Read About Some of the Country’s Weirdest, Wackiest Museums

While the Smithsonian is fascinating, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is always a sight to see, some lesser-known American museums are just as interesting—if a bit weirder! If you have a flair for all things out of the ordinary, these unique museums are worth a visit.

1) International Cryptozoology Museum
Cryptozoology is the study of “hidden animals” not verified by science, and this small museum in Portland, Maine, is dedicated to just that. From Bigfoot to Lake Monsters, take a tour of all of the world’s most intriguing—and mysterious—unknown species.

2) International Banana Museum
This fruity museum in North Shore, California, is filled with every type of banana-related item that its curators could hunt down, from salt and pepper shakers to staplers and even a banana record player. Be sure to visit the famous banana bar and sample a banana-flavored milkshake or banana split.

3) Mütter Museum
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Mütter Museum is one of the finest museums of medical history in the world. While it is a bit creepy to see the 19th-century medical instruments and anatomical specimens, it is also completely fascinating.

4) The Museum of Bad Art
The name says it all at this silly museum in Somerville, Massachusetts. Keep in mind that it’s all in good fun, and just enjoy the truly awful displays of artistic expression.

Fine Dining in Baltimore: Where Gourmet Fare Meets an Elegant Ambiance

Baltimore is beloved for its beautiful Inner Harbor and its rich, historic charm, and it is also home to a number of fine dining restaurants that promise innovative, elegant fare. Make a reservation at one of these upscale eateries in Charm City.

Cinghiale
Cinghiale's strange-sounding name translates into “wild boar” in Italian and refers to the restaurant’s Italian background. Rather than being inspired by modern Italy, Cinghiale takes its inspiration from 1950s and 1960s Milan, featuring a lively atmosphere in the dining room and a social wine bar with beautiful decor. The menu includes favorite dishes from northern and central Italy prepared with locally sourced meats and produce, and the wine list is truly one for the books.
822 Lancaster St., Baltimore, MD 21202; (410) 547-8282

Charleston
Furnished with red printed wallpaper, matching red dining chairs, white tablecloths, and exquisite chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, Charleston restaurant is an elegant respite in the heart of Baltimore. The ever-changing menu includes a combination of French cuisine and down-home, South Carolina favorites. Prix fixe tasting options enable guests to choose from three to six courses, and more than 800 wine options create the ideal pairing with any dish. Once dinner is complete, Charleston also offers an impressive list of cakes, mousses, and pies that regulars insist simply cannot be missed.
1000 Lancaster St., Baltimore, MD 21202; (410) 332-7373

Baltimore’s Most Talked About Vegetarian Restaurants

Baltimore’s vegetarian population flocks to Charm City's impressive assortment of meat-free restaurants, and it seems that new vegetarian eateries are popping up every day. Here are two creative vegetarian restaurants to check out in the Baltimore area.

Liquid Earth
Liquid Earth’s creative menu aims to provide enzyme-enriched whole foods made with local produce in order to offer what it describes as “intelligent nutrition.” Raw prepared foods, like seaweed salads, zucchini spaghetti, and raw smoothies, contain the maximum amount of nutrients possible because they aren’t cooked in any way, but they still taste just as delicious as traditional meals. The restaurant also offers hearty vegetarian sandwiches and veggie burgers, soups, sushi rolls, and fresh squeezed juices in a wide variety of flavors.

Papermoon Diner
This eclectic, colorful restaurant is beloved by both vegans and carnivores alike, as its unique comfort food items are a world away from the bland tofu dishes from the past. Items like deep-fried ravioli and “steak” quesadillas will satisfy any craving, and the menu includes more than 10 different types of meat-free burgers. Papermoon Diner also serves a lengthy list of dessert options and some of the most elaborate milkshakes that you’ll find in all of Baltimore.

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