Travel is. . .

. . . Looking at the bigger picture

Which is sometimes looking for something smaller.

Any of us who travel get sightseeing advice all the time. "Don't miss this, don't miss that," we're told. For example when it comes to museums, dedicated travelers know that there are plenty of givens no one should miss. Especially when it comes to the world's largest cities.

Consider in Paris, one goes to the Louvre; New York, it's MOMA, London, the British Museum, Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian. In Chicago, my hometown, I always recommend the Museum of Science and Industry. I first went with a fourth grade class and have been back may times since. I have a high school reunion next fall and hope to go again.

But in the process we can miss something that can be even more relevant: Smaller museums that reflect things much more contemporary than mummies or skeletons.

For example the Andy Griffith Museum in Mt. Airy, N.C., documents the entire
"Andy of Mayberry" concept, a delightful slice of Americana. Griffith portrayed America in a more benign time, when life was simple and lifestyles even more so.

More than 50,000 visitors explored the museum in its first year in its permanent home - that's 10,000 more than were expected, and they came from 50 states and 47 countries.

Without planning to I toured the Branson Auto Museum in Branson, MO where I saw a car used in the film "Robo Cop," another used by Steve McQueen and a 1964 Chevy Impala like one I owned when it was new. I loved it.

Sometime these smaller museums, that don't always make the top 10 or someone's "don't miss" lists can be very satisfying and serendipitious.