Plan a romantic weekend getaway to a city near you or fly across the country to visit one of these beautiful art museums where you can stroll through exhibits and admire the genius of human creativity. Our list includes world-famous institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, new museums like PAMM in Miami, as well as smaller museums which house unique art collections that inspire and delight their visitors. Combine a trip to a museum with dining at great restaurants, shopping and relaxing at day spas on your weekend trip.
1. Washington D.C. – The National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. has a beautiful sculpture garden where you can skate in the winter and listen to outdoor concerts in the summer.
The museum houses paintings by Raphael, Ban Gogh, Rubens, Monet, Picasso, Titian and many other masters. This art museum located in the nation's capital should be on every art lover's list.
6th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20565, Phone: 202-737-4215
2. New York City – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the most impressive art museums in the world, housing famous paintings, ancient artifacts and modern exhibits. Regardless of your interest, you can spend several days at this museum without seeing the same exhibit twice.
Other stunning museums to visit in New York City include the Guggenheim with its famous spiral facade, MoMA, Brooklyn Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art. You should plan to spend at least half a day in each so that you don't feel rushed.
1000 Fifth Avenue, New York city, New York 10028, hone: 212-535-7710
More vacation ideas: 25 Best Weekend Getaways from New York City.
3. Miami - Perez Art Museum Miami
Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is a modern and contemporary art museum which opened in 2013. Located in a $131-million Art Deco-style building designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the museum houses 20th and 21th century art from around the world.
Visitors enjoy stunning views of Biscayne Bay from the museum gardens and indoor exhibit spaces.
1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, Florida 33132, Phone: 305-375-3000
More vacation ideas: 20 Best Things To Do in Miami This Weekend and Romantic Restaurants in Miami.
4. Raleigh - North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh houses diverse art, dating from ancient Greece through the late 20th century. The permanent collection includes European paintings, American and international art.
The museum is set on 164 acres, complete with beautiful art integrated into the outdoor park. The museum commissions artists to create works of art which fit into the natural surroundings.
You can take a self-guided tour on the paved and unpaved trails which take you though the outdoor exhibit.
2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, Phone: 919-839-6262
You may also like: 16 Best Things to Do in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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5. Santa Fe – Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico houses over 1,000 pieces of art by O’Keeffe, the world’s largest.
Paintings date from 1901 to 1984 and include flowers, landscapes, cityscapes, abstractions and other subjects.
The museum is also home to nearly two thousand other works of art, including Authur Dove, Ansel Adams and many others. Related ideas: 15 Beautiful Romantic Santa Fe Hotels & Inns.
217 Johnson Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, Phone: 505-946-1098
6. Maine – Colby College Museum of Art
If you are planning a romantic trip to Maine, stop at the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville which features more than 8,000 works of art from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Major artists include Georgia O’Keeffe, John Singleton Copley and Winslow Homer. The museum collection also includes Chinese ceramics, 300 etchings and lithographs by James McNeill Whistler, and nearly 900 Alex Katz workss.
5600 Mayflower Hill Dr, Waterville, Maine 04901, Phone: 207-859-5600
More ideas: 25 Best Weekend Getaways from Boston and 25 Best East Coast Beaches.
7. Philadelphia - The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located in an easily recognizable building with giant Greek-style columns in Philadelphia. The museum is home to fine art from around the world. You can immerse yourself in Japanese culture if you visit the Japanese ceremonial teahouse, or head to the French cloister to feel like you’ve just traveled to Paris.
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130, Phone: 215-763-8100
You may also like: 20 Best Weekend Getaways in Pennsylvania.
8. Arkansas - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville is housed in a stunning structure built over the water, surrounded by 120 natural acres. The permanent collection features art from Colonial times through present.
Walk along the trails to view outdoor art, landscaping and The Way of Color, a structure by artist James Turrell with a unique sky viewing chamber. General admission is free.
600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712, Phone: 479-418-5700
9. Seattle - Frye Art Museum
The Frye Art Museum in Seattle houses a collection of European paintings as well as 19th and 20th century American art. Admission to the museum is free of charge for all visitors, including guided tours, lectures and workshops.
704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104, Phone: 206-622-9250
You may also like: 25 Best Things to Do in Seattle.
10. Michigan - Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Located at Michigan State University, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum exhibits Modern art along with artifacts from the Greek and Roman times, and Renaissance works. The 46,000-square-foot museum features diverse exhibitions which highlight modern life as well as showcase art from around the world.
Go for a romantic walk through the sculpture garden where you can admire the museum’s stunning façade along with contemporary art pieces like Roxy Paine’s Containment and Vestigial Block by Jonathan Prince.
547 E Circle Dr, East Lansing, Minnesota 48824, Phone: 517-884-4800
You may also like: 20 Best Romantic Getaways in Michigan.
11. Houston – The Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts has a unique garden where you can go for a romantic stroll surrounded by Rodin sculptures.
The museum exhibits art from around the world in two colossal buildings.
1001 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77005, Phone: 713-639-7300
More vacations: 17 Best Things To Do in Houston with Kids and 32 Best Romantic Things to Do in Houston.
12. Boston - The Museum of Fine Arts
Housed in a beautiful Beaux-Arts building, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston lets you admire a diverse collection of art, from the largest collection of Monet works outside of France to American artists, including O’Keefe, Pollock and Cassatt. More ideas: Best Weekend Getaways from DC
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, Phone: 617-267-9300
13. Chicago - The Art Institute of Chicago
At the Art Institute of Chicago, visitors get to admire a diverse collection of art, from ancient Egyptian history to impressionist paintings.
Once you are done seeing the Monet collection and the Chagall windows, don’t forget to check the current exhibitions.
111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Phone: 312-443-3600
You may also like: 29 Best Relaxing & Affordable Weekend Getaways from Chicago.
14. Virginia – Chrysler Museum of Art
The Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk is famous for its collection of 10,000 glass objects which span 3,000 years, from ancient to modern times.
Permanent exhibits include European and American paintings & sculpture, modern and contemporary art, photography, decorative arts and ancient artifacts. The museum has a newly renovated café which serves dishes made from locally sourced ingredients.
One Memorial Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, Phone: 757-664-6200
You may also like: 18 Great Weekend Getaways from Washington D.C..
15. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is spread out over 20 acres so you will need to plan what to see ahead of time if you only have a day or two in the city.
Visit the modern art collection where you can see works by Matisse, Kline and Kandinsky, or tour one of the ancient history exhibits.
While you are in LA, visit the Getty Center where you can enjoy art as well as stunning views of the city.
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90036, Phone: 323-857-6000
16. Providence - The Rhode Island School of Design Museum
The Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence has a diverse collection of ancient, Asian, contemporary and decorative art. The Costume and Textiles department is one of the most extensive in the world, housing 26,000 objects which date from 1500 BCE to the present.
The museum has a diverse collection of European and American paintings and sculpture, prints, drawings and photographs. If you live on the East Coast, Providence is a great weekend destination with a choice of accommodations, restaurants and attractions.
224 Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, Phone: 401-454-6500
You may also like: 16 Best Things to Do in Providence, Rhode Island.
17. San Diego - Mingei International Museum
Mingei International Museum has six galleries where visitors can view folk art and design from around the world. Past and present exhibitions have included works by American artists, architecture, handmade African-American dolls, textiles, ceramics, figures, drawings, furniture, paintings and more.
1439 EL Prado, San Diego, California 92101, Phone: 619-239-0003
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18. El Segundo Museum of Art
El Segundo Museum of Art in California puts a practical twist on art exhibits and calls them “experiences.” Art is presented in a way that tells a story and helps visitors ask and answer questions about the broader, practical implications.
The SPARK experience, on exhibit through May 24, 2015, makes you contemplate how we find inspiration and how ideas evolve to become part of the real world. If you are looking for art to expand your mind, head to this unique museum on the West Coast. More ideas: Day Trips from DC
208 Main Street, El Segundo, California 90245, Phone: 424-277-1020
19. San Francisco - de Young Museum
Featuring a collection of over 27,000 works of art, de Young museum is the place to see American art of all periods. Artworks include paintings, decorative arts, works on paper, costumes and sculpture.
The museum also has a diverse permanent collection of African and Oceanic art. Browse more romantic vacation ideas.
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco, California 94118, Phone: 415-750-3600
You may also like: Top 10 Things to Do in San Francisco & Oakland with Kids.
