North Carolina Museum of Art

North Carolina Museum of Art is off I-40 exit 289, following signs to 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. The West Building, opened in 2010, is home to the museum's permanent collection and features more than 750 works of art from ancient Egyptian artifacts to European Old Master paintings to contemporary site-specific commissions.

Paintings representing 8 centuries of Western art include works by Sandro Botticelli, Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, Roxy Paine, Gerhard Richter, John Singer Sargent, Mickalene Thomas and Anthony Van Dyck. The museum's East Building houses special exhibitions, educational programming, films and lectures.

If artistic overload threatens to set in, refresh yourself with a walk in the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. Surrounding the museum buildings are 164 acres of fields, woods and creeks laced with scenic paths. Outdoor installations in the park include spinning mobiles and large pieces of sculpture. Nestled in the park is the Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater which presents concerts and movies in summer.

Guided tours are available. Picnicking is permitted. Food is available. Time: Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.