Museums that are Totally Worth Your Time

In a new city and looking for something fun to do? Well, if you’re anything like us, we check out the museums. Think that’s weird? Well, let’s put it this way. At one, we got to rap and play drums. At another we got to partake moonshine tasting. We’ve spied dinosaurs, giant sloths, and blue whales. Want to get the inside scoop on where these were? Come with us this week for museums that are TOTALLY worth your time.

TeamLab Planets – Tokyo, Japan

Large silver orbs, sitting on hills of green moss at TeamLab Planet in Tokyo. — These orbs would make music when you touched them

Part art installation, part play ground – we had SO much fun experiencing TeamLab Planets in Tokyo. We knew it wasn’t going to be like anything we’d experienced before. First, they told us that we’d be barefoot and second, they said we should be prepared to be wet to our knees. We couldn’t quite capture the first exhibit but entering it was AN EXPERIENCE. You had to get down on your hands and knees and crawl through a maze that was sitting on a floor that was a giant balloon!

A man, surrounded on all sides by large rubber balls that are pink and blue. — All of these balls, change color when they are touched

Woman standing knee deep in water. There are projected images of koi fish around her. — All of these balls, change color when they are touched

American Museum of Natural History – New York City, NY

Dinosaur skeleton in the atrium of the American Museum of Natural History — Atrium at the American Museum of Natural History

Every hall in the American Museum of Natural History drew a “wow” out of us. And it started with lobby that showcased three giant dinosaur skeletons, before we even paid for admission. That’s right, three free dinosaurs! It would only be better if:

We could spend the night there
Robin Williams would join us, dressed as Teddy Roosevelt.
#nightatthemuseum

Three rhinos displayed together at the American Museum of Natural History — The Rhinos

Large, African elephant at the American Museum of Natural History — The Rhinos

Blue whale hanging from the ceiling of the American Museum of Natural History — Pictures just DON’T do it justice. You have to see this for yourself!

Mopop (Museum of Pop Culture) – Seattle, WA

Police car from the movie, “Blade Runner”, i the MoPOP lobby. — Police car from Blade Runner at MoPop

MoPop is a museum you can bring your 11 year old son to, and he will have fun! The first exhibit we visited was about video games and the second was about music. And BOTH allowed us to play. There were special engagements as well. The first was featuring Prince, so I was happy. And the second was about Pearl Jam, though I suspect that one might always be there since they are from Seattle. Lastly, there’s a GREAT section with movie props from Sci-Fi and horror movies.

Young man playing video games at MoPop in Seattle — Who thought you could play video games AT the museum??

Young man, wearing a baseball cap backwards, playing an electronic drum kit — Who thought you could play video games AT the museum??

The Mob Museum – Las Vegas, NV

Marble building that is the Mob Museum in Las Vegas — The Mob Museum

Though I am typically a kind and gentle human, there is something about the 1930 gang era I find irresistible. It turns out, The Mob Museum in Las Vegas was made for people JUST LIKE ME. We strolled through galleries of memorabilia, including mug shots, evidence and even a retired electric chair. Best of all, they had working stills in the basement and offer a moonshine tasting. If you’re curious, here’s how the tasting went:

The first, was like gasoline
The second, was like mellow gasoline
The third, was sweet gasoline.

Etched wooden barrel, depicting whiskey falling from the second story of a building, like a waterfall — That time where whiskey fell like a waterfall

Display of bullets recovered from the victims of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre — That time where whiskey fell like a waterfall

Natural History Museum – London, UK

The front entrance of the Natural History Museum in London. It is has two towers with a large archway between them. The rest of the building has ornate arched windows. — The front entrance

And lastly, The Natural History Museum in London. It answers the age old question, “What if Hogwarts ALSO had dinosaurs?” The exhibits were absolutely magnificent and the architecture ALONE is worth the price of admission.

Looking into the hall of mammals at the Museum of Natural history in London. Handing from the ceiling is a blue whale, dolphins and narwhals. Beneath them are elephants. — Hall of Mammals

Skeleton on a stegosaurus, sitting on a platform near the ceiling of the Natural History Museum in London — Hall of Mammals

Entering the Whale hall at the Natural History Museum. There is a large archway above the tiled floor. Beyond is the skeleton of a blue whale suspended from the ceiling — Entering the Whale Hall

Another Golden Pelican Award

Image of a golden pelican trophy with a beach ball on its nose — The Most Fun Museums

See, we TOLD you these places were fun! If you’re looking for other “World’s Best” categories, check out all our Golden Pelican Winners. We still have more to go, including music venues, aquariums and our “Zoo Review”. If you have a place you’d like us to check out, please let us know.

For our latest curated content, be sure to subscribe for free. And keep up with us in real time on Instagram at The__Travel__Oracle.

TeamLab Planets – Tokyo, Japan

American Museum of Natural History – New York City, NY

Mopop (Museum of Pop Culture) – Seattle, WA

The Mob Museum – Las Vegas, NV

Natural History Museum – London, UK

Another Golden Pelican Award

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