Still looking for something to give a travel fan? How about a worthwhile membership to a museum that would also provide free admission to other museums both near and far from home?

For instance, I recently bought a membership to the Albany Institute of History and Art.  Not only was this a worthwhile contribution to one of the oldest museums in the United States, but, at the “basic” level, you receive admission through the Empire State Museum Reciprocal Program to museums that include the Shaker Museum and Library in Old Chatham  and the New York Historical Society in Manhattan. The basic membership ranges from $25 for students and educators to $85.00 for a Family Membership.

This is great, but a “supporting membership” for $125.00 gets you through the door of over 700 museums in the United States and Canada through the  North American Reciprocal Museum Program. So this membership can easily pay for itself by getting you into such relatively close destinations as the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts; the Asia Society and Frick Collection in Manhattan; and Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester, Vermont.

I also bought the same membership for my brother and his husband who live in San Francisco. The card provides free admission and other benefits to seven museums in that area including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the de Young and the Legion of Honor.

For more info on this unique travel gift idea, go to http://www.albanyinstitute.org/membership-levels-benefits.html.