparkplug," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "He was as exciting a performer as any who ever hit a gospel or country stage. His tenor voice was high and clear, and his jovial spirit always provided a jolt of energy, immediately rousing audiences to come on in and take a load off. He certainly lightened our cares every time he sang." Celebrate the music and life of Joe Bonsall at the  Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum  - See their website for more news and to plan your visit. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum  

  Today, White River State Park will hosts a festive Juneteenth with events for all to join. Saturday in the park begins with a parade at Indiana and Blackford Avenue from 10 a.m. to noon, and includes these Juneteenth activities: Indy Juneteenth Festival The Indy Juneteenth Festival is Military Park from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. The park will feature live entertainment, food trucks, vendors, games, bounce houses, education stations and other activities. Indiana State Museum   Juneteenth Celebrate Juneteenth with free admission 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Indiana State Museum. Their festival will feature hands-on art activities, chats with curators, food trucks, plus, live artist performances.  Eiteljorg Museum Juneteenth and Jazz Saturday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the Eiteljorg Museum’s 9th annual Juneteenth and Jazz Community Celebration. The museum will offer free admission to enjoy events like poetry readings, storytelling, and creative activities. T...

One of our favorite museums is full of treats for all ages - The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Wander the museum exhibits and there are so many toys among the collection. When it comes to toys, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis asked the experts - kids. They presented families with a chance to try out toys and then they voted on their favorites.   The top picks include : Micro Slot Racing Set - Roboraptor Giant Pancake Monster Game Magnet Picture MagPad Tongues Out!  Did one of your favorite toys make the list?  Find other gift ideas and make a purchase with a purpose in the museum store. Plus, the great gifts, toys, and educational items in their store gives back 100% of all our profits going directly back to The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Each purchase supports their  mission of family education, and community development! From an antique carousel to a water clock, and changing exhibits that engage and entertain - there’s always something exci...

Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, overlooking Salt Lake City is the Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah. It is here that you'll discover the Rio Tinto Center that was designed to showcase the diverse landscape and historic treasures of Utah. This Museum sets a new standard for a Natural History Museum of the 21st Century. Since opening over 60,000 visitors admired the Museum that sits on a stunning 17-acre site, and was designed by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects. With over 41,300 square feet of gallery and education space, you'll discover more than imagined within these world-class collections in new exhibitions designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates. Among the exhibits are The Canyon where some Museum theater pieces will be performed. The re-envisioned Museum presents a fresh, fascinating and immersive journey through the natural formation of life and land around Salt Lake City and throughout the state of Utah. The Natural History Mu...

From the smaller fossils to the huge full skeletons, it is hard to imagine that millions of years ago that Mastodons roamed the landscape around Waco, Texas. Not only have skeletons of 65,000-year-old Mammoths been excavated in the area; the skeletal remains of a 10,000 year-old man and child were also found. This ancient history and more can be shared with family and friends with a visit the Mayborn Museum Complex, located at 1300 S. University Parks Drive. What you may not know is that Waco is one of the most important paleontological sites in the world where researchers gather to study the largest concentration of mammoths to have died from a single event. Relatives of both Woolly Mammoths and Mastodons, Columbian Mammoths most closely resembled modern-day African and Asian elephants. Drawn to the riverbed in what was believed to be a time of severe drought, these enormous creatures were caught in a flash flood and unable to escape the torrential downpour. During their investigation...

  Begin your journey through time at a rural New England town of the 1830’s set on over 200 acres in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. More than 40 original buildings from the time period make  Old Sturbridge Village ,  the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast. Among the authentic structures that bring the village to life are homes, meetinghouses, a district school, country store, mills and shops of numerous craftsmen. Guests at the village can meet and speak to history interpreters dressed in authentic costumes with opportunities for role-playing, talks, walks, and performances. A new kid story learning gallery in the visitors center is a delight for children ages 3-10 and their families. No admission is required to dine at Oliver Wright Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village located at the entrance to the museum. Daily dining and Sunday brunch are available. Another dining option located on the Common within the Village is Bullard Tavern that serves a delicious menu of tr...

  Our children have always loved dinosaurs, and if you do as well then while in Cleveland visit the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Here, you'll find Dinosaur exhibits, and plenty of fun hands-on activities to share with the whole family. In addition to dinosaurs, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History features wildlife habitats, live animal shows, and daily planetarium programs. There is also a hands-on Discovery Center for children of all ages and, outdoor gardens where you can relax after a day of fun. Cleveland's first collection of natural history began in the 1830s in a small, wooden building known as "the Ark." Located in Cleveland's Public Square, "the Ark" consisted of two rooms that were packed with animal specimens. Through the passion and enthusiasm of a group of men who frequented "the Ark," The Cleveland Museum of Natural History was founded in 1920. Today, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is one of the finest natural...

  Once the idea of humans flying was little more than fantasy. Today, the journey of flight is filled with thrilling and heroic moments. From the Wright Brother's first flight to the exciting air shows that drawn thousands - we can let our imagination take flight in Maryland. In fact, Maryland is home to the College Park Airport, which is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world, and where the Wright Brother's taught military pilots how to fly. For those who love Aviation history, Maryland offers plenty of unique sites to visit. The College Park Aviation Museum is filled with hand-on, interactive exhibits the whole family will enjoy. You'll find a reproduction of a Blériot XI monoplane, and the 1910 Wright Model B, along with the impressive 1916 Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny" Military Tractor. While you cannot buy much for a dollar these days, you can take flight with regular museum admission, and $1 in the museums 1911 Model B Flight Simulator that takes you...

  Museum cafes offer fresh selections and are often overlooked.  When visiting the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. be sure to stop in at the Muse Café. Owned and operated by restaurateurs Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray, the Muse Café offers a Vegan Brunch with 100% plant-based dishes, which are loved by Vegan's and those who enjoy a good steak. The menu, created by Chef Gray highlights seasonal ingredients, which are found at the Fresh Farm Market near the White House. A few of the favorites on the menu are the Truffled Macaroni and Cheese with Wild Mushroom, Garlic Parsley. Chef Gray also presents a Granola-Crusted Whole Wheat French Toast with Quince and Golden Raisin Compote, and a savory Red Curry Cous Cous Risotto with Coconut Milk, Kobucha Squash and Crispy Tofu. The husband and wife team of Chef Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray are among Washington’s top advocates for sustainable agriculture, fisheries and humanely raised animals. They worked wit...

  Imagine traveling the prairie, collecting water from a river or creek, everything you needed was tucked  in a covered wagon. Years later, you witness the moving stream train for the first time. These are the tales you can discover in Nebraska, where people's dreams and hopes were tested as they made their way across the state.  There are places like the  Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer  in Grand Island that celebrate the courage of these early settlers.  The Stuhr Museum is one of the nation's Top Ten Living History Museums  - and has been named "one of the top '10' places to relive America's past" by Good Housekeeping magazine, They also have Railroad Town to explore that offers a hands-on living history experience that tells the story of town buildings of days long ago in Nebraska. Nebraska Historic Sites Travel on to  Kearney to explore  the G reat Platte River Road Archway Monumen t, where you'll discover a gallery of interacti...