Community Forums

ctpres · 07-18-2011, 03:44 PM

Maybe this will get legs and run on it's own.
So far we have seen two worth passing along.

1. Cole Land Transportation Museum, Bangor, Maine. Only 5 or 6 bucks and you can spend a couple hours looking at everything related to transportation in Maine, from snow shoes to huge snow plows to a model A with snow drive kit. Well worth the time.

2. Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, NY. Only $11 and spend three to four hours. Beautiful old boats, motors, guided tour of HUGE old two story house boat - sinks with gold trim and two firplaces! You even check out a skiff for free to paddle around for awhile. See boats being restored. Couple hours worth of on demand video. Multiple buildings, so wear hiking shoes to see it all.

decodancer · 07-18-2011, 04:32 PM

My favorite was an Alpaca farm we chanced upon while traveling through Vermont. The super friendly owner gave us a free and very informative tour and we spent a long time visiting with these friendly animals. There was a store where you could buy goods made from the fur but it wasn't open at the time. My Mother said she enjoyed this more than the many paid attractions we went to.

Pairajays · 07-18-2011, 07:53 PM

Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. Plan on 8 hrs per day for a week.

Jim E

njs42 · 07-18-2011, 08:40 PM

Any National Park in Utah. Glorious.

RVThere · 07-18-2011, 08:46 PM

Factory tours:
Corvette factory - Bowling Green, KY
Martin Guitar - Lebanon, PA
Boeing - Everett, WA
Louisville Slugger Bats - Louisville, KY

Great reminder of what is MADE IN AMERICA!

frankdamp · 07-18-2011, 08:52 PM

They're actually fairly local (within 85 miles of home) but you airplane buffs shouldn't miss the Museum of Flight on the edge of King County International Aiport (aka Boeing Field) south of Seattle, the Boeing factory tour in Everett (NW corner of Paine Field) or Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Foundation (also at Paine Field). Most of Paul Allen's collection are flyable. those that aren't are being worked on to make them so.

There's also a pretty good smaller museum at Olympia Airport, where most of the airplanes on display are still flyable. They used to have an ex-RAF Lightning supersonic fighter, a program which I worked on as an apprentice at English Electric back in the early 1960s. Regrettably, they sold it a couple of years ago, but it was too expensive for a small mueum to restore it flyable condition and very difficult to find anyone in the Northwest qualified to fly it.

Scotter · 07-18-2011, 08:53 PM

Check this out for factory tours everywhere.

Factory Tours USA

jfran304 · 07-18-2011, 08:56 PM

Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins, GA. Free admission, free parking for RV's or buses. Open 9 to 5 361 days a year.

Museum Home

Jon

Chuck 1935 · 07-19-2011, 12:43 PM

Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota

Very interesting if your headed down I-90 in South Dakota !

Rich and Cork · 07-19-2011, 07:11 PM

Here was one of our favorites:

Shelburne Museum

We were driving by and I saw the sign and I saw "Motorcycles" and "Quilts" and we like both of those. Spent two whole days there and what a wonderful find.

ralper · 07-19-2011, 07:54 PM

Model Airplane Museum south of Elkhart, IN.
Hammer Museum in Seward, AK.

Ken Roberts · 07-19-2011, 08:18 PM

Two months ago took a great tour with 2 grand sons and their other grand father. We spent the day at the U.S. Air Force Boneyard in Tucson. We already are talking about a second go around nect winter. Good take for all ages

Try roadsideamerica. com for unusual things to see state by state. We live in Crossville, TN and through this site found The Minister's Tree House 10 miles away, just off exit 320 on I-40. It is without a doubt the biggest tree hause I have ever seen with at least 8 levels and dozens of rooms. They used ever kind of wood known to man, i.e. pieces of pallets, old wooden doors, cut-offs from someone who had framed a house, etc. I am quite sure that this would never get pass any building inspector; but, it is neat to see

SVTotem · 07-19-2011, 08:24 PM

OK, don't laugh.

The Spam Museum in Austin, MN.

Actually it covers a good bit of Hormel history, but the focus is on Spam, particularly the war time contribution. They have a good sense of humor regarding the product, but it is very well done.

It is free.