Visiting the Smithsonian Institute

The Smithsonian Institute is an educational and research center and museum complex that is both administered and funded by the government of the United States. This museum has funds inputted in from its endowment, contributions, as well as profits from its shops and its magazine. If you are planning a trip to the Smithsonian Institute, there are several things that you should become aware of before you make your trip.

· Admission and Hours
In regards to admission, there is none in the case of all of the Smithsonian museums. However, there is a fee required at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, which is located in New York. In regards to the hours of operation, most of the museums are open daily, from 10:00am-5:30pm.

· Available Tours
There is an incredibly wide and varied selection of museums that you are free to explore at the Smithsonian Institute, including: African Art Museum, Air and Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Zoo, Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, Natural History Museum, African Art Museum, Postal Museum, American Indian Museum on the Mall, Renwick Gallery of the American Art Museum, Anacostia Museum, Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art, and the Smithsonian Institution Building - the Castle.

· Museum Stores
If you plan to shop for souvenirs, you will have no trouble coming across one of the many shops within the museum. The Smithsonian Institute has 18 museums in total, and each museum has a different number of stores, all with their own unique and fun items to choose from. Books, souvenirs, and artwork are all available for purchase.

· Dining
There is also a wide array of dining opportunities available, and the Smithsonian cafes are generally open basically in conjunction with the regular museum hours. However, you can easily contact the museum information desk to verify the restaurant hours. There are different restaurants at each of the different museums, and they are as follows:
At the National Air and Space Museum, there is the Wright Place Food Court that features McDonald's, Donato's Pizza, and Boston Market. At the Steven F. Udzar-Hazy Center, there is a McDonald's and a McCafe. The Main Street Café at the National Musuem of American History, which features burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, entrees, beverages, and desserts on the menu; and there is also the Palm Court Café which features sandwiches by Subway, salads, gelato, and cappuccino.
The National Museum of Natural History has the Atrium Café that features fast food options and the Fossil Café, which features that of soups, sandwiches, salads, gelato, and even an espresso bar. At the National Museum of the American Indian there is the Mitsitam Café, that has native inspired sandwiches, entrees, soups, desserts, and beverages from five regions of the Western Hemisphere. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers an outdoor café that is open seasonally when the weather permits. Finally, at the Smithsonian Building Castle on the Mall, there is the Castle Café that has a selection of specialty coffees, sandwiches, desserts, and more.

· Additional Tips
There are also some additional tips and further information that you should know if you are planning to visit the Smithsonian Institute. One of the things that you should keep in mind is that the museums have a tendency to get very crowded. This is especially true in the warmer months. You should also plan on what museums you wish to visit, finding out how you are going to get there and where you are going to stay and so on.

Overall, the most important thing to know and remember obviously is to have fun, but remember that being prepared will help your trip to go much more smoothly. A trip to the Smithsonian Institute is an excellent idea and will be a trip of enjoyment and satisfaction for the whole family.