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Several standout museums strive to make learning fun
With the kids officially back in school, it's prime time to demonstrate that learning needn't end in the classroom and that – gasp – the process can actually be fun! There are excellent kid-friendly museums across the U.S. that will stimulate your young Einsteins or Picassos – whether you're on a quick family getaway or just looking for something fun to do at home. And you won't have to shush your little ones at these venerable institutions either. In fact, each of our editors' picks for top family museums provide educational outings under the guise of child-like fun, with hands-on exhibits, scavenger hunts, DJ sessions, and more, that are bound to keep the adults entertained, too.
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$109+: Chicago-area resort w/bowling alley, spa, pool & more Eaglewood Resort and Spa
$209+: Manhattan hotel near Rockefeller Center & more Amsterdam Court Hotel
$219+: NYC hotel nr theater district & Times Square Wellington Hotel
$109+: Spend weekends in Chicago at the Marriott Marriott Hotels
$159+: Luxury San Francisco Financial District hotel Marriott Hotels
$184+: San Francisco hotel w/city tour sightseeing pass Marriott Hotels
$209+: Biz- travel rates at Seattle Marriott w/brkfst Marriott Hotels
$104+: Hotel nr Seattle w/shuttle service to airport Marriott Hotels
$159+: Stay in Washington hotel nr downtown Tacoma Marriott Hotels
$119+: Stay in heart of Seattle nr top attractions Marriott Hotels
$149+: Cable Car package at San Francisco hotel Marriott Hotels
$159+: Oyster Point/San Francisco hotel w/gas card Marriott Hotels
$149+: Fall rates at San Francisco hotel w/tours & brkfst Marriott Hotels
$99+: Downtown San Francisco hotel rates Marriott Hotels
$119+: Discount rates at deluxe Union Square hotel Marriott Hotels
$159+: Night on Town deals in Spokane Marriott Hotels
$80+: Deals on Chicago Marriott w/health club Marriott Hotels
$149+: Indiana hotel w/College Football Hall of Fame tickets Marriott Hotels
$149+: Indianapolis romantic getaway w/champagne Marriott Hotels
$89+: Deals on family vacations at Indiana Marriott Marriott Hotels
$259/nt+: 4-star The Fairmont San Francisco Expedia
$599+: Alaska & Sawyer Glacier 7-nt Norwegian cruise w/bonus CruisesOnly
$439+: 7-nt Bahamas & Florida cruise on Carnival w/bonus Carnival Cruise Lines
$574+: 15-nt Savona to Ft Lauderdale transatlantic sailing Cruise.Com
$799+: 9-nt Alaska cruise & Seattle hotel combo w/transfers AlaskaCruises.com
$699+: 9-nt Alaska cruise & Seattle hotel combo w/city tour AlaskaCruises.com
$249+: Last-minute Bahamas 4-nt cruise from Florida Royal Caribbean International
$729+: 8-night Alaska cruise from Vancouver to Seattle Norwegian
$209+: Last-minute 3-nt cruise to Bahamas w/bonus Cruise.com
$499+: 7-nt Pacific Coast cruise w/prepaid tips & spa Cruise.com
$449+: 7-nt Bahamas luxury winter cruise w/up to $800 credit Cruise.com
$659+: 6-nt Alaska Passage cruise Vancouver to Seattle Cruise.com
$469+: British Columbia 4-nt cruise, Seattle to Vancouver Princess Cruises
$399+: Pacific Coast 6-nt cruise w/up to $300 coupon book Norwegian Cruise Line
$399+: British Columbia 7-nt cruise w/up to $800 in coupons Norwegian Cruise Line
$699+: 7-nt Alaska cruise to/from Seattle w/ship credit Expedia
$449+: 7-nt Alaska cruise from Vancouver w/Prince Rupert Norwegian Cruise Line
$152+: Cheap round-trip domestic winter fares Expedia
$49+: Last-minute flights to all major US cities (one-way) Frontier Airlines
$169+: Discount fall fares to NYC (round-trip) Expedia
$199+: Cheap flights to Portland, OR(round-trip) Major Airlines
$115+: Cheap California flights to Seattle (round-trip) Expedia
$169+: Chicago fares from top cites (round-trip) Expedia
$169+: Round-trip flights to DC via 5 top cities Major Airlines
$15.95+: Low rates on rental cars in major cities across the US Hotwire
Under $15: Cheap car rentals in major cities CarRentals.com
$10/day+: Cheap car rentals from major US airports CarRentals.com
$460+: New York City 2-night trip w/flight from DC Wellington Hotel
$447+: Budget Chicago airport hotel w/spa, airfare included Holiday Inn O'Hare
$294+: 3-nts at posh Hilton in heart of San Francisco w/air Hilton San Francisco
$287/nt+: 3-nts at San Francisco upscale hotel w/air Parc Fifty Five Hotel
$250+: San Francisco hotel near theatre district 3 nts w/air Best Western Hotel California
$274+: San Francisco luxury hotel & spa 3 nts w/air Hilton San Francisco Union Square
$613+: NYC Rockefeller Plaza 5-star hotel 3 nts w/air Four Seasons New York
$657+: Upper West side NYC budget hotel 3 nts w/air Hotel Alexander
$386+: Great deal on NYC hotel near Madison Sq 3nts w/air Affinia Manhattan
$577+: NY 3-nt getaway at hotel nr Central Park w/flight On The Ave Hotel
$735+: Midtown New York 3-nt getaway w/air from Chicago The New Yorker Hotel
$493+: Up to 25% off 3-nt stays at budget New York hotel w/air The Pod Hotel New York
$476+: Stay 3 nts at NYC hotel nr Broadway theaters w/air Washington Jefferson Hotel
$542+: Chicago 3-nt trip at modern hotel w/health club Hotel Arista at CityGate Centre
$267+: 3-star Serrano Hotel - a Kimpton Hotel Expedia
$270+: 4-star The Westin St. Francis Expedia
$290+: 3-star Bay Landing San Francisco Airport Hotel Expedia