Visiting a museum is an educational and cultural experience that we all enjoy when traveling. Thousands of museums and galleries around the world display fine arts, precious artifacts, and historical displays.

The Louvre, Tate Modern, Uffizi Gallery, and Guggenheim Museum are just a few of the famous cultural exhibits around the world which draw thousands of visitors each day.

By its very definition, a museum is a building where articles of historical, artistic, cultural, or scientific importance are exhibited. Yet there are also some unique, lesser-known museums around the world. Many grew from a fanatic’s personal collection, while others are just plain weird.

10. Hair Museum Avanos, Turkey

In Avanos, Turkey, you will find a somewhat bizarre museum located beneath a pottery shop. Artist Chez Galip has collected locks from more than 16,000 women and displayed the tresses in his unusual “hair museum.”

Saddened by a friend’s departure from Avanos back in the late 1970s, Galip asked for a remembrance and the woman apparently gave him a lock of her hair in response.

Over the next few decades, he collected locks of hair from visiting females around the world. The multicolored hair samples, tagged with each donor’s name and address, hang from every spare surface within the museum.

Visitors are not obliged to donate their hair to the growing display. However, participants have the opportunity twice a year to win an all-expenses-paid holiday.

9. Icelandic Phallological Museum

Iceland has a number of museums dedicated to a range of historic and cultural themes. However, the Icelandic Phallological Museum in Reykjavik may well be the weirdest museum in the world. It is dedicated entirely to penises.

According to the official website, it is “the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the various types of mammal found in a single country.”

The museum displays over 200 penile specimens from whales, seals, polar bears, and 20 other land mammals. A 170-centimeter (67 in) whale penis preserved in glass is the largest specimen on display. There are also human samples on view. In fact, visitors are given the opportunity to sign up to donate specimens after their deaths.

Among the more unusual artistic displays are lampshades fashioned from bull scrotums as well as toys and utensils related to the museum’s theme.

8. Toilet Museum South Korea

You certainly won’t have difficulty finding the public restrooms in this South Korean facility. Haewoojae is an entire museum dedicated to the history of toilets and sanitation.

Despite the obvious lavatory humor, the museum actually has serious origins. Sim Jae-duck, or “Mr Toilet” as he became known, worked to improve the city toilets during his time as mayor of Suwon City, South Korea. He also aimed to improve sanitation around the world with the “World Toilet Association.”

He even built a toilet-shaped house which was turned into a museum after his 2009 death. The original museum was predominately toilet-themed signage and educational material on the importance of clean toilet facilities.

Since 2012, the museum has expanded to display a history of water closets, squat toilets, and public urinals from around the world.

7. Cup Noodles Museum Osaka

Cup noodles are seen as a rather boring foodstuff that is traditionally eaten by poor students trying to pay their way through college. With over 100 billion servings of instant noodles consumed globally each year, it probably isn’t surprising that a cup noodles museum exists.

In Osaka, Japan, you can visit a museum entirely devoted to the 60-year history of such noodles. The Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum tells the history of instant noodles from the first Chicken Ramen noodles in the 1950s to the many varieties available today.

Exhibits include a re-creation of the inventor’s work shed where the first cup noodles were developed as well as displays of noodles sent into space to feed astronauts. The “Instant Noodles Tunnel” displays packaging from over 800 varieties of noodles, providing a great “selfie” opportunity for ramen lovers.

Visitors even have the opportunity to attend a workshop to create and package their own variety of ramen noodles.

6. Kansas Barbed Wire Museum

Travel through any rural area in the world, and you are likely to find stretches of barbed wire fencing surrounding properties. You may expect to find samples of this spiky fencing wire in an agricultural museum.

Yet in La Crosse, Kansas, you will discover an entire museum dedicated to barbed wire. You’ll be amazed to find over 2,400 versions of barbed wire on display there.

The museum covers the history of barbed wire from its invention during the 1870s to help protect holdings in America’s Midwest to its uses during the war years and in modern fencing applications.

