The La Brea Tar Pits

 The La Brea Tar Pits located in Los Angeles, California is home to the world famous Page Museum. The famous Page Museum features the largest and most diverse collection of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the known world. 

The Museum also features a viewing room where visitors can watch bones being cleaned and repaired of animals that roamed the Los Angeles ares 10-40,000 years ago during the Ice Age. Once outside of the facility patrons are free to observe the open tar pits and enjoy the flowers and plants inside the compound. 

The Tar Pits are open and free to the public. 

The Museum is open 9:30 a.m- 5:00 p.m. daily.

Admission prices range anywhere from $2.00-7.00

The Tar Pits and Museum can be found at 5801 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036

Stax Museum

The Stax Museum of American Soul, located in Memphis, Tennessee at the original site of Stax Records takes patrons through the history of Stax Records. 

Stax Records began in 1959 and launched the careers or unknown artist into superstars and later into icons. A few of their recording artists included Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MG's, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and many more. 

The museum shares the history of Stax through films, artifacts and memorabilia. Museum patrons also walk in the footsteps of where the music was recorded and can view instruments used in the recordings of legendary songs. 

Stax Museum of American Soul is open April-October Monday-Saturday 10:00a.m-5:00p.m. and Sunday 1:00p.m-5:00p.m. November-March Closed Mondays, Tuesday-Saturday 10:00a.m-5:00p.m. and Sunday 1:00p.m-5:00p.m.

General Admission is $12.00 for adults

Discounts vary depending on age and group size

Check their website or inquire at the ticket desk for prices

A Piece of History

The Lorraine Motel located in Memphis, Tennessee will forever be a part of history. The site of Martin Luther King's assassination still stands in tact and preserved as it was in 1968.

The Motel was not just for travlers but was also used a place of residence. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., The Lorraine Motel remained a functioning hotel until 1988 when the last holdout tenant was evicted. However, no one has stayed in rooms 306 & 307 which belonged to MLK at the time of his death.

Even though the hotel still remains and unused as a dwelling, it is now home to the National Civil Rights Museum. The Museum is located right beside the hotel and is home to artifacts of MLK and documents the Civil Rights Movement. 

The Lorraine Motel is a national landmark in the Civil Rights Movement and a large part of history. If you're visiting Memphis, then do not leave out seeing this historic site. 

The National Civil Rights Museum is open: 

Monday 9:00 a.m-5:00 p.m.

Closed Tuesday

Wednesday-Sunday 1:00p.m-5:00p.m.

Special hours exist June-August so check before planning a visit. 

Admission is $13.00 per adult. 

Other prices vary.

The Balloon Museum

The Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum 

The Balloon Museum presents the development of balloons through the years by using historical, scientific and artistic objects documenting the achievements made in the field. 

The museum boasts over 50 historic and modern gondolas with many of them complete with the balloon systems. The museum begins with a tour guide giving a brief history and then patrons are left to self guide through the building. Their volunteers are available for questions.

Visiting the museum is definitely worth seeing and you'll never look at balloons in the sky the same way again. 

The Museum is located at 9201 Balloon Museum Drive NE in Albuquerque New Mexico. 

Open Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

The Griffith Observatory

Perched on top of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, sits the Griffith Observatory. 

Boasting some of the best views of the city and sky the Griffith Observatory sits 1,134 ft above sea level and can be seen from many parts of Los Angeles, CA. Currently in it's 75 year of operation, the museum offers inside exhibits and telescopes for star gazing. There is also a cafe and sitting area in addition to a gift shop. 

The Observatory location also offers a great view of the Hollywood sign...

In my travels, I've visited the Observatory twice, once in the day and once at night. In the daytime expect a crowd but once nightfall hits expect to be hiking up the hill because there will no parking and the crowds will be very thick. At night, the views of the city are worth the parking hassle! Locals bring out their telescopes for star gazing and invite everyone to take a peek at the stars through their lenses. 

So if you're traveling to Los Angeles even for a small amount of time, the Griffith Observatory is definitely worth seeing. The drive is easy through Griffith Park and the views are spectacular!

The Observatory is open Wednesday- Friday Noon-10:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-10:00pm. Closed on Monday and Tuesday. Admission the grounds and building are free. 

Don't Miss the Salt

Located in the great Smokey Mountains of Gaitlinburg, Tennessee is the one and only Museum of Salt & Pepper Shakers.

When entering the museum I became overwhelmed with how many S&P shakers there were on display. I had no idea that there had even been that many different ones manufactured over the years but indeed there has been. The Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum has the goods to prove it.

Hall after hall is categorically filled with the owners personal collection. The collection includes everything ranging from kitschy 1970's pieces of fruit to expensive crystal sets. Not only does the museum boast over 20,000 shakers on display, it also has a wide variety of sets for sale in their gift shop. The museum also houses the largest pepper mill collection.

I even experienced a flashback moment to my childhood, when I looked over and saw a set that use to sit on my grandmother's kitchen table.

(The mouse sitting inside the cheese)

Another great thing about the museum is the admission fee... it's only $3.00 and is a self guided tour so you can look at the collection until your heart is content.

This Museum shouldn't be missed. It's fun, interesting and affordable. The Museum is open Monday-Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm est.