Museums: Great Inexpensive or Free RV Side Trips

When you're RVing On The Cheap, finding inexpensive or free entertainment along the way is a great way to stretch your travel budget. Community museums are one way for small towns to entice travelers to stop and learn a little about the region they're traveling through.

Recently, as we passed through the city of Superior Wisconsin, my favorite sign jumped out in front of our motorhome. FREE ADMISSION was proudly stated on a large roadside sign advertising the Old Firehouse and Police Museum, which was just a block off the main highway at the next intersection.

Because we had way more time than money, it took little convincing to pull off into a convenient parking place. In fact they had the large green barn door like entrance propped open with a "Welcome, We're Open" sign clearly indicating our timing was perfect.

As we entered a young gentleman gave us a friendly greeting, welcoming us to look at our leisure and he would be available in the gift shop for any questions.

It was an educational 1/2 hour or so, as we wandered from one display to the next. Taking plenty of pictures we'll be able to revisit this stop over once we return home.

This echoes similar experiences we've had in a number of small communities. Last summer we stopped at the Cornucopia Wisconsin Museum for a pleasant bit of history about this small fishing community that's been around for over 100 years.

Another museum we plan on visiting is the Hinckley Fire Museum in Hinckley Minnesota. It commemorates the 1894 fire that destroyed 400 square miles, 6 towns, and killed 418 people. All in a period of 4 hours.

These are only three very close at hand examples. All within 75 miles of our home and each covering a different example of life in the mid-west. With a little internet research you can find similar examples in almost any area of the country.

Before you head out on your next RV outing, a simple search on the internet such as Virginia MN Museum will present you with a list of museums in the area. Everything from the Virginia Heritage Museum to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame will come up.

What can be more entertaining or educational then visiting a museum. Go see what brought settlers to the area, how they survived and thrived in those early years. You'll probably meet some pretty interesting people along the way.