National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. (must see)

If you're an art lover, you wouldn't want to miss The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., for the world!

Curiously enough, this national center of visual art was founded as a private gift to the nation. In 1936, Andrew W. Mellon, a banker and true philanthropist at heart, offered to fund the Gallery and donated his entire, and rather substantial, personal collection to get it started. Sadly, he himself died before the gallery got underway, but his vision carried on.

When the National Gallery of Art opened for the first time in 1941, its collection consisted solely of Mellon’s artworks: 126 paintings and 26 sculptures. Today, the Gallery holds more than 150,000 works by more than 13,000 artists, including paintings, sculpture, decorative items, photographs, prints, and drawings, spanning the history of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present, and showcasing some of the triumphs of human creativity!

For the breadth, scope, and magnitude, the National Gallery is often ranked among America’s greatest art museums, alongside the Met in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. However, unlike many of its famous peers, it does not charge admission. World-class art, zero ticket price — a rare miracle in any capital city...

Inside, look for the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the western hemisphere, the portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci. You’ll also find a Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer, the only sculpture by the French Impressionist Edgar Degas exhibited during his lifetime, as well as an enormous mobile, the largest ever created, by Alexander Calder—one of his final works, displayed at the Gallery one year after he died.

If you come early, climb upstairs to the central atrium for the best views in the building: massive columns, a fountain, and a grand Pantheonic dome. And when you find yourself in need of fresh air, check out the Gallery’s outdoor sculpture garden.

There are several dining options on site, but the lower-level café gelato may be the sweetest cure for your tired feet and overloaded eyes. And before you leave, don't underestimate the gift shops either — they are among the best in D.C. Free audio guides and tours are also available; with these, you can turn your Gallery visit into a refined treasure hunt.