You can also explore exhibits of fencing tools and equipment. A whole museum dedicated to fencing wire may sound uninteresting. However, the impact of this basic fencing material throughout its history makes for a fascinating display.

5. Spam Museum Austin, Minnesota

Many of us shudder at the thought of eating “Spam,” the highly processed tinned pork that Hormel Foods first introduced to the US market in 1937. While the long-life convenience food certainly had its place as a staple for troops during World War II, the square tin of meat has become a much-maligned product in more recent years.

Yet there is actually a Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. Hormel Foods first established a small museum in a mall in 1991 before moving to a bigger, more accessible site in recent years.

Here you can learn the history of Spam production and its role during the war years. You can even taste Spam varieties. Yes, there are different types sold throughout the world. Visitors can even pick up some Spam recipes for their next dinner party.

4. Bata Shoe Museum Canada

Shoe collecting has been a popular female hobby for centuries. From basic “flip-flops” and sandals to elaborate fashion footwear, the humble shoe is something most of us wear daily.

In Toronto, Canada, you can actually enter a shoebox-shaped museum to explore the history of footwear. The wife of Bata Shoe Company founder Thomas Bata outdid even Imelda Marcos’s infamous shoe collection.

Sonja Bata began amusing herself by shopping for shoes when accompanying her husband on business trips. Her collection started back in the 1940s. By the 1970s, it had outgrown their home, so the Bata Shoe Museum was established in 1992. In 1995, it moved to its current location.[7]

Visitors to the museum can view over 13,000 shoes spanning over 4,500 years of footwear history. From Chinese “foot bound” shoes to basic sandals and ludicrous fashion items, visitors can learn about the background of these items as well as the changes in shoemaking across the centuries.

3. Dog Collar Museum Kent, England

Dog collars have been a basic canine accessory since medieval times. Spiked leather collars were originally used to protect hunting dogs from predators, while more privileged pooches donned elaborate bejeweled ornamental collars.

Even today, we clip on a nylon collar to attach a lead or identification tag. Any pet store has a range of doggie neckwear for your canine companion.

At Leeds Castle in Kent, you will find a museum dedicated to dog collars across the ages. Since 1976, the museum has displayed about 100 dog collars dating from medieval to Victorian times. The exhibit has collars that would seem barbaric by modern standards as well as elaborate royal collars decorated with each owner’s coat of arms.

An estimated 500,000 individuals visit the museum each year to browse through five centuries of doggie fashion.

2. Skull Tower Of Nis Serbia

Serbia’s somewhat gruesome “Skull Tower of Nis” dates back to the Battle of Cegar in 1809. With Turkish forces fast closing in, Serbian commander Stevan Sindelic blew up a gunpowder store, killing himself and fellow soldiers to save them from torture by their captors.

Vizier Hurshid Pasha had the deceased rebels decapitated. Then the heads were skinned and stuffed. Finally, a 4.6-meter (15 ft) tower using the skulls of the 952 fallen Serbian soldiers was erected as a clear message to rebels.

Over time, some skulls fell from the wall while others were taken by relatives for burial. As of 2013, 58 skulls remained on display, including a glass-encased exhibit said to hold the skull of Sindelic.

A chapel was built around the tower in 1892 to preserve it as a monument to the fallen troops and a reminder of the barbarities of war.

1. Lunchbox Museum Columbus, Georgia

Over the years, we’ve all had our favorite lunchboxes—those utilitarian little objects that safely carried our sandwiches and fruit to school or work. Some of us will remember the metal boxes of the 1950s and 1960s—from the black-and-red plaid tins to those decorated with decals of our favorite folk heroes.

In more recent years, we shifted to plastic containers. These included the simple lidded plastic boxes and the trendy pop culture or Disney varieties that every school child “has to have.”

But did you know that there is actually a museum dedicated to lunchboxes? Above a country music station in Columbus, Georgia, you will find a museum displaying thousands of lunchboxes, thermoses, and coolers.

Owner Allen Woodall first began collecting lunchboxes in the 1990s. His museum collection is open to the public and displays the history of this humble container from the 1950s to the present.

