Some of the best(?) Public Art is found on university campuses. Even artists experiment in college. Who knew?

Now you, the avid reader, get to guess where this piece is located. I’ll give you some hints. The answer is at the bottom.

Things to do: Are you a fan of Oscar Anderson’s house? Of course you are. Now in museum form!

If you like your museums a little more gun-filled, check out the Law Enforcement Museum (where rules are strongly enforced).

Do you like the food? Who doesn’t? Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria has what you’re looking for (as long as you’re looking for beer and pizza). But that’s not all! The Sourdough Mining Company gives a historic look at how early settlers used to mine for sourdough bread until someone realized they could just bake it.

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There’s still time to squeeze a family vacation in before the end of summer. (Yes, we’re already talking about the end of summer. Yes, it was like yesterday that we were talking about school finally being out.) If you’re on the East Coast, pack up the car and take a drive to one of these 3 family-friendly cities for a low-key vacation that’s sure to please.

North Carolina Capitol, photo credit

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

This underrated little city is a great place for a family on a budget. The downtown area offers free museums and inexpensive children’s programs all summer long. Hop on a bike or go for a walk to explore the historical residential neighborhoods that surround the business district. You can also catch a play or checkout the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival in August.

While you’re in town, make a point of seeking out one of the many restaurants that serve dishes made with local ingredients. For dessert, head to the nearest Locopops for a truly unique after-dinner treat.

2. Baltimore, Maryland

Often overlooked because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., Baltimore is a city worth visiting all on its own. Catch a baseball game at Camden Yards, visit the visually stunning aquarium at the Inner Harbor, or checkout one of the world’s most impressive comic book collections at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum.

If you like to squeeze a little learning into your trips, be sure to make a stop at the B&O  Railroad Museum. The entire city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011 through 2014, and you’ll find an extensive display at the museum that goes far beyond really cool trains (although there’s plenty of that!)

Myrtle Beach, photo credit

3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Leave the books at home and head out for a vacation of pure fun on the Carolina coast. You can spend your time visiting aquariums and playing mini-golf on some of the crazy put-put courses you’ll ever see, or just hit the beach for sand castles and body surfing. For a special night on the town, grab tickets to the Carolina Opry, a show that will make kids from 6 to 96 laugh out loud.

While you’re in Myrtle Beach, head south for a day or two to Murrells Inlet. You’ll find fish shacks, dynamite seafood, and a state park with a home that looks more like a castle than a house.

The only reason I put Raleigh, North Carolina on our summer travel itinerary was because I have a friend who lives in the small state capital city. I had no plans except to catch up with her and her family and maybe catch up on work. Instead, I spent four days falling in love with the city’s eclectic charm and free museums.

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Although the marketing material compared the town to Las Vegas, Nevada and Branson, Missouri – two destinations known for their over the top entertainment – I was nonetheless surprised upon driving into Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The billboards blinked and the painted buildings fought for attention from the eye. It was a landscape that seemed like it should be set to a soundtrack of honking horns and carnival barkers, although neither could actually be heard anywhere I visited. This was, it was clear with in moments, a place to come for a good time – although not necessarily a relaxing one. But with so many families using their precious vacation days to escape over-scheduled lives, isn’t a little relaxation practically a requirement for any family vacation? I think so, and fortunately we were able to find a little bit of it amid the hustle and bustle of this tourism cornucopia.

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