Museums were my amusement park as a kid. Our vacations were spent in historical locations all over the east coast, and every colonial house, national park visitor center, and tiny exhibition held a unique story. But big city museums have always had a special spot in my heart. At school a trip to the natural history museum always proves relaxing, and every couple of years I love making my way down to the Smithsonian in DC. Philadelphia is a nice change from Manhattan, and since my family has a membership to both the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute there, my friend Margeaux and I went for the day. Even though I've seen the permanent exhibits there countless times, it's always nice to see them again. Kind of like checking in with old friends.