D.C.: Smithsonian is extending museum hours this summer
Three of the most visited museums in Washington, D.C., will stay open later in the evening this summer. While the museums don't charge admission, officials hope that visitors will use the extra hours to spend more money in gift shops and restaurants—helping to bring in revenue to the for-profit arm of the Smithsonian Institution.
Every day through Labor Day, the National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of Natural History will stay open two hours later, until 7:30 p.m. The National Museum of American History, recently re-opened after an $85 million renovation, will stay open at least an hour later. The museums open at 10 a.m. daily.
Meanwhile, after being closed for an 18-month renovation, Ford's Theater has reopened with improved
seating, upgraded lighting and sound systems, and—best of all—a new timed-ticketing system that allows travelers to plan their visit in advance, rather than wait in line all morning. Details at Ford's Theater.
Washington, D.C., is our pick of one of the top ten budget travel destinations of the year, especially for families.
EARLIER The National Museum of American History re-opens after a multi-million dollar renovation
Back from Paris and ready to report
Now that I've (barely) recovered from macaron withdrawal, I wanted to thank you again for all of the advice you gave me before I left! Your comments were a great resource as I scouted the city. I made it to almost every macaron establishment mentioned in the comments, so stay tuned for a slide show about my discoveries and preferences. I'd particularly like to thank Melissa Whitlock, Kate, Anne Buchanan, and Melissa for their suggestions. Thanks also to Elizabeth and Margaret for their recommendations of Studio 28 and all the movie houses along rue Champollion. When I stopped by the Art Deco movie palace Grand Rex, though, I learned it has the unfortunate habit of dubbing all its international films into French. I'll be compiling all my research into an article about destination-worthy cinemas throughout the city. Carla in Canada suggested a great falafel place in the Marais—thank you! L'As du Fallafel was fantastic. Let me follow that up by saying that if you continue along rue des Rosiers towards the Pompidou center and make a right at Rue Vielle du Temple, you'll spot a park lined with benches a little bit up on your left; it's an ideal falafel-eating location. I'll be posting more Paris articles and hotel reviews in the coming weeks—plus, if all goes well, a somewhat-humorous video about trying to crack the Velib bike system. As always, your feedback is welcome!
Affordable Paris: Museums for free
Paris museums house some of the best collections in the world, but they aren't cheap dates. Entry to the Musée d'Orsay costs 8€ ($11.50), the great Louvre is 9€ ($12), and the Centre Pompidou is 12€ ($16). These admission fees can add up if you're planning to visit more than one museum, and especially if you're paying for a whole family. But there's good news: About 22 museums offer free entry every day. And the French government also subsidizes free days and nights at an even longer list of attractions. A complete rundown of these cultural freebies can be found at the Parisinfo website, and some of my favorites are listed below. Free Every Day: Entry to see the permanent collection of these museums is always free. There may be a small charge for temporary exhibitions. • Musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris (history of Paris) 23 rue de Sévigné, 3rd arrondissement. • Musée de la Vie Romantique (the Romantic movement, that is) 16 rue Chaptal, 9th arrondissement. • Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (modern art) 11 avenue du Président Wilson, 16th arrondissement. Free Every Wednesday Evening: One of my favorite places, Maison Européenne de la Photographie (better known as MEP), opens its doors every Wednesday night for free. Set in the Marais, the MEP is steps away from some great eating and drinking. 5-7 rue de Fourcy, 4th arrondissement. Free on the First Sunday of Every Month: Major tourist draws like the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou, the Musée d'Orsay, the Quai Branly and the Picasso museum are free on the first Sunday of every month. However, the crowds are so overwhelming that I avoid them on this day. Instead, I like take the first Sunday to explore some of these less-mobbed museum treasures: • Musée national de l'Orangerie (home to the massive Monet water lilies) Jardin des Tuileries, 1st arrondissement. • Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature (hunting and nature) 62 rue des Archives, 3rd arrondissement. • Musée national du Moyen Âge (Middle Ages) 6 place Paul Painlevé, 5th arrondissement. • Musée Rodin (The Kiss, the Thinker, and other great sculptures) 79 rue de Varenne, 7th arrondissement MORE Affordable Paris
Road trips: Trust this guy, he's traveled more than 400,000 miles
Jamie Jensen, author of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways, has probably seen more two-lane blacktop than Kerouac did. Jensen has just released an updated fifth edition of his 900-page book, full of road-trip itineraries with detailed maps, trivia, roadside curiosities, and dining and accommodation recommendations. Jensen first started researching the book in 1990 and has since traveled more than 400,000 miles. We picked his brain about the Great American Road Trip. Maybe you'll be inspired to take a close-to-home trip after reading it—especially given today's reasonable gas prices. BT: What has been your most memorable find? If I have to choose one truly special place, it would probably be the borderland between the Sand Hills of Nebraska and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Within a couple hours drive of Mount Rushmore and Wounded Knee, you have a full spectrum of highlights, including my favorite oddball roadside monument—Carhenge, a replica of ancient Stonehenge, made out of 1970s American cars. History buffs will love Fort Robinson, where Sioux chief Crazy Horse was captured (and murdered) in 1877; also the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron. Feast on great milk shakes and up to 2-pound (!) hamburgers at a classic old soda-fountain diner, Sioux Sundries, in the one-stoplight town of Harrison. All that said, if you asked me again tomorrow I'm sure I'd come up with a dozen other favorite places like this, which I've found over the country. BT: What are your top tips? One great way to save money and still have a great time is to go camping—the USA has perhaps the best and most beautiful national and state parks in the world, yet for some reason many Americans don't take advantage of them. Not only is a campsite less than half the price of a motel (and many campsites, if you are willing and able to hike a short way away from roads and RV-ers, are free!), but since you do your own cooking the food is comparatively cheap. (And all food tastes better outdoors!) BT: What's the most important thing to consider when putting together a road trip itinerary? For me the most important thing is not to be too ambitious—make sure you factor in enough time to savor and enjoy the things you do on your trip. So often, people make the mistake of "over-scheduling", of feeling they ought to be moving on to the next stop, when what is important is to relax and enjoy the moments. Leave yourself enough time for spontaneity and serendipity. BT: What are some areas of the country that are prime for road tripping but are often forgotten? One place that great for traveling but not exactly famous is the Great Lakes, and especially the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here you have gorgeous scenery (rugged mountains and dense forests, and of course the lakes), with a lot of history (think Paul Bunyan). [Editor's note: Budget Travel has a four-day road trip itinerary for Michigan's Upper Peninsula.] Duluth is another one of those wonderful mid-sized American cities no one thinks of for a vacation, but which happens to be tons of fun. Other less-known but fun cities I like: Buffalo, with its wonderful architecture and access to Niagara Falls; Memphis, with Elvis, a great minor league baseball stadium and access to the musical road trip heaven of the Mississippi Delta; and Missoula, Mont., which is a great college town right at the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Want more? Check out Jensen's website.
