Whether you live in New York City or you are just visiting the Big Apple for a couple of days, in this blog post, I share some of my favorite museums that are open in NYC to help you plan an inspiring day filled with art and nature. What else do we need, right?

MUSEUM of MODERN ART - MoMA

Go to MoMA every time you are in the city or have free time in your schedule. Since the temporary exhibitions change all the time, and the permanent collection is incredible (Matisse’s gallery being my favorite), a visit to the Museum of Modern Art is always inspiring even if it’s just for a short time.

Last week I had the chance to go there mainly to visit the temporary exhibitions Cézanne Drawing and Alexander Calder: Modern from the Start, and it was worth it! To see what’s currently on view, check out MoMA’s website for more information and guidelines.

DIA:BEACON

Just a few miles from NYC, Dia:Beacon is a contemporary art organization in upstate New York worthy of a trip to check out their art collection. You can find works by Louise Bourgeois, Richard Serra, and Sol LeWitt, just to name a few. This is a great place to visit with friends for a quick day trip.

Every time I visit Dia:Beacon, I can’t get enough of Michael Heizer‘s work “Negative Megalith #5”, the steel sculptures by Richard Serra, and the sculptures by Louise Bourgeois. Those are my absolute favorite artists there! Check out Dia:Beacon’s website for more information and guidelines.

STORM KING

If you love contemporary art and nature, then my friend, Storm King is the right place for you. Located in New Windsor, NY, this upstate museum is the perfect destination if you are looking to enjoy the great outdoors with your kids and friends, and at the same time, appreciate art. Go prepared to walk on the grass, don’t forget to bring some water with you, and get ready to explore this 500-acre outdoor museum.

Personally, my favorite part of visiting Storm King is observing how the sculptures integrate with the landscape and its natural features. Check out Storm King’s website for more information and guidelines.

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

The New York Botanical Garden might not be the first option that comes to mind when you think of a place to appreciate and be inspired by art. Nevertheless, it might be helpful to know that NYBG often has art exhibitions. At the moment, it’s currently on view Yayoi Kusama’s show “Kusama: Cosmic Nature”, which ends on October 31st, 2021. If you didn’t go there yet, plan a visit ASAP!

I highly recommend a visit to the botanical garden, you and your family will have such a great time enjoying art and nature at the same time there. The tropical house is where I love the most about this place, and I’m never tired of going there over and over again. For more information on the NYBG schedule and guidelines, visit their website.

Now, let me know…

Have you ever been to one of the above recommendations? If so, which one is your favorite? I would love to know more in the comments below, and if you have other museums to suggest, share them here.