3 Best Day Trips from Atlanta

What’s this place all about?
This free attraction is the official state museum of Georgia, housing more than 10,000 individual pieces. It originally opened in 1948 in the University of Georgia’s library basement and has since moved to the mammoth Visual Arts Complex on south campus. The somewhat nondescript exterior is a modern combination of concrete and brick, but not so design-centric that a visitor will have a preconceived notion of what’s contained inside. The state-funded museum has a vast collection of American paintings (most from the 19th and 20th centuries), Italian Renaissance paintings, Asian art, and Southern decorative arts. Additionally, it hosts up to 25 temporary exhibits every year, some of which include works by students.

How would you describe the permanent collection?
The museum’s reach is broad, but it doesn’t feel like an overreach, since the museum is so well planned. Each gallery is organized so guests travel through time to understand the art’s progression, giving visitors a choose-your-own-adventure style experience (also great if you have limited time to spend). While there’s a wide variety of time periods and mediums represented, its strong suits include American paintings, works on paper, and self-taught and Southern decorative art.

How do they handle temporary exhibits?
Because of the museum’s relationship with the university, it often invites scholarly art, like a temporary exhibit of Islamic religious works. Other exhibitions have included female Southern painters, watercolors by American artists, and Belleek porcelain from Northern Ireland. The light-flooded galleries and blonde wooden floors create a blank canvas for whatever curators decide to display.

Any guided tours worth trying?
With the easy-to-navigate maps posted around, you're well primed on your own. However, with advance notice (for individuals or groups), the staff is happy to create a docent-led tour. If you do decide to do a self-guided walk around and find yourself with a question, any number of staffers and volunteers are only too happy to engage in a chat about the art.

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
The on-site gift shop is surprisingly inspiring and stocked with all manner of nerdy art items. You’ll find art supplies, decorative items emblazoned with art-related puns, and lots of gifts for young artists. It’s not huge, but there are some treasures.

Can we grab something to eat while we're here?
There’s a tiny cafe, serving locally roasted coffee and a small selection of pastries with limited hours (mostly staffed by students). The museum also hosts occasional artist talks with wine and cheese.

Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged?
If you've got limited time (or attention), head straight for the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden, which hosts rotating exhibitions of work by women sculptors. Since admission to the museum is free, you could easily buzz around and just see what's most interesting to you (favorites include paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe).