At Triage, we’re always looking to highlight those travelers with unique or fun stories to share. Recently we chatted with Shane, who loves to hit up as many museums as possible on travel assignments and road trips.
How did your interest in museums start?
I have always been interested in history and art. I also tend to be a bit quirky on occasion. That is why I love going to different kinds of museums. It is a good way to spend a day or two and not spend a lot of money.
What is your favorite museum you have been to? Most memorable?
My favorite museum is probably the Minneapolis Institute of Art. When my daughters were younger we spent several weekends there for different exhibits; the Terracotta Warriors, a DaVinci folio and even a Van Gogh painting in person. Seeing what someone created hundreds of years ago is an emotional thing.
Along those lines the most memorable museum I have been to is The Checkpoint Charlie Museum in Berlin. It displays photos and tells stories of successful escape attempts from East Germany.
What is the most unique or interesting museum you have been to?
The most unique museum I have been to was the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. It had exhibits ranging from Big Foot to Chupacabra to Mothman. I was driving back to an assignment in Southeast Maine when I realized that I was ten miles from this museum while at a pitstop. My husband was on the phone and said “you’re so close…” (Him saying this is also how I saw Niagara Falls and a 90 year old mill on Prince Edward Island in Canada. He’s an #enabler.)
What is a museum you haven’t been to that is at the top of your bucket list?
A bucket list museum for me is obviously the Smithsonian in Washington DC. I could spend days off for an entire assignment wandering around there.
Do you look up museums ahead of time or let yourself be surprised when you get to a new assignment location?
I honestly search “what is there to do near me today?” and google comes up with a list of events and attractions. From there I go to TripAdvisor and see about tickets and reviews. (This is how I found that the New England museum of Telephony is only open on Saturdays and not year round, as 8 volunteers run the entire thing). Once I have an idea of what I am going to do over a weekend or day, I post a gif of Phineas and Ferb saying “I know what we’re going to do today!” on social media. This gets posted at about 3 am because I am a night shifter and I’m ready to start my adventure. I usually post a few pictures during the day and then post more at the end of the day.
Are there any specific souvenirs your collect to mark each place you visit?
I am a big fan of magnets and postcards mostly due to their size and ease of packing or mailing. I have a pen pal who is 4 years old and I make sure to pick up a cool postcard for him wherever I go.
What is next on your schedule of museum visits?
Next up are the National Mustard Museum and the UW Geology Museum both in Madison, WI.
Do you have any unique hobbies or fun assignment stories to share? Send us a note at [email protected]. We would love to hear all about it!