Best Museum Winners - 10Besties Readers' Choice Travel Awards

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, D.C.

Fossils, skeletons, rare gemstones, and ancient cultures are all on display at the National Museum of Natural History. With over 500 million artifacts and specimens exhibited, it can take several trips before you feel as though you've seen enough -- making it no surprise that this is the Smithsonian's most-visited museum.  Read more »

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Currently the largest science museum in the western hemisphere, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is -- let's just say -- extremely cool. You can tour a WWII submarine, see the Apollo 8 space craft, check out a 40-foot water vapor tornado, find out how tsunamis occur, and much, much more.  Read more »

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, D.C.

Ever dream of being an astronaut or pilot? The National Air and Space Museum gives visitors a first-hand look at the history and technology behind aviation and spaceflight. With actual planes and spacecrafts on display, interactive flight simulators, a planetarium, and IMAX theater, this museum is fun for all ages.  Read more »

Henry Ford Museum, Detroit

Michigan's Henry Ford Museum is more than a testament to America's rich history of industry and innovation. What makes this museum especially unique are the many historic items displayed, like the bus on which Rosa Parks was arrested, the limousine from JFK's assassination, and Abraham Lincoln's seat from Ford's Theatre.  Read more »

Children's Museum of Indianapolis

A five-story-high dinosaur, rearing up on his hind legs, is looking in the top floor windows. Parents and Mothers' Day magazines and AOL all claim this is one of America's best attractions for kids. And Actor-interpreters lead visitors through interactive exhibits covering culture, history, science and the arts.  Read more »

Art Institute of Chicago

Easy to reach and hard to leave, the Art Institute of Chicago brings you up close and personal to works of art you already know and love. Degas, de Kooning, Cassatt, Hopper, Warhol . . . the AIC makes collectors drool, and lovers pause. Comparing your taste to a friend's is part of the fun. The gift shop is also world class.  Read more »

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The most-visited art museum in America, The Met has famous works from all over the world, spanning ancient to modern times. More than just paintings and sculptures, the museum gives further insight into past cultures through its extensive costume collection and historically-recreated interiors -- making it a must-see for culture buffs.  Read more »

American Museum of Natural History, New York

It's hard to know where to start about the AMNH. Few other institutions enjoy the history and prestige of this museum, and it's easy to see why. Located in Central Park, the AMNH is huge. It is home to over 32 million specimens and has a scientific staff of over 200. It was founded in 1869, and is one of the most visited and beloved museums in the US.  Read more »

California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

As one of the largest natural history museums in the world, the California Academy of Sciences is absolutely a not-to-be-missed attraction on a trip to the Bay Area. It reopened in 2008 after extensive renovations as one of the newest and most state-of-the-art museums of its kind in the States. Take a walk on the living roof, blast off in the digital planetarium, or stroll through the four-story rainforest.  Read more »

National Gallery of Art, D.C.

DC's National Gallery of Art is the sixth most visited Art Museum in the world. In addition to having one of the largest collections in the country, the museum also has an outdoor sculpture garden for those looking to take in fresh air as they peruse the works on display  Read more »