Museums are located in many cities in the United States and they have diverse subject matter. Museums often focus on art, history or music. But, did you know that some museums are dedicated entirely to food? If you’re planning a culinary vacation, then adding in a visit to a food museum can be an interesting way to learn something new. There are quite a few food museums located in the United States that a person could visit to discover about the history, facts and trivia of food.

The Idaho Potato Museum is a traveling museum that is currently located in New Mexico. This museum originated in 1975 in Belgium, and is the first museum dedicated to the potato. The Idaho Potato Museum features exhibits such as art depicting soldiers peeling potatoes, exhibits showing how potatoes grow, and exhibits showing the importance of the potato throughout the world. As with most museums, the Idaho Potato Museum has an online store where visitors can purchase apparel and other items to show they had visited the Idaho Potato Museum.

The Jello Gallery is located in LeRoy, New York. This museum is open year round and is accessible for visitors confined to wheelchairs. The Jello Gallery focuses on the history of Jello and Jello trivia. There is also an exhibit in the museum that showcases Jello spokespeople throughout the history of Jello. There are many items dedicated to Jello, and the Jello Gallery is home to a gift shop where visitors can purchase Jello memorabilia, cookbooks, and Jello apparel.

Austin, Minnesota is home to the Spam Museum. The Spam Museum is free of charge and open year-round. Exhibits in the Spam Museum include a World War Two exhibit about Spam, an interactive game show exhibit, a Spam diner, and movies about the history and uses of Spam. The Spam Museum allows visitors to learn about a locally made product while having fun.

The Mustard Museum is located in Middleton, Wisconsin. This museum pays homage to the many varieties of mustard. There are over 5,000 varieties of mustard from all over the world on display in the Mustard Museum. This museum features a newsletter that is published on Tuesdays. People not able to visit this museum can view the newsletter online. The Mustard Museum also celebrates National Mustard Day in August. At this festival, visitors can expect mustard games, music, free hot dogs, and free samples of mustard. Inside the museum, visitors can purchase unique mustard varieties for their own personal mustard collections.

While traveling through the state of Washington, people can visit the Washington Banana Museum. This unique museum has many different banana artifacts from various countries. A visitor can expect to see items such as a banana carved from bone, banana posters, and toys for children shaped like bananas. The Washington Banana Museum has no admission charge for visitors. There is no gift shop at this museum, but visitors to the Washington Banana Museum will be able to learn about the history of the banana at this unique food museum.

Museums throughout the world showcase any number of fascinating subjects — including food. Whether learning about Jello, Spam, bananas, mustard, or potatoes, foodies on vacation will enjoy these memorable museums.

When you’ve spend days in the office pulling long hours day to day seeing nothing more than the four walls of your office, then you know you’ve been working too hard. If you’re a man with a passion for golf, why not treat yourself and your family to a good golf holiday. You could spend some relaxing time on the green courses while your kids play in pools and play land and the ladies pamper themselves with spas or even join you on the course. So, what’s better than heading down to Scotland, the home of golf for a good vacation?

First, decide where in Scotland you’d like to go. There are tons of great courses to play on each with a different feel and scenery. You can have a good game on the greens in the highlands or hit Aberdeen and have a good game. Once you’ve picked a city or town, get a list of golfing courses available and see which appeals to you the best. Of course there’s the ever famous St. Andrews but there are many others to choose from as well.

Next, look online or check with travel agents for family golf holiday packages which would usually include accommodation, food and a few rounds of golf. Of course you would purchase all of these separately but usually packages are cheaper and you can often find good promotions a few times a year.

When you’ve settled with a place, check and see if there are golf tours available. As Scotland is the home of golf, there are plenty of golf courses to visit and learn about so if you’ve got the interest sign up for a tour and you’ll see places like St. Andrews, Muirfield and even the Royal Troon, all great courses that hold amazing golfing history.

So what are you waiting for, look out for great deals and make your reservations right away!

While getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life is one of the reasons families choose to go camping, for kids – it’s the ultimate adventure. If you are planning a family camping trip this summer, here are some tips that will ensure your vacation is both a safe and fun experience.

1. Pre-camping preparation. If you have small children, you may want to select a tent that will accommodate all if you comfortably. On the other hand, if you are camping with older children, it may be a good idea to purchase additional pup tents to give them some sense of independence. Another great tip is to practice assembling the tents in your backyard so as to avoid wasting time at the camp site.

2. Selecting a campsite. Depending upon whether you decide to “rough it” or choose a campsite that is close to amenities, you can research the many campsites online that offer comprehensive information on the area. This will enable you to decide not only what equipment, clothing, and food you need to take, but the available hiking areas and points of interest as well.

