Bank of America has partnered with more than 100 museums across the U.S. in the “Museums on Us” program. Here’s the deal, the first full weekend of each month through 2009 and into 2010, Bank of America cardholders with an ATM, credit or check card receive a free general admission.

This is a great opportunity to check out a museum in your backyard during a “staycation” or when tripping across the country on summer vacation. Museums are participating in some of our favorite vacation destinations. The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk (adult admission is $7) is something to do when vacationing in Virginia Beach. Nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history are housed in the Italianate-style building facing the Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River. Check out the world-renowned glass collection, expansive photography program, Art Nouveau furniture along with the comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculptures and art representing African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic cultures.

Or, if flying into Miami for a vacation in Key West or to take a cruise, check out the Miami Science Museum (adult admission is $18). The South Florida museum provides fun, interactive and educational exhibits focused on science and technology. Innovative exhibits are changed out every three to four months, offers wildlife and planetarium programs and holds special events throughout the year.

There are at least 100 more museums we could describe but we’ll let you check out the Bank of America Museums on Us site here to find a museum near you. Remember, this offer is valid the first full weekend of each month. Being a Bank of America cardholder definitely has its benefits.

The answer is “no.” All those white-bearded me running around Key West wearing wool sweaters in mid-July aren’t Santa Claus wannabes but Ernest Hemingway look-alikes paying tribute to the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who was affectionately called Papa Hemingway. The celebrated author called Key West home during the 1930s and his literary accomplishments are hailed during the annual Hemingway Days, celebrating its 29th year in 2009.

Highlights of this year’s Hemingway Days include:

• Commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Papa’s July 21 birth;
• Look-alike contest for white-bearded, stocky men resembling Hemingway;
• Awards ceremony for the literary competition directed by author and Hemingway granddaughter Lorian Hemingway;
• Readings and book signings by nationally acclaimed authors;
• One-man play exploring Hemingway’s life and motivations;
• Wacky “Running of the Bulls;”
• Three-day marlin tournament recalling Hemingway’s devotion to the deep-sea sport.

While vacationing in Key West during Hemingway Days, don’t miss the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum for a guided tour or the “Hemingway in Key West” exhibition at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House.

Check out the complete and up-to-date schedule of events. Of course, a visit to Key West during Hemingway Days isn’t complete without stopping into Sloppy Joe’s Bar for a refreshing beverage or two. It was Hemingway’s favorite.

The USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenbert served her country well and May 27, 2009, the 523-foot-long converted Missile Range Instrumentation Ship will sink seven miles south of Key West to serve the aquatic world as an artificial reef 140 feet beneath the sea.  Travelers to Key West will definitely witness a historic event when visiting the Conch Republic May 26 – June 1.

For those history buffs, read on for the soap opera-esque history of the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg:

• Launched in 1943, the ship was originally named the USS/USNS Gen. Harry Taylor;
• In 1961, the ship joined the ranks of the United States Air Force and renamed the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg;
• 1964 the ship returned to the Navy and placed in service by the Military Sealift Command (MSC);
• Tracked missiles launched from the Space and Missile Test Center between 1965 and 1975;
• Transferred to the Maritime Administration MARAD Reserve Fleet, James River, Va., in 1983 and struck from the Naval Register in 1993;
• Leased to Universal Studios in 1996 for the filming of the movie Virus, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, William Baldwin and Donald Sutherland, the film was released in 1999;
• Fate determined as an artificial reef in 2007;
• April 22, 2009, the Vandenberg arrived in Key West in preparation for the scuttling which means a crew is cutting holes to allow water flow and vent air when the ship is sunk. These holes will encourage marine life to colonize.

Although the target date for the sinking is May 27, factors may impact the actual date, such as “weather and other unforeseen circumstances,” said Jim Scholl, Key West’s city manager and project administrator.

This sinking is brought to you and the marine world by the Artificial Reefs of Key West. Check out their Web site for additional information on this historic moment. Book your Key West vacation now to take advantage of sweet and affordable late-spring deals.