Hit the museum trail in Chicago. This is a world class city and with that designation comes cultural venues where you can view photography and fine art and learn about history and science. Among the highlights are The Museum of Contemporary Art; Chicago History Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. The Museum of Contemporary Art is closed Mondays but has free admission for Illinois residents on Tuesdays. The Museum of Science and Industry has revolving exhibits but a permanent one of interest is "You! The Experience," which explores the connection of mind, body and spirit. From an almost devastating fire to fiery politics, learn the history of Chicago as well as the state of Illinois at the Chicago History Museum.
Almost in the direct center of the United States, Kansas City has been a pass-through spot and a gathering place for diverse cultures over its life. The diversity still touches the city today, manifest in its many ethnic communities and their impact in cuisine, entertainment and other aspects of life. Plan a trip around exploring some of the facets of its African-American culture. Start with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Rather than a "Hall of Fame," it looks at itself as a conduit of knowledge about the entire history of the Negro Leagues, from the utility player to the superstar. Tours are self-guided and you can take your time. The museum is in the city's jazz district, which is also home to the American Jazz Museum.
Although the most well-known equestrian event in Kentucky, The Kentucky Derby, takes place in Louisville on the first Saturday in May each year, the real horse country lies east near Lexington. Keeneland race course, an emerald gem west of Lexington, hosts racing meets twice a year, in April and October, and Churchill Downs in Louisville follows suit in the immediately ensuing months. If you are not especially a thoroughbred racing fan but just love horses, Lexington is the place. The Kentucky Horse Park is the epicenter of all things horse; if you are not impressed by the massive Man o' War memorial that greets you, you will be by all the equine knowledge and exhibits within the park's over 1,000 acres, including the International Museum of the Horse. Learn about all horse breeds including the Saddlebred, Kentucky's pride. Once you've covered the museum, tour area horse farms. You can customize your own tour or you can avail yourself of a number of pre-planned tours. Among the famed horse breeding farms are Three Chimneys, where recent Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown lives; and Claiborne Farm, where Triple Crown winner Secretariat is entombed.
You can find lots of indoor entertainment adventures at Branson, Missouri -- that is, in fact, what the place is known for. But lots of adventure is waiting outdoors as well. Branson is surrounded by three lakes and the Mark Twain National Forest is nearby with its 1.5 million acres. There's plenty of space for the roughest camping up to the most sophisticated RVs. Boating, swimming, hiking, biking, and horse trails are plentiful. Bull Shoals Lake offers more than 740 miles of shoreline and sports plentiful bass and walleye as well as numerous flatfish. Lake Taneycomo is considerably smaller but is considered a supreme trout fishing spot. Part of the lake is reserved for artificial lure fishing. Table Rock Lake offers a full range of accommodations for fishing, boating and wildlife observation.
