(CNN) -- You'd love to go. Just think of the history, the beautiful artwork ... the things you could learn. But upon hearing the word "museum," your kids break into a chorus of "I'd rather die."



Your children can pet some of the world's insect species at the Insectarium in New Orleans, Louisiana.



So you wheel, deal and promise ice cream in massive amounts. In return, they agree to whine only when it's absolutely necessary -- or every five seconds, whichever comes first.



Perhaps you can avoid a situation like this on your vacation. Pauline Frommer, creator of the Pauline Frommer Guidebooks, has two kids, ages 6 and 10.



As a travel author, she knows what makes a museum educational and interesting for adults. As a mom, she knows what will keep children from being bored to tears.



"I think it's impossible to pick the very best five," Frommer said. "But here are five really terrific museums, with very different subject matters, that both kids and adults will groove on."



The Spy Museum, Washington



Frommer describes this museum as "an intriguing, surprisingly scholarly, fun and highly interactive introduction to the shadowy world of spies."



When you enter the Spy Museum, you will be asked to pick an alternate identity. Throughout the building, you and your kids will be tested on keeping this cover. In addition to seeing all kinds of cool spy gadgets -- umbrellas with poison tips! --- you'll learn about famous spies throughout history, how the government uses these undercover agents and the common ways spies practice their trade.



"I had trouble dragging my kids out of this one," Frommer said. "And I've been through it twice and enjoyed it both times."



Adults $18; children ages 5-11 $15; children under 5 free



The Grammy Museum, Los Angeles, California



Only 3 months old, the Grammy Museum goes well beyond the famous music awards.



"In truth, it's a museum that celebrates the history of recorded music and does so in a cutting-edge, highly interactive manner," Frommer said.



Every genre from rock to hip-hop to country music is explored here. Top recording artists serve as your guide as they discuss, for example, what makes jazz such an important American phenomenon, what the song-writing process is like or how one genre of music has deeply affected another.



Sound like child dull-ville? "Kids will love the booths that allow them to mix and produce music," Frommer said.



The museum also has a dynamic touch-screen map that allows visitors to explore the nation's musical heritage and several video displays that will distract any kid's short attention span.



Adults $14.95; children 6-17 $10.95; children under 5 free



The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York



You might not think world-renowned art exhibits would be a good fit with your kids; priceless objects don't often mesh with PB&J-smeared fingers. But Frommer says you will be doing your children a great disservice if you visit New York and don't bring them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.



"Don't worry, what with all the armor, the mummies and Egyptian temples, the always fun costume collection and the over-the-top grandeur of the place, there's no way they could be bored," she said.



The museum also offers a number of family programs, associate museum educator Mike Norris said. The museum's kids Web site has activities to keep kids entertained while visiting, including guides that focus on specific areas of art like a scavenger hunt, from animals to doors to stained glass.



Norris' top recommendation is not to view the museum as a whole, but as 16 to 18 mini museums. "It's best not to conquer us in one visit," he said. "Remember, [kids'] legs go at twice the RPMs that yours do."



Other offerings
( CNN ) -- You 'd love to go . Just think of the history , the beautiful artwork ... the things you could learn . But upon hearing the word " museum , " your kids break into a chorus of " I 'd rather die . " Your children can pet some of the world 's insect species at the Insectarium in New Orleans , Louisiana . So you wheel , deal and promise ice cream in massive amounts . In return , they agree to whine only when it 's absolutely necessary -- or every five seconds , whichever comes first . Perhaps you can avoid a situation like this on your vacation . Pauline Frommer , creator of the Pauline Frommer Guidebooks , has two kids , ages 6 and 10 . As a travel author , she knows what makes a museum educational and interesting for adults . As a mom , she knows what will keep children from being bored to tears . " I think it 's impossible to pick the very best five , " Frommer said . " But here are five really terrific museums , with very different subject matters , that both kids and adults will groove on . " The Spy Museum , Washington Frommer describes this museum as " an intriguing , surprisingly scholarly , fun and highly interactive introduction to the shadowy world of spies . " When you enter the Spy Museum , you will be asked to pick an alternate identity . Throughout the building , you and your kids will be tested on keeping this cover . In addition to seeing all kinds of cool spy gadgets -- umbrellas with poison tips ! --- you 'll learn about famous spies throughout history , how the government uses these undercover agents and the common ways spies practice their trade . " I had trouble dragging my kids out of this one , " Frommer said . " And I 've been through it twice and enjoyed it both times . " Adults $ 18 ; children ages 5 - 11 $ 15 ; children under 5 free The Grammy Museum , Los Angeles , California Only 3 months old , the Grammy Museum goes well beyond the famous music awards . " In truth , it 's a museum that celebrates the history of recorded music and does so in a cutting - edge , highly interactive manner , " Frommer said . Every genre from rock to hip - hop to country music is explored here . Top recording artists serve as your guide as they discuss , for example , what makes jazz such an important American phenomenon , what the song - writing process is like or how one genre of music has deeply affected another . Sound like child dull - ville ? " Kids will love the booths that allow them to mix and produce music , " Frommer said . The museum also has a dynamic touch - screen map that allows visitors to explore the nation 's musical heritage and several video displays that will distract any kid 's short attention span . Adults $ 14.95 ; children 6 - 17 $ 10.95 ; children under 5 free The Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York You might not think world - renowned art exhibits would be a good fit with your kids ; priceless objects do n't often mesh with PB&J - smeared fingers . But Frommer says you will be doing your children a great disservice if you visit New York and do n't bring them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art . " Do n't worry , what with all the armor , the mummies and Egyptian temples , the always fun costume collection and the over - the - top grandeur of the place , there 's no way they could be bored , " she said . The museum also offers a number of family programs , associate museum educator Mike Norris said . The museum 's kids Web site has activities to keep kids entertained while visiting , including guides that focus on specific areas of art like a scavenger hunt , from animals to doors to stained glass . Norris ' top recommendation is not to view the museum as a whole , but as 16 to 18 mini museums . " It 's best not to conquer us in one visit , " he said . " Remember , [ kids ' ] legs go at twice the RPMs that yours do . " Other offerings
Which travel author recommends the museums?
Which travel author recommends the museums ?
Pauline Frommer,
Pauline Frommer,