If you're a lover of art and culture, Wausau, Wisconsin will give you an unexpected treat. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum is a marvel for ornithologists: birds in so many media--from oil paintings to beautifully polished statues to outdoor sculptures--are everywhere to be found. Little wonder that it has been dubbed the best place in the world for indoor bird watching.

The Museum recently procured 43 Owen Gromme paintings, who is widely recognized as being one of Wisconsin landscape’s finest painters, capturing the essence of the landscape’s beauty. He is known as the “dean of U.S. wildlife artists.”

The Museum is also very family friendly, offering interactive classes for children who want to appreciate art in a more intimate setting.

After my visit to the Museum, I left spellbound and eager to brush up on my art history. I never once thought of skiing or snow shoeing.