Museums on vacation - anyone else feel this way?

[Anonymous]

I am a museum addict. They bring me joy!

Thanks to all the museums and museum workers for all that you do to make life more interesting and joyful for people like me.

[Anonymous]

No, I don’t agree. In many cities, museums are the most interesting sites to see. I’d much rather see ancient, interesting artifacts and art than just wander around a city. I can’t imagine, for example, skipping museums in the major Italian cities, or forgoing the Met in NYC. The museums in DC are nice, but there’s a lot they don’t have.

[Anonymous]

Museums in major cities are too crowded for me to enjoy. We were in Florence last year and visited Uffizi and it was awful- packed to the gills. Ditto for Smithsonian. I think the Smithsonian is fantastic, but too crowded for me to enjoy.

[Anonymous]

I am a museum lover, but the Sistine Chapel and Mone Lisa at the Louvre made me sad. So crowded and people making selfies. Ugh.
Other rooms at the Louvre were much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Ditto. As an example - I loved the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
https://www.visitstockholm.com/o/the-vasa-museum/
Another is the Gold Museum in Lima, Peru.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends. In Paris I go to museums. In Denver I don’t.

+1

No selfies in museums, that si the general "rule". Don't get me started on selfies of those that park themselves in/around overseas landmarks, and keep everyone else from taking family portraits. We get it, Instagram is important to you, but some of us want to actually move on and live our lives, not for Instagram. While we are at it, what is with the grown adults in matching instagram outfits?

[Anonymous]

We have an elementary school age child and like to take him to museums on city trips like Chicago, NYC, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Richmond - we have a museum pass that gets us in for free at many science or children's museums. They're pretty interesting. He would be bored at art museums at his age though when we went to Paris he asked to go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Any day that schools kids are out is bad, and I’m not pulling my kids to go to Smithsonian so it pretty much always sucks.

[Anonymous]

I want to enjoy larger museums but rarely do. I love small, digestible places like the Neue Gallerie in NYC or the Orangerie in Paris. Stunning buildings, accessible theme, usually a lovely cafe…

Can the museum lovers on this thread share any tips for enjoying the biggies? Do you do the audio guides? Prep beforehand? I think I have trouble jumping from topic to topic.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t go to a random aquarium or science museum when traveling abroad, but we recently spent an entire day at the British Museum and a half day at the National Roman Museum with no regrets.

[Anonymous]

I sometimes go to one. I saw the Uffizi in Italy and really glad I went to that one; it was wonderful. But I did not do any other museums, and no longer feel obligated to if I don’t truly want to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to enjoy larger museums but rarely do. I love small, digestible places like the Neue Gallerie in NYC or the Orangerie in Paris. Stunning buildings, accessible theme, usually a lovely cafe…

Can the museum lovers on this thread share any tips for enjoying the biggies? Do you do the audio guides? Prep beforehand? I think I have trouble jumping from topic to topic.

If in Europe, the Rick Steves audio guides are great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I agree that pay museums are more enjoyable. I love visiting them, I find museums very calming and have since I was a child. I’m lucky my kid feels the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I want to enjoy larger museums but rarely do. I love small, digestible places like the Neue Gallerie in NYC or the Orangerie in Paris. Stunning buildings, accessible theme, usually a lovely cafe…

Can the museum lovers on this thread share any tips for enjoying the biggies? Do you do the audio guides? Prep beforehand? I think I have trouble jumping from topic to topic.

The thing I love about the Smithsonian is that you can jsut go for a 1/2 hour or to see one exhibit. No need to send 4 hours seeing everything.....

[Anonymous]

I’ve never enjoyed museums.