The secret to more frequent travel? It’s simple: Learn how to plan ahead, research your options, lean into deals, and time it right—and you’ll be amazed how far you can stretch your vacation budget.

Do you find yourself daydreaming of your next vacation…right after your last vacation? Whether you long to explore far-flung cities, relax on sandy beaches, or gather with family at a lakeside cabin, traveling more often is possible—and no, you don’t have to become a millionaire to pull it off.

The secret to more frequent travel? It’s simple: Spend less money on each trip you take, and you can stretch your annual vacation budget into more frequent trips. Learn how to plan ahead, research your options, lean into deals, and time it right, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can get out of your vacation budget.

So if you’re ready to hit the open road or the friendly skies, check out these easy ways to be a frugal traveler and get out of town more often.

1. Travel during the off-season.

One of the easiest ways to be a frugal traveler is to travel during the off-season. When you visit your vacation destination during the non-peak travel dates, flight and hotel prices are often slashed.

For instance, Florida’s off-season is July to August (which may seem strange since it’s known as the Sunshine State, but there is such thing as too much sun). The main FL tourist season runs from December to the end of April, so vacationing during the extra-hot summer will save you a ton if you can handle that sun. Flip this script if you want to visit, say, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; this beach town’s peak season is summertime, and rates will plummet during the winter.

Pinpointing off-season times that are cheaper but still safe (i.e., you don’t want to head to a destination during a season it’s prone to hurricanes or sandstorms just because it’s cheaper) requires a little bit of research, but it’s definitely worth the effort. When the off-season is, exactly depends on where you plan to visit.

Do your research and travel during the off-season to save money and avoid the crowds, too.

2. Use travel sites to book cheaper hotels.

Rather than booking directly with the hotel, check out travel sites such as booking.com and priceline.com for cheaper rates. These sites allow you to compare multiple hotels at once. This helps you find the best deal for your destination.

Plus, if you sign up for these companies’ rewards programs, you can save even more and earn perks. It takes only a few minutes, and the member-only savings are solid. You can even win free upgrades and comped nights at hotels. The best part? It doesn’t matter which hotels you stay at; the points count each time you book.

These sites are excellent for pet owners, too, because you can easily figure out which hotels are pet-friendly.

3. Stay with family to save on hotels.

Another great option to save money on hotels is to stay with folks you know. Got a long-lost cousin with extra space in a fun city? What about that college roommate who’s always saying “my guest room is your guest room”? Skipping hotels entirely can cut your vacation costs by hundreds of dollars.

More than likely, you have family or friends in many different locations who would be happy to host you, so why not book a fun get-away and see your favorite aunt while you’re at it? Just make sure you consult with them well in advance about what length and timing of stay they’re comfortable with. And pro tip: Don’t invite yourself to stay with friends or family who have kids, unless they’ve specifically told you you’re welcome.

4. Book flights at the right time.

Using travel sites can save you serious money, but you can double your savings if you book your flights at the right time, too. According to a 2019 study by Cheapair.com, the “prime booking window” is about four months to three weeks in advance of your travel dates.

The study also found that it didn’t really matter what day you booked your flight, but rather what days you actually traveled. In fact, Tuesday was the cheapest day of the week to fly, averaging $85 in savings. Sundays and Wednesdays are cheaper days as well. So skip the Fridays and Saturdays and travel frugally by flying when it’s cheapest.

5. Opt for a kitchen.

One way to save a ton of money and be a frugal traveler is to opt for a hotel or rental that comes with a kitchen. Of course it’s fun to dine out, but you can save quite a bit if you can cook just one or two of your meals every day.

It doesn’t have to be fancy; grocery shop for a continental breakfast or a big scramble. Even packing sandwiches for midday rather than hitting a lunch spot can save you $20 each time.

6. Find low-cost and free things to do.

The biggest way to be a frugal traveler and travel more often is to find fun, low-cost, and free things to do on your trips. While you’re planning (or even after you arrive), do a quick search online for affordable activities in your destination. Check out the local parks, historical museums, and botanical gardens.

