I’m a museum junkie. It doesn’t matter whether exhibits are of artwork, historical significance or oddities. I simply enjoy seeing collections. Here’s a look at a few interesting places that opened recently, or will soon.

Urban Lantern at Fort Worth's Museum of Science and History; exterior of new building at the National World War II Museum.

Fort Worth’s Museum of Science and History

The new $80 million museum opens its doors this Friday, Nov. 20—and it’s free for the first 3,500 guests. The large, 166,000-square-foot building, designed by Legorreta + Legorreta from Mexico City, will feature interactive exhibits, ranging from Fort Worth history to CSI: The Experience, giving visitors the chance to work a crime scene. The museum’s entrance, dubbed the Urban Lantern, is made of 500-pound glass panels lit using LED fixtures and fluorescent lights, sending a beam of light into the sky. Its lighting ceremony takes place tonight (Nov. 16). www.fwmuseum.org

The National World War II Museum

The first of four new buildings of this museum’s $300 million expansion plan opened earlier this month in New Orleans, with the premier of Tom Hanks’ movie, Beyond All Boundaries, a 35-minute film using 4-D technology to takes viewers through the “war that changed the world” from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the last battles before victory. The museum’s exhibitions blend personal accounts, artifacts, documents, photographs and film footage to educate visitors about all aspects of WWII. The expansion, which will quadruple the museum’s space, will be completed by 2015.  www.nationalww2museum.org

HEARTS Veterans Museum

The HEARTS Veterans Museum in Huntsville, Texas, appropriately celebrated its grand opening on Veteran’s Days last week. Exhibits honor soldiers, military conflicts and home-front war efforts, featuring artifacts and memorabilia from military events from World War I to the current war in Afghanistan. Each branch of the military has its own exhibit. HEARTS stands for Helping Every American Remember Through Serving. www.heartsmuseum.com

Andy Griffith Museum

Fans of Mayberry, R.F.D. or Matlock can get a closer look at the life of the shows’ star at the Andy Griffith Museum, which found a permanent home this fall alongside the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall in Mount Airy, N.C., Griffith’s home town. The museum’s ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in September during the town’s annual Mayberry Days celebration. The collection features items from Griffith’s life and television shows, as well as related memorabilia, donated by Griffith’s family, friends and colleagues. www.visit.mayberry.com

The Toy Museum of New York

Reminisce over vintage teddy bears, Raggedy Ann and other dolls, as well as Lincoln Logs (one of my favorite childhood toys) and Legos at The Toy Museum of New York (formerly known as The Doll and Toy Museum of NYC), which debuted in its new space in Brooklyn Heights last week. Occupying a second-floor space at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, the collection, first put together in 1999 by the museum’s founder, Marlene Hockman, an author of doll books, includes more than 500 toys, dating to the 1870s. www.toymuseumny.org

Looking Ahead: International Civil Rights Center and Museum

The historic downtown Woolworth’s building in Greensboro, N.C., will house the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which is scheduled to open in time for the 50th anniversary on February 1 of the sit-ins that became a significant part of the Civil Rights Movement—when four N.C. A&T freshmen asked for a cup of coffee at what was then Woolworth’s whites-only luncheon counter. www.sitinmovement.org

It’s Mardi Gras, so as those in New Orleans say, “Laissez les bon temps roulez!” In honor of the big day, I put together a list of all my Crescent City Mardi Gras picks.

Photo: Toast to Life

Best Mardi Gras Parade for Adults:

Krewe d’Vieux. Although not an officially recognized parade, this event, which has become known as the “Parade of the People,” features satirical “floats,” extreme costumes and a fair share of paraders in underpants and less.

Best Mardi Gras Parade for Families:

Endymion/Barkus. Endymion, which rolls the Saturday before Mardi Gras, is one of the most popular parades of the season, for good reason: The floats are some of the best of the season and celebrities regularly make an appearance. On Sunday, doggies of all shapes and sizes take to the streets of the French Quarter for their own day of celebration.

Best Place to Watch Parades:

St. Charles, between Napolean and Louisiana. For families looking to get away from the downtown hullabaloo, the Uptown stretch of the parade route has fewer people and more bathroom opportunities for the little ones. Because there are no barricades, kids can get up close to beg for some parade loot.

Best Bead-Winning Saying:

“Throw me somthin’, mistah.” I was taught this phrase during my college orientation, and it came in handy my first Mardi Gras. Krewe members find it hard to resist adorable kids shouting this from the crowd.

