The Newark Museum presents a great alternative to the "sitting in the car for a whole hour in bumper to bumper traffic paying six dollars to cross the border navigating the city finding a place to park that does not cost twenty dollars and then discovering that your legs still function" experience that can be typical of a visit to any New York City museum.

From the vestibule, the museum looks unimpressive, but once you move beyond the cashiers, the building opens up into an open floor plan, filled with many exhibits. Some offerings include American paintings and statues from such artists as John Singer Sargent and Andy Warhol, classical artifacts from Egypt including the mummy case of songstress Henet-Mer, and various other galleries focused on science and the arts. The museum even houses a Mini Zoo filled with a smattering of animals from each biome, including the museum's resident Dwarf Mongooses Hurry, Scurry and Furry.

Body Wars, one of the most enjoyable exhibits, combines information about diseases and the human immune system with several hands-on activities. If you have ever wondered how vaccines come into existence, find out by participating in an interactive Ebola vaccine-making simulation. You can also stick your face into an inflatable, hazardous materials suit, discover just how far the germs from a cough will spread and watch videos featuring people who have been affected by dangerous diseases. All of the information (and there is a lot) is delivered in an easy-to-understand format with sets and props so vibrantly colored that you could eat them up. But, after learning all about germs, you will probably be skeptical about eating anything .

One of the best aspects of the museum seems to be its reasonable size. You can see most of what the building holds in just one day, unlike many gargantuan New York museums that seem to take years to wonder through. But, if you need a break from looking at exhibits, the museum offers a gift shop and adjoining kid's boutique that sell postcards, necklaces, clothes and a varied array of books. Or, you can rest your feet at a table in the museum's café, located in the center of the main building. The café boasts beautiful wood work and a high ceiling with a huge sky light. If outer space is more your forte, you can step into the planetarium to see a show. The planetarium hosts special exhibits that are included with the price of admission, but shows require additional tickets. Currently on display is an exhibit about Saturn and shows include Nine Planets and Counting , which divulges the controversy over Pluto's status as a planet, and Black Holes which talks about mysterious voids in space.

A visit to the museum costs just seven dollars for adults and three dollars for kids and students. Parking in the on-site lot will set you back five dollars per car. Check the website before you visit to look up special events at www.newarkmuseum.org . A trip to a New York museum may be an expensive and unpleasant experience, but an excursion to the Newark Museum is practically priceless.