Bank of America Offers Free Museum Admission, Takes the Weekend Off From Crushing the Common Man

Say what you will about Bank of America's evil schemes to extract every available dollar from your checking account via absurd fees. This weekend, at least, you can get some free art out of the deal.

Culture vultures who charge everything on plastic will be highly appreciative of Bank of America's Museums on Us promotion. This Saturday and Sunday, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders can score free admission to 18 participating museums in Florida, eight of which are right here in our very own backyard.

Still, it's gonna be hard to tour all eight participating museums in just two days. So we've put together a handy guide to this weekend's free art: the best exhibits and the best bargains.

1. Bass Museum of Art
Historical and contemporary art worlds collide at this Miami Beach museum. With an impressive collection of ancient paintings, work on paper, sculpture, and decorative objects from all over the world, you can teleport through time over and over again from the Renaissance to the Baroque era.

Standout Exhibit: The Egyptian gallery is one of its kind in Florida, and may or may not showcase cursed relics and/or Brendan Fraser.

The Bargain: Regular admission costs $8 -- so you're not saving a huge chunk of change, but enough for a post-art empanada feast at nearby Go-Go.
Who Should Go: Well-rounded art admirers who appreciate more than just a red dot on white canvas.
2100 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-7530

2. IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame
This three-story fishing mecca contains The Catch Gallery which holds 34 interactive kiosks, an antique rod and reel display, and life-size replicas of 173 fish species (all record catches) suspended from the ceiling.

Standout Exhibit: Now showing through April, Cedric Loth's Fighting Back Collection combines the world of deep-sea fishing with a bit of humor brought to sculpture.

The Bargain: Go this weekend and save yourself the regular $10 admission price. But fishing junkies shouldn't count on keeping it for long; there's a giant Bass Pro Shop right next door.

Who Should Go: Sportfishing enthusiasts who can bare to put their tackle box to rest for a few hours.
300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania, 954-922-4212