Dallas Museum of Art

Dallas [1]’s crown jewel of cultural museums is the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood, 214/922-1200, www.dm-art.org [2], Tues.–Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thurs., 11 a.m.–9 p.m., $10 adults, $7 senior citizens, $5 students 12 and older), containing more than 24,000 works of world-class international art, from ancient to modern times.

Anchoring the city’s Arts District, the museum covers a lot of ground, from prehistoric Latin-American ceramics and sculpture to work from contemporary artists such as Jackson Pollock and Tatsuo Miyajima.

The museum’s highlight is its remarkable collection of European and impressionist art by Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet. Also of note is the facility’s impressive artwork from Africa, Asia, and ancient Mediterranean history, as well as the outdoor sculpture garden with water walls and contemporary benches.

Make a point of visiting the museum’s Decorative Arts Wing, which features a re-created Mediterranean villa with lavish furniture and silver furnishings sharing space with masterpieces by Cézanne and Van Gogh. In 2008, the museum opened the Center for Creative Connections, an interactive space that engages visitors in the creative process by experiencing works of art in a more direct way. Of note: Museum admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month, and it hosts “Thursday Night Live!” featuring live jazz music each Thursday 6–8 p.m.