20. Atlanta - Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Michael C. Carlos Museum is one of the oldest art museums in Georgia, starting its life in 1876 as Emory College Museum. Located in Atlanta’s historic quadrangle of Emory University's main campus, the museum fulfills its goal to provide visitors with an insight into the cultures of the world’s art and history through more than 17,000 art objects from ancient Egypt, the Near East, Africa, Greece, Rome, Asia and the ancient Americas.
The collections are located in a beautiful building designed by the notable architect Michael Graves. The museum's permanent Egyptian collection was enriched in 1999 with the 145 works from Niagara Falls Museum and includes the ancient elaborately decorated coffins and mummies. In addition to exhibitions, permanent and temporary, the Museum offers educational programming, lectures, workshops, symposia, performances and festivals. It operates a conservation center and teaching laboratory and brings history, art and archaeology to Georgia children through Art Odyssey, its outreach program.
571 S Kilgo Cir NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, Phone: 404-727-4282
What are the 20 Best Art Museums to Visit on Your Romantic Weekend Getaway?
The 20 Best Art Museums to Visit on Your Romantic Weekend Getaway according to local experts are:
- Washington D.C. – The National Gallery of Art
- New York City – The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Miami - Perez Art Museum Miami
- Raleigh - North Carolina Museum of Art
- Santa Fe – Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
- Maine – Colby College Museum of Art
- Philadelphia - The Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Arkansas - Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
- Seattle - Frye Art Museum
- Michigan - Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
- Houston – The Museum of Fine Arts
- Boston - The Museum of Fine Arts
- Chicago - The Art Institute of Chicago
- Virginia – Chrysler Museum of Art
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Providence - The Rhode Island School of Design Museum
- San Diego - Mingei International Museum
- El Segundo Museum of Art
- San Francisco - de Young Museum
- Atlanta - Michael C. Carlos Museum
Attraction Spotlight: Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is located in Brooklyn and is one of the largest museums in New York City. You can explore the 1.5 million pieces of art at the Brooklyn Museum Wednesday through Sunday. The Brooklyn Museum has been one of the most creative, innovative, and exciting museums since it opened in 1897. The Brooklyn Museum’s art collection ranges from ancient relics, to period rooms and modern art. The museum’s mission is to provide visitors with a comprehensive art collection that integrates artistic heritage, history, culture, and modern day.
The Brooklyn Museum is home to approximately 1.5 million pieces of art that remains as permanent attractions. If you don’t have the chance to visit the Brooklyn Museum, you can always view the highlighted pieces of art on the collection tab of the museum’s website. Check out a few of the eleven permanent exhibits at the Brooklyn Museum.
American Art is home to some of the finest and oldest pieces of American art in the whole world. Highlighted pieces of art in this attraction are; the iconic George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart and Charles Wilson Peale, Meadow Flowers by John H. Twachtman, and Winter by William Rush.
Arts of Africa collection was founded in 1900. The Arts of Africa exhibit has over five thousand pieces of art. Thus, the Brooklyn Museum holds the title of having the most abundant African art collections that is located within a museum that is American art concentrated.
Asian Art has pieces of art from all corners of Asia. This collection is so abundant that it is known as one of the largest Asian art collections in America. While this attraction showcases art from Korea, China, India, and other places in Asia, it has the largest concentration in Japanese art.
Contemporary Art showcases breathtakingly beautiful pieces of art that range from 1945 to present day. The Brooklyn Museum’s collection of contemporary art has a featured theme of connecting art to what modern day life is like. This exhibit has mainly pieces of Western art that is spread among paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other art forms.
European Art is one of the largest attractions in the Brooklyn Museum. This collection has over 6,600 pieces of art that perfectly captures the historical and cultural significance of art throughout Europe’s history. Some of the highlighted pieces of art include The Life of Jesus Christ by James Tissot, Minotauromachia by Pablo Picasso.
Like most renowned museums, the Brooklyn Museum regularly houses traveling art collections. These special attractions include short-term and long-term collections. Currently, the Brooklyn Museum is housing more approximately 20 special attractions. In order to view the most comprehensive and updated list of the Brooklyn Museum’s special attractions, check the museum’s website.
Beverly Buchanan- Ruins and Rituals examines the relationship geography has with every aspect of our lives. The late Beverly Buchanan was known for combining political and social ideals and opinions into her abstract art. With just around 200 pieces of art, this collection is the largest Buchanan exhibit in the world. Ruins and Rituals can be viewed until March 5, 2017.
