Travel, of any variety, does afford one the opportunity to dive into a culture so wildly different that one is transported entirely, body and soul, into different dimensions - and for some reason that thought is presenting me with the opportunity to channel my inner Elizabeth Bennet. It could be that I'm waxing philosophical about having been in one of America's greatest cities, Boston, but more likely it's from having been in the presence of beautiful artifacts and treasures - and the best place to do that in Boston is The Museum of Fine Arts.

As much as I love seeing new places, I love museums even more. I love the marbled floors, columns, architecture and reverence the galleries inspire in me - much like being in church without anyone taking weekly attendance. The quiet rooms holding sculptures that seem to whisper to the paintings on the walls.

The centerpiece of the Museum is the new "Art of the Americas" wing that's been 10 years in the making. Housing over 5,000 works of art from pre-Columbian masters to late 20th century gurus, the wing takes visitors through 53 galleries, from the earliest known artifacts to the 17th century on its lower level, through the founding of the United states on level 1, to the 19th and early 20th centuries on level 2, culminating in 20th century art through the mid 1970s on the highest level.

But don't think you can zoom through to the Art of the Americas wing and ignore the rest of the Museum! That would be a travesty. MFA houses one of the finest collections on Asian art on this continent, and its Art of the Ancient World exhibit is unparalleled, having over 83,000 artifacts on display from Greece to Anatolia. There is an exquisite collection of Renaissance art in their European collection, and also over 1,100 musical instruments from throughout history. There's something at the Museum of Fine Art to please everyone - even the most hardened curmudgeon.

Admission is $20, and the best way to get there is on Boston's T (the Green Line "E" train drops you nearly at the front door at the "Museum of Fine Arts" stop). Valuable visiting tips can be found here, and make sure you take time to visit the gift shop. You can stay all day and patronize one of their four eateries in the Museum. And if you're looking for a hotel package, you can check this link out for more information.

Safe Travels!