Also, research your destination in advance to see if you can time your trip with any free events or festivals; many beach destinations will have music festivals and other events going on during the summertime.

7. Find discounts on top attractions.

Check for discounts on top attractions, whether it’s the theme park you’re dying to try or the aquarium your kids are clamoring for. Sites such as CityPASS and DestinationCoupons can save you up to 50 percent off experiences like these, which can often be more expensive than you bargained for if you don’t plan ahead. Search the state or city you’re visiting on both of these sites for epic deals on must-sees.

8. Find affordable vacation destinations.

Another tip is obvious but not to be overlooked: Simply find a more affordable destination. After all, smaller cities, lesser-known towns, and off-the-beaten-path beaches can not only be much cheaper than major destinations; they let you skip the tourist crowds in favor of unique charm.

Do you always head to Daytona Beach? Try New Smyrna Beach instead for a less crowded and less expensive option. Do you love traveling to Nashville to hear live music? Try Memphis to halve your hotel prices. Do you love to sail? Instead of Miami’s sky-high boat rental prices, try your hand in Annapolis, Md. The list goes on.

9. Use a rewards credit card.

Of course, it’s best to actually save for your vacation and not rack up debt. That said, most of the time, you will be using a credit card to reserve hotels, flights, and other travel expenses (unless you’re paying for your vacation with Bitcoin, of course). So you might as well use your card to benefit you financially and earn those perks. Get a credit card that offers rewards and travel miles, so you can earn free stuff for your travel adventures. While you’re at it, try to find a card with no annual fees and lower interest rates too.

You’ve booked your flights, planned an itinerary, and you’re ready to start packing your suitcase for your next adventure. It’s time to travel! Whether you’re flying abroad for work, driving somewhere warm to escape the winter, or heading a few states away to visit friends or family, any trip involves packing the essentials. If you’re vacationing, it can be easy to remove yourself from your regular routine, but your skincare routine shouldn’t get a vacation. Between flying, sun exposure, air conditioning in hotels, and different temperatures, your skin goes through the wringer while traveling, so it’s important to keep it hydrated, healthy, and protected. Here are a few of our skincare travel tips to keep in mind before embarking on your upcoming trip.

Pack Smart

While we may not be able to help you pack your clothes, we can offer some skincare packing advice. Head to your nearest drug store or shop where travel-size containers are sold and stock up. These will be helpful when it comes to traveling with your skincare products, especially if you’re flying with carry-on luggage. This way, you won’t have to worry about toting around full-sized containers, which can take up a lot of room in a suitcase. You may also be able to find travel or sample size products that are already used in your routine, which means there’s even less work to do.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Has your skin ever felt incredibly dry after a long plane ride? The air conditioning on airplanes is different than what we’re used to in our homes, so it can easily dry your skin. Airplane air conditioning uses only about 20 percent humidity, while our skin is typically used to 40 to 70 percent. This can also give skin a dull appearance, even if you’ve applied makeup prior to the flight. Not to mention, airplane air is recycled and pressurized, which is a rude wake-up call for your skin. Moisturizer will be your best friend before, after, and during long flights, especially if you are already struggling with dry skin. Before and during a flight, it’s important to drink plenty of water to keep moisture in your body, which can greatly benefit your skin on long trips. This also includes your lips, which can become easily chapped on planes. Bring your favorite lip balm with you and apply frequently to lock in moisture.

Protect Yourself

Even if you aren’t heading to a tropical location, you won’t want to forget sunscreen, which should be a regular part of your skincare routine. A moisturizer containing SPF can be especially useful on the plane. You may not think about it while sitting on a plane, but the sun’s rays are even harsher thousands of feet above the ground where the air is thinner. If you have the window seat and find yourself gazing out onto the horizon, you will want to have some SPF handy.