Ensure that the campsite you select is an official campsite area. Moreover, when researching camping sites it’s a good idea to look for those areas that are on the high ground. Thus, if it rains, your tent and equipment will not become water logged.

3. Make a checklist. This is very important to ensure you do not forget anything on your camping trip. Among the items on your checklist, some of the more important items you will need are:

* Cooking gear such as a frying pan, a few pots, a bucket, barbecue grill or stove, bags with a Ziploc, and cooking utensils. In addition, food containers and canned goods are best. It is also recommended that you prepare meals at home and package them in containers for the trip. Also bring water, a can opener, hot water kettle and coffee pot, and a cooler with a block of ice.

* Packing the appropriate clothing is also essential. Depending upon the location, wearing light layers is a good idea as well as packing some sweaters and jackets for the evening hours. Extra socks, hats, and gloves may also be warranted. If you intend to engage in some hiking, proper hiking boots are necessary.

* Sleeping bags, first aid kit, flashlights, cell phone, garbage bags, toiletries, sunscreen, ointments, a map of the area, insect repellent, games for the kids, and rainwear.
For a complete checklist on what to bring on a camping trip, there are many camping websites that offer a myriad of suggestions.

4. When you reach the camp site, choose an area to set up the tents. Ensure there are no rocks or debris where the tent will be set up. Most campgrounds will post warning signs or instructions regarding specific animals and vegetation.

5. When preparing a campfire, if appropriate, ensure that it is set up further away from the tents. After you have roasted the marshmallows, sang songs, and told ghost stories; douse the fire before going to bed.

Finally, enjoy the entire camping experience. Sleeping under the stars, communing with nature, and relishing the time spent with family will not only bring a family closer together, but the memories of this experience will last forever.

Deciding on a family road trip can be a daunting challenge, not to mention an exercise in patience. However if you prepare ahead of time, the trip can be one of the most memorable experiences of your family’s life.

Here are some quick and easy tips for making your family road trip a fun and safe one.

First, prepare a checklist of items you will need. This will include first aid kit, food, snacks, drinks, and lots of toys, coloring books, paper and crayons, a portable DVD player so your kids can watch their favorite movies; and a cooler. A good idea is to ask the kids what games they would like to take, within limits of course.

Ensure that the snacks are healthy in nature. Too many sugar snacks can have the kids bouncing off the car seats. Remember, this is a relaxing family vacation and you want to avoid the kids getting bored or repeatedly asking you when you are going to arrive.
Check online to print out games for the road that you and the kids can play along the way. There are an assortment of puzzles and riddles as well.

In addition, if you have very young children you will need to take the diaper bag and wipes for the occasional spills, blankets and pillows if applicable and a favourite item or stuffed animal for the young ones is a good idea as well.

Second, decide on the destination and then contact AAA for a trip ticket. Ask for the scenic route, one that is much more calming and pleasing to the eye, especially the driver!

Third, as you check out the planned route you may want to check online to find gas stations along the way that offer the cheapest gas. Also if there are any points of interest along the route mark them on the map and plan to stop at these sites.
Fourth, while on the road ensure that you make pit stops regularly. This will allow the kids to run around and let off some steam, while allowing the adults to stretch and reenergize. Bring along a football or soccer ball so that the entire family can have some fun while exercising at the same time.

Finally, it is very important that safety concerns are met. This includes having the car checked at your local mechanic or gas station. Ensure that the oil and filter are changed; the tires are well inflated (don’t forget the spare tire, too); the windshield wipers are replaced (if needed); and the car is in great condition before you head out.

In addition, you may want to place the following items in your trunk: a lawn chair, extra blanket, emergency road kit, umbrellas, water, flashlight and batteries, a battery-powered radio, and windshield wiper cleaner. In the glove compartment include a first aid kit and cell phone charger. Keep all medications in a Ziploc bag in the glove compartment as well.

Another good idea is to take a list of telephone numbers including the hotel or motel where you are staying as well as those of family and friends you may need to contact.

If you enjoy scrapbooking, this road trip may be a perfect opportunity to add new treasures to the book. As you make stops at some scenic sites, ask the kids to find an item they would like to include in the scrapbook. Or if the kids point out something along the way that they find fascinating, take a picture of it to include in the scrapbook as well.

Engage the kids in the decision making, age appropriate, and allow them to decide what they would like to bring. Have them pack their clothes (check the suitcases afterwards) so they feel part of the overall experience. Planning ahead of time for a family road trip will save you time, stress, and money. And the kids will enjoy this adventure, too.