Like most museums, the Brooklyn Museum holds the opportunity for education on a pedestal. The founders of the Brooklyn Museum believed that art and art education should be accessible to everyone. Thus, it makes perfect sense why the museum has educational opportunities for people of all ages.
Most of the Brooklyn Museum’s educational programs for younger children involve family participation. Thus, children get to explore the wonderful world of art with their loved ones. Some of the programs for younger kids include; Meet the Museum, Family Art Magic, and Creativity Lab. Teens have the opportunity of participating in similar programs like the ones that are available for younger children. Teens can also participate in museum internships, in which they will get an in-depth and behind-the-scenes experience of the museum, and have the chance to fully immerse themselves in art.
The Brooklyn Museum also has special programs for visitors with special needs. Thus, everyone has access to an abundant amount of knowledge at the Brooklyn Museum.
Back to: Best Things To Do in Brooklyn
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York 11238, Phone: 718-638-5000
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Attraction Spotlight: Whistler House Museum of Art
The Whistler House Museum of Art in Lowell, MA is the birthplace of renowned American artist James McNeil Whistler and works to preserve the works and history of the houses original residents who were innovators of the American Industrial Revolution.
The history of the Whistler house and those who has resided there may be its greatest legacy. Built in 1823, the home incorporates Federal and Greek Revival style architecture with an L shaped floor plan, 14 rooms and 10 fireplaces.
The first person to reside in the home was Paul Moody from 1823-1831. Moody invented the power loom which revolutionized the textile manufacturing industry. He was a master mechanic and also invented a sophisticated leather belt and pulley system which became the standard in mills throughout the country.
Major George Washington Whistler, one of the most famous engineers in the 1800’s, a graduate of U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and known for his work on the canals and aqueducts, as well as his work on locomotives in Lowell, was the next resident in The Whistler House. He and his wife Anna, with their son, James. Lived in the home from 1834-1837. James Abbott McNeil Whistler also attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point before leaving the army to devote himself to art. He has since become known as one of the great American modernist painters and the finest etcher since Rembrandt.
Other notable figures that have lived in the Whistler House include George Brownell who was the author of Journal on a Voyage to England which he wrote while living in the home in 1839. James Bicheno Francis was another Engineer who lived in the home who was involved in the design of locomotives. He was hailed as the father of modern hydraulic engineering and became chief engineer of the company that operated Lowell’s waterpower system.
The Lowell Art Association was established in 1908 with The Whistler House Museum of Art as its official home. The Lowell Art Association owns The Whistler House and operates it as a museum and historic site, maintaining a permanent collection and fine arts exhibitions in Parker Gallery which is adjacent to the home.
Permanent Collection
The permanent collection at The Whistler House Museum of Art include the works that are kept in the Whistler House. These collections are divided into four areas of the home—Second Floor, Third Floor, Main Gallery, and The Francis Room. The focus on these works is late 19th century to early 20th century American Representational art from New England. The third floor of the Whistler House is also where the artist in Residency program studio lofts are located. Some represented artists include:
· James Abbot McNeil Whistler
· Frank Weston Benson
· Thomas B. Lawson
· William Morris Hunt
· Aldro Thompson Hibbard
· Arshile Gorky
· John Singer Sargent
· Cullen Yates
· David D. Neal
Special Exhibits
The Whistler House Museum of Art hosts special exhibits in the Parker Gallery which is adjacent from the Whistler House. These exhibits are on a rotating basis and can change seasonally or based on themes. An artist reception is held before each exhibition, typically on a Saturday afternoon following the opening of the exhibit.
Each Fall there is a Juried Members Exhibition. Members of the Lowell Art Association will present a range of works in many subjects and mediums that will be judged. There are calls for entries for local exhibitions that can be found on the Whistler House website.
Events
Both the Whistler House and Parker Gallery can be rented for private functions such as weddings, receptions, corporate functions, and fundraising events. There are inside and outside courtyard spaces, as well as Whistler Park that are available to be rented through the WHMA office. Pricing and detailed information is available on the Whistler House website.
243 Worthen Street, Lowell, Massachusettes 01852, Phone: 978-452-7641
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