Best Way to Get a Zulu Coconut:

Bribes. Zulu coconuts are one of the most treasured of all Mardi Gras throws. Given out during the Zulu parade on Mardi Gras morning, I have heard stories of the extreme lengths that people will go to in order to get one of these unique Mardi Gras treasures. In 2006, I was able to get a grand total of seven Zulu coconuts by simply bribing those krewe members with cheap beer. Walk up to the float, holding a can as an offering, and a kind (and thirsty) krewe member will likely exchange. Situate yourself early in the parade route where coconuts are plentiful.

Best Place to Spend Mardi Gras Day in the French Quarter:

Royal Street. Royal Street is a great alternative to the crowded and rowdy Bourbon Street. While only a block away, the street is clear and revelers can be seen on art gallery balconies enjoying their Mardi Gras parties.

For more Mardi Gras tips, read our New Orleans Feast of Festivals article.

With all the great food in New Orleans, it’s a good idea to work in a little exercise on your vacation. I attribute my walking around the city to one of the key things that keeps me from stroking out after three plus full meals a day. Here are some fun options besides hoofing it:

Cycling

New Orleans is a flat city, so it’s easy to bike it—with the exception of its potholes. Rent a bicycle at Bicycle Michael’s in the Marigny and get around the way many locals do. You get a Kryptonite U-Lock with your rental ($10 per hour, $25 per day), and helmets cost $5 extra per day. The staff is extremely helpful with giving you some direction on the best routes to take. 622 Frenchmen St., tel. 504-945-9505. www.bicyclemichaels.com

Horseback Riding

Cascade Stables in Audubon Park offers pony rides for kids under 6 ($5 every two rounds) and riding lessons for children ages 6 to adult. Prices are $30 for a 45-minute group lesson, $35 for a 30-minute private lesson. All lessons are by appointment only. 700 East Dr., tel. 504-891-2246. www.cascadestables.net

Tennis

The Tennis Center in City Park is one of the largest public tennis facilities in the South. It offers 11 hard courts ($7 per hour) and 10 clay courts ($10 per hour) available for use (all but two are lighted courts), as well as locker rooms, racquet rental and lessons. Wisner Tennis Center, corner of Victory and Anseman Avenues; tel. 504-483-9383. www.neworleanscitypark.com/tennis

Running

There are plenty of great places to run in the Crescent City. Audubon Park has a 1.8-mile paved jogging track, which allows you to get away from city traffic noises and enjoy the park’s green space. In addition, stretching from Jackson Square in the French Quarter to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, and right next to the Mississippi River, is Woldenberg Riverfront Park—another enjoyable path for a run or stroll. www.auduboninstitute.org/parks

The climax of carnival season, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras is such a big event that you have to experience it at least once in person. But if you don’t already have your plane tickets and hotel reservations for this year’s festivities (on Feb. 24), it might be easier to plan for 2010.

So what do you do when you’re stuck at home?

Start with ordering a king cake. It seems these sweet oval pastries with icing in Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold) can cause cavities by just looking at them. Inside each king cake is a pink, plastic baby. Whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby (chew very carefully) is responsible for buying the next cake. Folks have their favorite bakeries, whether it’s Randazzo[’|http://kingcakes.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13][s|http://kingcakes.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=13], Haydel[’|http://www.haydelbakery.com/kingcakes/kingcakes_main.asp][s|http://www.haydelbakery.com/kingcakes/kingcakes_main.asp], Gambino[’|http://www.gambinos.com/shop/mg_packages.php][s|http://www.gambinos.com/shop/mg_packages.php] or another bakery in the neighborhood. Pick the one that sounds best to you, along with your preferred filling (or plain). The king cake (with cream cheese filling) I got in the mail last week was from Haydel’s, and it was yummy. If you’re lucky, your mail-order king cake will come with some carnival throws, like beads and doubloons. It might even come with a little package of coffee with chicory.

Now, you need music. It’s easy to stream WWOZ (90.7 FM), the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Station, on your computer. Always quality radio, WWOZ turns it up a notch during important times like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. If you want to spin your own tunes, check out the Louisiana Music Factory for a great selection of New Orleans artists and music.

Finally, have your own neighborhood parade, or get a Mardi Gras parade schedule and watch them on the live paradecam. Relax with a beverage in hand, and let the good times roll!

Read more on Mardi Gras and other New Orleans festivals.

In high school, I went on a weeklong trip with seven pairs of shoes. Over the years, I’ve gotten much better at packing light and realizing that I don’t need as many entire wardrobe changes for a short trip. And in these days of airlines charging for one checked bag, that’s certainly a good thing.

So even though Continental is not charging for that first bag, yet, I decided to give myself an assignment on my recent six-day trip to New Orleans: Get it all in one carry-on bag (plus purse!).

Bags: Briggs & Riley 21 inch carry-on and Timbuk2 Metro Messenger.

