Historic Oakland Manor is located just off of Vantage Point Road. Founded in 1811, this Georgian-style manor is suited for business meetings, wedding ceremonies and receptions. Complete with a ballroom, crystal chandeliers, french doors, a private veranda and a secluded back lawn. Call for pricing.
Minnesota might be known for its Scandinavian heritage, but it's also home to the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Russian art: The Minnesota Museum of Russian Art. It may not be the size of the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts or the Walker Art Center, but it does have a surprisingly diverse collection of its own, and it's frequently the host of exhibits from international collections. Whether you're interested in fine art (from centuries past or contemporary artists) or you're interested in Russian history and culture, this is a must-see.
Best and worst time to go to the Museum of Russian Art
Unusual for museums in the Twin Cities, this one is open seven days a week. Saturdays and Sundays are the most crowded, and as some of the galleries are narrow, your best bet is to visit on a weekday rather than weekend. Mondays are usually good, as most other museums are closed then, and visitors don't seem to know this one is open. If weekends are the only option, try for Saturday at 10 a.m. when it opens.
Must see/do at the Museum of Russian Art
Make sure you visit all three floors. The museum is housed in an old church in the Spanish Colonial-Revivalist style, and each floor has an entirely different feel to it, from the dim lower level to the airy, open top floor. There are separate exhibits on each floor as well.
Admission to the Museum of Russian Art
For visitors ages 14 and older, admission ranges from $5-15. Those under 14 are not charged admission. The museum is ADA-compliant, with ramps, elevators and accessible rest rooms.
Parking and public transportation to the Museum of Russian Art
Visitors to the museum are allowed to park free in the lot of the Mayflower Church right across the street from the museum's front entrance. Metro Transit has a bus stop at this intersection as well.
Food at the Museum of Russian Art
The museum does not have a restaurant, although there are several restaurants and cafes a few blocks away on Nicollet Avenue.
Insider tip for visitors to the Museum of Russian Art
All museums have gift shops, but the Museum of Russian Art's shop is especially nice, with everything from children's books and toys to the meticulously hand-painted Russian boxes and delicate porcelain. If you happen to be nearby during the Christmas holidays, stop and check out the holiday decorations they have for sale (and ask staff about the significance of them--many pieces have a Russian backstory).
Author's bio: Amy C. Rea is a lifelong Minnesotan and the author of Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes: an Explorer's Guide, and Backroads & Byways of Minnesota.
The Witch Dungeon Museum has a long history of educating and entertaining tourists. Stop in to view a live reenactment of the 1692 Salem witch trials. The reenactment uses text taken from the original trial transcripts. After the performance, take a guided tour through the witch dungeon and other notable witch trial locations, including Gallows Hill.
From 1880 to 1967, the Hopkins Family owned Muscoot Farm. At that point Westchester County acquired the property to help preserve the area's agricultural history. Today the farm is open to visitors, who can stroll through the original barns and visit animals. Muscoot also offers year-round events and activities for children and adults.
Locals and tourists alike are enchanted by the beauty and serenity of the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, which was designed by Bernard Maybeck in the style of Greek and Roman architecture for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This San Francisco landmark is a popular backdrop for wedding and other formal pictures. Built around a man-made lagoon at its original site, the palace is one of the last remaining structures of that World Fair. It appeals to people of all ages, in particular to couples, photographers, history enthusiasts and architecture buffs.
Parking and public transportation at Palace of Fine Arts
Parking is free in a small parking lot, as well as on the street. The San Francisco Muni 15 bus line from downtown stops a few blocks away.
Best and worst time to go to Palace of Fine Arts
Any time of the year is good to visit this landmark. It's typically busy on the weekends. To avoid the crowds, visit either early in the morning or in the evening.
Admission to Palace of Fine Arts
Admission is free. The rotunda is inaccessible when weddings or other events are taking place.
Must see/do at Palace of Fine Arts
Check out the architectural details of the rotunda. Visit the Innovation Hanger in the palace's exhibit hall, which is free and open on Wednesdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other places to visit near Palace of Fine Arts
Nearby, in the Presidio, is the Walt Disney Family Museum, which features exhibits on the life and work of the founder of Disneyland. Also close by is the Fort Mason Center, which is home to several small museums and galleries, such as the Mexican Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery. About three miles away, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge is the Fort Point National Historic Site, a brick fort that the United States built before the Civil War to protect the San Francisco Bay.
Insider tip for visitors to Palace of Fine Arts
Read the street signs when you park on the street to avoid getting a parking ticket. Be sure you are not parked during street cleaning hours. Also, check for the time limit for parking on that street.
Author's bio: Susan Echaore-McDavid writes Take 25 to Hollister, a blog about Hollister, San Benito County and nearby areas.
Pohick Church has a lengthy history in Northern Virginia. It was built in 1774 and was the church of George Washington and George Mason. The church is a longtime member of the Anglican and Episcopalian Churches. The well-kept grounds of the church are available for tours and the church itself is open to the public from 9am - 4:30pm. Services are held on Sunday at 7:45am, 9am and 11am. The first service is traditional, the second is contemporary and the third combines aspects of both. In the summer months there are only two services -- at 8am and 10am.
There are also services during the week at the Fairfax Retirement Home at 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesdays at 7:30am there is laying on of the hands service. Bible Study is on Saturday mornings at 8am.
The church rector is Donald B. Binder.
