The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a delightful little gem nestled in the bluff lands of the Mississippi River Valley in the southeastern tip of Minnesota. After only having been open for just under 5 years, the museum has already expanded into a brand-new wing that provides the climate and humidity controls and security necessary for the preservation of their most valuable pieces of art. The museum is comprised of four main galleries that each houses a different collection. Three of these galleries hold temporary exhibitions, while the fourth contains the permanent collection of the museum. At the time of my last visit in early September of 2009, the first gallery featured a series of images by a photographer who had embarked on a project to take only a single photograph for each of the 90 consecutive days he spent in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on the border between the United States and Canada. The second held a collection of instruments and various paraphernalia necessary for sailing the high seas before the advent of modern navigational equipment. The final impermanent collection was a suite of folk art showcasing the aspects of the Mississippi River. The permanent collection is, quite naturally, the star of the show here. With paintings by Monet, Pissarro, and many more famous painters, you will not be disappointed by the variety of styles and takes on the subject of the waterways that drove life in these earlier times. After you have taken in all the art this museum has to offer, wander the grounds and enjoy the gardens as well as the natural beauty of the area. To find what else your city has to offer, try searching on globalYP.net, local directory listings available online.

Although the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle, WA, might seem like a stop for locals, it’s actually a great place to visit for both area residents and for tourists. Locals will find important pieces of local history, including a vintage hydroplane, artifacts from the days of the Yukon Gold Rush, and photographs that demonstrate just how much the city has changed within living memory. Visitors to the area will discover that there is much more to Seattle than just Microsoft and coffee—the city’s heritage includes major fishing and maritime industries, a diverse population, and connections with people ranging from George Vancouver to Jimi Hendrix. The museum also brings in diverse traveling and temporary exhibitions on topics from Abraham Lincoln to fashion to the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest. Exhibits include plenty of hands-on features, so it’s a fun trip for kids and adults alike. There is also a small gift shop so you can take home books and other souvenirs related to Seattle history. The museum is located right next to Lake Washington and the Washington Park Arboretum, complete with a network of boardwalks that encourage visitors to explore the fringes of the lake without damaging the wetlands. Feel encouraged to explore the area where you live, try using globalYP.net, local directory listings available online.