10 Things To Love About America Travel/Free Museums

I know that America can be annoying to foreign travelers. You can rarely find signs and tour guides in any language except English. But there are some darned nice things, too, to enjoy on your U.S. Road Trip.

  1. Public Libraries. Travelers are not likely to be borrowing books, but here are the benefits of the ubiquitous public libraries: Free or minimal charge computer use; tables on which to work, and a place to plug in your laptop and get WIFI; clean restrooms; information on the surrounding area; a schedule of lectures, story hours for kids, and lots of newspapers and magazines to read for free.
  2. National Parks. America had the first National Parks, and the concept has spread to many other countries. National Geographic Adventure has these nice articles about our National Parks. Nowadays you probably have to pay a fee, but look into special discounts for Seniors and other programs. At National Parks, take advantage of Park Ranger programs, guided hikes, maps and brochures that come along with your admission.
  3. QUICK! What is the best travel bargain in the United States? Smithsonian Institution. You can browse to your heart’s content for free ANY time at the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, like the National History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and the newer Museum of the American Indian. Plus they have the most intriguing gift shops anywhere.   On Saturday, September 25, 2010, the  Smithsonian museum affiliates across the country will open their doors for free admission to everybody. The Museum Day Tickets are available NOW for download from www.smithsonian.com/museumday.   I will take advantage of the free pass close to home at the museums listed at the Guide to Arizona Museums blog.
  4. Fast Food Restaurants. We love to hate them, but they provide a clean dependable place to eat and free, clean restrooms. I do seek out the locally owned one-of-a-kind restaurants when I can, but I can’t imagine a road trip without a stop at a few fast food chain restaurants, and some fast food places are actually healthy eating.
  5. Chain Motels. Again, the benefit is that you know what you are getting.  Holiday Inn was the first chain motel, starting in 1952 to meet the needs travelers on  the new national highway system that was beginning to cross the U.S. It is fun to explore the little independent places, and with the Internet that is easy, but sometimes you just want to stay at a familiar place.
  6. Toll-free Super Highway. The U.S. major highway system started in the fifties, and as Ken and I and our children crisscrossed the country from Arizona to Ohio in the 1960’s and early 70-‘s we saw old Route 66 slowly morph into US 40. And each trip was faster and easier. Toll roads are a logical way to earn enough money to maintain highways, and our mid-twentieth century roads are showing their age, however, I still enjoy not having to drop money in a box every few miles.
  7. Coasts that belong to everyone. Since this is a state thing rather than a federal thing, it does not apply universally to our Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, however in California, in particular, the public is entitled to access to almost all of the coastline. Google “Public access shorelines” for the scoop on whatever state you are looking for.
  8. City and state parks. From the biggest urban park–16,000-acre South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona (and you thought it was Central Park in NYC, didn’t you?) to small town parks like the historic one we discovered in Fillmore Utah. Stay and hike, or stop for a picnic.
  9. The Great Lakes–FIVE of them. Well, okay, Canada gets to claim half of four of them, but they are the largest inland fresh water bodies of water in the world and offer an endless variety of recreation for travelers.
  10. Roadside rest stops. These range from barely helpful–a picnic table surrounded by dirt and pavement–to absolutely gorgeous–landscaped, dog play areas, snacks, clean restrooms, maps and information.

What did I miss? What are your favorite things to love about traveling in America? And remember, your comment (one per post but as many per day as you like), enter you in the contest for the “I guess there will never be enough books” t-shirt.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

About Vera Marie Badertscher

A freelance writer who loves to travel. When she is not traveling she is reading about travel. When she is not reading or traveling, she is sharing with the readers of A Traveler's Library, or recreating her family's past at Ancestors In Aprons . She has written for Reel Life With Jane, Life is a Trip and other websites. Also co-author of a biography, Quincy Tahoma, The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist. Contact Vera Marie by e-mail.

12 thoughts on “10 Things To Love About America Travel/Free Museums

  1. Terrific list. I especially agree with the abundance of national, state and city parks. When I visit countries outside of the U.S., I like to stop in at the local grocery store – great insight plus inexpensive souvenirs. I’m not sure visitors to the U.S. would find the same as our grocery stores tend to be large and impersonal. As for the fast food restaurants, I’m a fan of the mom and pop places. It takes longer to find them but they are such a delightful mix of locals and down home food.

  2. Great list; the only thing I’d add is that practically every area also has state parks, wilderness areas, BLM or national forest lands, and other types of publicly owned open space lands so compared to many parts of the world, American communities often offer easier access to nature. And unlike national parks, many of public open space lands are free.

    1. Hi, Melanie: Funny you should mention all those other public lands. I had those in the article and they hit the cutting room floor because the article got way too long. Thanks for bring them up, because I think people often don’t realize BLM, Wilderness Areas, National Historic Sites, National Monuments, National Battlefields, Wildlife Preserves and other sites can be as interesting and often far less crowded than National Parks.

  3. Yes! Love the state and national parks! …Martha & Me mentioned Hawaii, which is wonderful. Alaska is also a stunning part of our country that is so relatively remote and wild.

  4. I’ve been to the USA many times and naturally contrast it with my own country. You hit on ten things but I’d also add:

    1. shops that are open long hours
    2. incredibly diverse country
    3. economical fuel/petrol/gas
    4. well sign posted streets and highways
    5. water served with all meals

    Though I recall once walking along a coastal walk being told in harsh, foul language to get off someone’s property. No signs indicated otherwise and I was following (or trying to follow) a marked path and the rudeness struck me. I am happy to say I have typically only experienced friendly and gracious people in my US travels.

  5. These are all wonderful perks we take for granted. Hawaii also makes its shores available – all resorts must provide some parking and public access areas to the beach and when we were there, staying in a condo, we took advantage of that fact!

  6. A friend was showing us around Maastricht, Netherlands. He asked me what I would like to see, and I insisted on visiting the public library. It was such a treat! (Thanks Lou!) Full espresso and alcohol bar, beautiful architecture, and a gorgeous view of the city. I made a point of checking to see if the library had copies of James Joyce and Jack Kerouac. It was a highlight for me.

    Oliver Sacks has a habit of visiting every museum in the city he is visiting. He told an audience that this was a great way to get to know a place. -r

  7. Good ones! We’ve been traveling the world since 2006, now on our 4th year of a road trip through Europe, so for us, the best part about an American road trip is seeing family. 😉 We’re in southern France now, but will be back for a visit in October after London, so looking forward to that.

    Another great thing about American road trips is the history one can learn along the way! I once did an American road trip from Boston to Key West, across to San Diego and up to SF. LOTS of beauty to witness on such a trip too!

Comments are closed.