Contents: shoes (2), pants (2), shorts (2), dresses (2), tanks (3), tees (3), long-sleeved wrap (1), scarf (1), underwear (enough), toiletries (liquids in ziplock bag; non-liquids in cosmetics case), umbrella, book, iPod, iPod speakers, camera, cell phone, Vans shoes for friends’ child.

Here’s what it all looked like before (obviously, the camera isn’t in the photo):

And here’s the after:

That was easy. Here are three tips to getting everything you need in one bag:

1)    For clothes, some people swear by the rolling method, and others do a big origami fold-over. My favorite tools are packing cubes, specifically, Flight 001’s Spacepak. Eagle Creek makes some good ones as well.

2)    Don’t do what I did in high school. Every piece of clothing you bring must go with at least two outfits. Be ruthless. If you’re not sure, leave it at home.

3)    To cut down on the liquid toiletries so you can cram them all in that teeny ziplock bag, consider going solid. Lipsticks or tinted balm instead of gloss; deodorant solid instead of gel. If you’re staying at a great hotel, think about leaving your shampoo, conditioner and lotion at home and using what the hotel will provide.

Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I really love fireworks. When I was a kid, I always looked forward to the Fourth of July with great anticipation. Sure the barbecues and pool time are great, but it’s the fireworks that really define the Fourth.

Big, small, ornate, booming, choreographed to music or just launched from the neighborhood cul-de-sac, nothing quite says Americana like Fourth of July pyrotechnics (and singed eyebrows).The sights, the sounds, the smells—all combine to create an exhilarating experience. 

Following is a list of some of the best BIG shows in popular U.S. vacation destinations. So gather up the family, get the glow sticks ready for the kids, and head out for an evening of oohs and aahs.

10. Lights on the Lake—Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is the perfect place to watch fireworks over a picturesque mountain lake. The show is set to music and lasts more than 30 minutes. http://www.bluelaketahoe.com/page.php?p=july4

9. Freedom Over Texas—[Houston|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/TX/201/houston]

An all day shindig with country performers and food and brew, culminating in a rockin’ aerial display. http://www.houstontx.gov/specialevents/cfot/index.html

8. Friendship Festival—[Buffalo, New York|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/NY/029/buffalo]

The Friendship Festival celebrates “nearly 200 years of peace” between the United States and Canada. It’s a week-long celebration that ends in a fireworks display on the Fourth, visible from both the U.S. and Ontario shores of Lake Erie. http://www.friendshipfestival.com/events.html

7. Go Fourth on the River—[New Orleans|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/LA/071/new-orleans]

Just when you thought New Orleans couldn’t get any better, it does. Live jazz and great food paired with “dueling fireworks barges” on the Mississippi. Yeah, that definitely sounds like fun. http://www.go4thontheriver.com/

6. Fourth of July Waterfront Celebration at Pier 39—[San Francisco|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/CA/075/san-francisco]

A solid fireworks display to be sure, but what makes this one special is the music of Tainted Love—possibly the world’s greatest ‘80s cover band. Warning: potentially dangerous combination of hair spray and explosives. http://www.pier39.com/Events/events.htm

5. WaMu Family Fourth at Lake Union—[Seattle|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/WA/033/seattle]

Hailed by Time magazine as one of the “Top Five Fireworks Displays” in the country, this free admission, family-friendly celebration is in its 20th year of bringing together the local community for a unique day of commemoration. http://www.wamufamily4th.org/

4. Welcome America—[Philadelphia|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/PA/101/philadelphia]

What better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than in Philly: the birthplace of our nation, Rocky Balboa and the cheese steak. http://www.americasbirthday.com/

3. Central Pennsylvania Fourth Fest - State College, PA

This extravaganza bills itself as “the greatest volunteer fireworks show in the nation. ”Where do I sign up? Central Pennsylvania Fourth Fest combines live entertainment, the Firecracker 4K fun run, food and drink with thousands of pounds of high explosives launched by amateur pyros. Rock on!  [http://www.4thfest.org/]

2. Macy’s Fourth of July Fest—[New York City|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/NY/005/new-york-city]

See one of theworld’s biggest fireworks displays in the greatest city in the world. ‘Nuf said. http://www.ny.com/holiday/july4/

1. Fireworks on the Mall—[Washington D.C.|http://www.travelmuse.com/destinations/US/DC/001/00-washington]

Yes, the crowd is insane, and you’ll want to claim your precious patch of real estate on the National Mall way early, but this is a show not to be missed. The fireworks are set against the backdrop of iconic U.S. landmarks and coupled with patriotic music performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Having grown up in the D.C. suburbs, it’s one of those experiences I’ll always remember. http://www.nps.gov/mall/planyourvisit/fireworks.htm

Happy Fourth of July!