Worth the drive

Less than 2 hours

Margaret Harwell Art Museum, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Daniel North was once the director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Since then, he's been featured in major American art periodicals as one of the great painters of the Western U.S. and come back to Southeast Missouri, although he maintains a studio in northern Montana. Throughout the month of December, North's work will be on display at Poplar Bluff's Margaret Harwell Art Museum, open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call the museum at 573-686-8002 or visit www.mham.org.

Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site, Ellis Grove, Ill.

The home, built in 1815 by a prominent French Canadian, will open its doors for a special French Colonial holiday celebration. The home will be decorated in French Christmas style, with traditional French foods and an appearance by a French Father Christmas, Pere Noel. For more information, call the site at 618-859-3741.

Less than 3 hours

Adsmore Museum, Princeton, Ky.

Historic homes everywhere are getting dressed up for the holidays, including Princeton's Adsmore Museum. The museum is going back in time to recreate Christmas in 1901, with actors in Victorian-era costume leading visitors through its decked halls. A special candlelight tour will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7, but the museum will be decked out throughout the month of December. The museum is at 304 N. Jefferson St. For more information, call 270-365-3114.