If you’ll be in the Sarasota, Florida, area, stop in to visit the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Museum. It’s a fascinating look back on the early circus days. A popular new movie, “Water For Elephants”, is bringing more focus on the wonderful era before TV, when people actually took the whole family to see the clowns, tigers, trapese artists and elephants.

If you want to stay awhile, check out the Courtyard Marriott Ringling Museum. It offers a package that includes a room and two "Member For A Day" Ringling Museum passes, for prices ranging from $129 per night.