Free? Did Someone Say Free?

My husband, Bob, always reminded the kids that nothing in life is free. And that smacks true most of the time. There are however, some places you can visit for free admission. Granted it may take a little money to get to them and they are museums but if you like that sort of thing or it's a rainy day, that could be just the best thing in town.

A SmarterTravel article listed some free museums starting with the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. We used to live near DC and visited often. There are some 19 buildings that make up the museum and the major ones all surround the Mall. My favorites were the Air and Space Museum, American History (where Dorothy's red slippers are), Art Museum and of course the National Zoo. It's been years since we've visited and I'm sure there is a lot that has changed but it is still free admission.

On a rainy day in Wellington, New Zealand, we chose to visit the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum and thoroughly enjoyed it. I normally would not chose to visit a museum but rather do outdoor activities and sight seeing but this was delightful. There was quite a variety of subjects from history to marine life which included a huge preserved squid reminiscent of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

It's always a good idea to check out a place you are planning to visit for alternative activities if weather is not friendly. They only take brochure pictures when the sun is shining.

Free Museums

For several years we lived near Washington DC. It was a great location for lots of free things to do the best being the Smithsonian Institution located in the center of the city near all the iconic structures: Washington Monument, Capital Building, etc. The museum consists of 19 separate museums and institutions including the National Zoo.

I remember seeing Dorothy's (Judy Garland) ruby red slippers in what is one of my favorite buildings, the Museum of American History. The Air and Space Museum was another favorite and I can't imagine how much more there is there now since our last visit too many years ago. Hmmm. Maybe another trip is in order.

There are lots of free museums in many places around the world. Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, NZ for one. We spent a good part of one very rainy day exploring it and found it fascinating. Others on the list might include the Nicholson in Sydney, Australia, or the British Museum in London which I understand takes several days to wander through to see it all.

Travel Tip: Check out the museums in the area you are going to visit. A free one just might be a good Plan B to a rainy day or a good Plan A for you museum buffs on a budget.