What better way to enjoy a visit to a new city than to visit a local museum? Theoretically, they are defined as an institution which houses collections of objects of historical, artistic or scientific value. But, museums are a place of thought provoking and entertaining locations for travelers. Major U.S. Cities are known to have museums that keep tourism flowing and travelers enchanted by the interesting pieces that tell the story of a city or its nation.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY: To locals, it is simply nicknamed “The Met” which has a permanent collection of more than two million works of art. The building itself is an architectural wonder; it is not only a popular museum but a U.S. National Historic Landmark. You can easily take a trip around the world without leaving the museum since it offers something from almost every region of the world. Make sure to grab a map; it is easy to get lost in a museum that gets 5 million visitors annually. Check out the most famous pieces: George Washington Crossing the Delaware and Madonna and Child on your visit.

National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.: If you're in need of a true American History lesson, one way can be to visit Washington D.C. and make a visit to the National Portrait Gallery. The collection focuses on images of famous individual Americans and their contributions to American society. At night, make sure to observe the new glass roof over the Courtyard; giving the historic museum a modern look.

Getty Museum – Los Angeles, California: Named after the man that built the museum, this hilltop location over the city of Los Angeles is one of the most visited museums in the United States. Before even entering, you're greeted by lush greenery and a panoramic view of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Los Angeles location features European and American collections while the second location in Malibu includes Ancient Greek and Roman art.

Exploratorium – San Francisco, California: Who doesn't love the mission statement of the Exploratorium? "It isn't just a museum; it's an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception." It's enough to make you want to plan a trip and find out what this museum is all about. This unique institution focuses on the experience of understanding why these pieces, artifacts or exhibitions are in the museum and does a lot more than offering lecture style tour guides. This unique institution focuses on the experience of understanding why these pieces, artifacts or exhibitions are in the museum and does a lot more than offering lecture style tour guides.

International Center of Photography – New York City: If a picture tells a thousand words, the conversation sure is flowing at the International Center of Photography. Not only is it a museum, it is also a school and research center which honors and teaches the art of photography. The permanent collection contains over 100,000 photographs with strong influences of American and European documentary styled photographs of the 20th century.