Be a Tranquil Traveler

Traveling can lead to stress, especially prior to long road trips or while heading through airport security, which can impact your skin. Between travel stress and the dry air on planes, your skin can take a beating and become inflamed. Aside from staying hydrated, wear lighter makeup that won’t add to the skin’s irritation and use soothing makeup remover wipes. If you find yourself becoming stressed, just relax, rest, and picture yourself on the warm island you’re heading to.

Adjust to Changes

Once you’ve arrived at your hotel, condo, or rental house, it’s important to remember that your skin still has some adjusting to do. Hotel air conditioning can be different from what you’re used to at home, and it can produce similar results to what your skin experiences with the dry air on a plane. Depending on your location, the water can also be different. Water in certain parts of the world is cleaner or more chemical-filled than water elsewhere, so keep that in mind if you are still noticing changes to your skin throughout your trip.

Stick to Your Regimen

As mentioned before, you don’t get a vacation from your skincare routine if you want to keep your skin looking happy and healthy. Be sure you’ve packed the necessary steps in your regimen and use the products as you normally would at home. If you forget to stick to your regular routine or forget any parts of your typical regimen, your skin won’t be thanking you later.

Traveling can definitely be overwhelming, which tends to show on our skin. If you stick to your routine, moisturize as much as possible before and after flying, remember to apply SPF, and remain as calm as possible, your skin can enjoy your trip right along with you!

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say ‘travel’ – Vacation? Meeting new people? Or maybe, Instagrammable sunsets? While traveling can be exciting and exhilarating, it’s so much more than sipping margaritas on a sun-soaked beach.

It’s no news that travel is good for your physical wellbeing, but a significant amount of scientific research suggests that exploring a new place can do wonders for your mental and emotional health as well.

Here are five evidence-backed ways traveling makes your mind happy and healthy:

1. It’s a great stress buster. “The stress of work and daily demands can distract us from what we find to be actually meaningful and interesting,” says Dr. Tamara McClintock Greenberg, a San Francisco-based clinical psychologist and author of Psychodynamic Perspectives on Aging and Illness. Thus, taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle is essential for your mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

And what better way to do so than to pack your bags and cross wanderlust-worthy destinations off your bucket list? Traveling promotes happiness and helps you take your mind off stressful situations. This leads to lower cortisol levels, making you feel more calm and content. “It also helps us reflect on our personal goals and interests,” adds Greenberg. According to a 2013 study, more than 80% of Americans, who were surveyed, noticed significant drops in stress just after a day or two of traveling. “Even though I’m always busy when I travel, whether it’s sightseeing, taking photos or just exploring a destination on foot, I know I’m the calmest and most relaxed when I travel,” says Jacintha Verdegaal, an avid traveler and founder of travel and lifestyle blog, Urban Pixxels.

2. It helps you reinvent yourself. Writer Patrick Rothfuss said, “ A long stretch of road can teach you more about yourself than a hundred years of quiet .” Experiential traveling, particularly to a foreign country, can help you re-evaluate and reinvent your life. “If you allow it, travel has the ability to expand your mind in a way you never realized was possible,” says solo travel expert and founder of the Trusted Travel Girl, Valerie Wilson.

Moreover, the valuable lessons that you learn along the way broaden your perspective, making you more aware and open to new things. “I love traveling to places with different cultures because it forces you to think about your own,” says Verdegaal. “Different is not better or worse, it’s just different. But being confronted with these differences helps me to re-evaluate my own principles and values and, sometimes, change them,” adds the professional globetrotter.

Exploring new places can also give you a fresh start if you’re recovering from a major transition in your life. “When I had Lyme disease, for several years, my world shrunk. I lost friends who didn’t know how to deal with a sick friend. I was quite alone and lost a lot of my self-confidence,” says Wilson, who began to travel “out of fear of relapsing.” “By traveling and interacting with the world around me, I found a new passion for life. I convinced myself to travel even when I wasn’t feeling well. It has brought me happiness, given me a purpose, and has made me a strong, independent woman,” she explains.

