Museums on vacation - anyone else feel this way?

[Anonymous]

I like to do one museum on a trip, but center the trip more on outdoor experiences. I actually used to work in museums (and now work in national parks) so I'm not exactly a hater, but they're a particular type of activity that leads to a particular type of fatigue.

I did just buy a membership to a science center and want to hit as many reciprocal museums with my kids as I can before it expires, though!

[Anonymous]

There are some remarkable museums in this world. Many enhance the understanding of the places you are visiting.

Maybe not on a beach chill out trip…but visiting anywhere it’s great to learn about where you are. Even if it’s a local monument or botanical garden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I don't go to museums on vacation. I have museums at home, and they are world class. The Louvre gets a pass of course, but anything short of the Louvre is not worth my time.

Interesting that you find the louvre worth your time but not the Uffizi or the Vatican (among many others).

Well I have never been to Italy, so maybe I would make an exception if I went there!

[Anonymous]

Agree that generally, spoils of war collected by this, that and the other dynasty, nationalized and then sorted into endless rows of “Renaissance,” “Impressionist,” “Asian” wings etc etc etc don’t really do it for me when I’m traveling. But I think a smaller museum, in the vernacular architecture, with a very specific local focus, can be really wonderful and worthwhile. Also any really unique special exhibitions.

[Anonymous]

I am the opposite, OP! I like museums in smaller cities, where you have to pay for admission, significantly MORE than the DC Smithsonians because they are way less crowded and hence way more enjoyable. Even the same genre like science or natural history museums (which my kids love).

Agree with others that they are sometimes specific to the place as well.

I generally prefer outdoor stuff more too, but usually end up with mixed weather for at least part of the trip and do some indoor attractions too.

I think it depends a lot on the destination and the makeup of your family/group as well as your interests / preferences.

[Anonymous]

I've seen most of the major museums by this point and rarely bother returning unless it's for a specific exhibition, like the Vermeer exhibition in Amsterdam, which really was fabulous.

I prefer seeing palaces and country houses and castles as well as Roman ruins and antiquities over yet another art museum, although sometimes the little provincial museums will have one or two artwork that really is stunning. A little museum in Palermo had an amazing wall painting from an old medieval hospital that just blew me away and I still think about it.

[Anonymous]

No, I never skip museums. But I like museums even when I'm just here, home in DC.

[Anonymous]

It would depend. I would never go see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre or The Night Watch at the Rijksmuseum in August. But a rainy Tuesday morning in November, sure. Crowds ruin everything for me. But if you have the room to yourself, yeah, it's good.

I do like the small, quirky museums. Like the National Museum of Fiji. They have the Rev. Baker's shoe. All that was left of him after the locals ate him. Or even the little museums in this area, like the Calvert Marine Museum down in Solomons. It's an interesting hour or two, and those kind of museums tend to be fun if you have kids. Tragically, no Vermeers at the Calvert Marine Museum.

[Anonymous]

Can't relate. Sure sometimes it is overkill - our child revolted after five hours at a giant sprawling art museum in Spain. But also talks extensively about wanting to go back to the Dutch Resistance Museum because we didn't have much time there and she loved it. And loved the Imperial War Museum in London. Not every museum is for us, but a lot of them are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I never skip museums. But I like museums even when I'm just here, home in DC.

The problem here is they are crowded with the unwashed masses. Every time a visitor wants to go, I cry a little inside. We are at Natural History today and it’s horrific.

[Anonymous]

Same.

Though I will say I do love architecture and in some cities, I'll pop into the museum not to see exhibits but to walk around a spectacular buildings. And when you're doing that you tend not to be in the crowds bc people are crowded into the exhibit rooms not the main lobbies and grand staircases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, I never skip museums. But I like museums even when I'm just here, home in DC.

The problem here is they are crowded with the unwashed masses. Every time a visitor wants to go, I cry a little inside. We are at Natural History today and it’s horrific.

Yes, well, this is a terrible time to go. Everyone is there with their holiday out-of-towner guests.

[Anonymous]

I’m one of those people who does love visiting museums, but I applaud the OP’s decision to avoid what doesn’t interest her, and I fervently wish more people would be this honest with themselves and the world and stop clogging galleries they couldn’t care less to see.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the museum. I don’t go extreme either way, of totally shunning museums like you or visiting every obscure museum there is. If there is a special or well known museum, I’d visit it, like the ford museum in Detroit, the MET in NY, but wouldn’t visit every single natural history or kids museum in every city.

[Anonymous]

I'd do special/unusual museums, not so much the science or children's or even natural history museums we can see here. Loved the museum in Athens.