Photo by Eric Chan (flickr.com)

Whether you are looking for a family day trip idea or a class field trip, museums offer an amazing experience. Everything from art to history to science to just about everything in between can be found at museums. Looking for fun and quirky? Try the Pez Museum in Burlingame, CA.  Are old, slightly-spooky homes more your thing? Take a tour of the Winchester Mystery House in nearby San Jose, CA.  No matter what you are looking to find out more about, museums can be the ticket to education and fun.

Sadly, as more teachers focus on state mandated tests and curriculum, field trips to museums are dwindling. In fact, in December 2008, Elizabeth Blair reported on the decline of museum field trips on NPR. “It’s hard to quantify on a national level exactly how much the number of museum field trips is decreasing, but for many teachers, several hours at the museum is starting to feel like a luxury,” she stated.

If you are ready to take back the museum hallways, the museums that follow offer excellent educational experiences for children and adults. Some also offer memberships that entitle members to visit other museums in their network for little or no charge. Of course, some museums are publicly funded and require no admission fee at all!  Check out the following museums and, if we have missed your favorite museum, leave a comment and let us know which one you recommend!