3. It boosts happiness and satisfaction. Apart from the obvious fact that you don’t have to go to work (and can legit eat pizza for breakfast), traveling gives you the opportunity to step away from the daily grind. The new events and experiences help rewire your brain, hence boosting your mood and self-confidence. “I think people, in general, are not meant to be tied down to just one place their entire lives. I especially feel “trapped” when I have to stay in the same place for too much time, without being able to really move about and explore,” says travel aficionado and co-founder of The Passport Memorandum, Marta Estevez. “My life feels most fulfilling when I’m outside, living through new experiences and learning,” adds the travel expert who has been to more than ten countries.

“Travel definitely makes me happy,” agrees Wilson. “Even the act of planning a trip gives me something to look forward to and brings me happiness,” says Wilson. Turns out, she’s not the only one who feels that way. According to a Cornell University study, the anticipation of a trip can increase your happiness substantially, even more than the anticipation of acquiring something tangible, like a new car.

4. It makes you mentally resilient. Going and living somewhere where you feel excited and intimidated at the same time can help you toughen up mentally and emotionally. “When I was younger, I couldn’t see myself traveling the world on my own. But now, I travel by myself most of the time. And I love it! It’s never as scary or dangerous as you make it in your head,” says Verdegaal of Urban Pixxels.

Also, facing difficulties in an unfamiliar environment, among new people, forces you to learn and adapt to a life that’s out of your comfort zone. This makes you more flexible, patient and emotionally strong. “Travel has taught me patience, to surrender control to the uncontrollable, and effectively problem solve,” says Wilson who describes herself as a “naturally anxious and impatient person.”

It can also help you deal with “larger issues in life with more grace and patience,” adds the travel expert. “One of the worst experiences I had, early on in my travel life, was being mugged of loads of cash and my passport just a day before I was due to fly home. It taught me to accept situations like this more calmly and to attach less emotion to belongings. Now, I can get over similar stressful situations very quickly, without having the issue get me down for long,” tells Allan Hinton, a London-based photographer who quit his job to become a full-time traveler.

Similarly, when travel blogger Marta Estevez injured her ankle during the famous Loi Krathong festival (Lantern festival) in Thailand, “the roads were partially closed off that night and the streets were filled with hundreds upon hundreds of people that made it incredibly difficult for us to move,” she explains. “I had to learn to accept the situation and adapt our travels accordingly, without breaking down. I’m not sure I would’ve had the same composure a few years ago in this situation.” Bottom line is, the more challenges you’re faced with, the better you’ll get at overcoming them, eventually becoming more resilient, mentally and emotionally.

5. It enhances creativity. According to Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School, visiting a foreign place and immersing yourself in their local environment (for instance, attending a ‘snake boat’ race in southern India or feasting on crispy tarantulas in Cambodia), increases your cognitive flexibility. It also enhances “depth and integrativeness of thought,” consequently giving a boost to your creativity. Galinsky is the author of multiple studies that look into the connection between creativity and international travel. Although, it’s important to note that traveling stimulates creativity only when you engage with the local culture of that place. Merely visiting a new city or a country isn’t going to cut it.

Additionally, extended traveling also improves your productivity, problem-solving skills and can even increase your chances of getting promoted at work!

However, “it’s important to remember that vacation can be very stressful for some,” notes Greenberg. If that’s the case with you, try taking “short, structured vacations in order to get used to the experience of having time off,” she suggests. Also, plan your trip properly, in advance, to avoid last-minute panic and chaos.

Lastly, how can you reap the benefits after returning from the trip?

“As a clinician, I encourage people to hold on to aspects of a travel experience or vacation that was pleasurable,” says Greenberg. For example, “if you liked the food in Paris, learn how to cook French food in order to re-create some of the feelings you had while you were on vacation,” she explains. “Another behavioral intervention is to remember peaceful moments you had on vacation and try to remember what was different from your present life. Maybe you took the time to eat breakfast, maybe you exercised. Those things are crucial reminders of what we should do every day,” adds the clinical psychologist.

Now that you’ve finished reading about all the wonderful things travel does to your brain, it’s time to pack your bags and get going!