Philadelphia Museum of Art

"Classic, grand, and impressive, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural institution. It is Philadelphia's answer to the Louvre, and houses one of the country's finest collections of art and sculpture. Tourists, locals, the stroller set…the gang's all here and they're all taking in the art at their own pace. Some skip entire galleries based on interests, while others read every placard. It's a choose your own adventure kind of place. And if all of this culture makes you hungry, you're in luck. The Cafe is bright and welcoming and features a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more. Prefer to cool your heels in a more formal setting? The Stir is an elegant spot designed by Frank Gehry that's perfect for lingering and lunching." - Alex Van Buren, Andrea Whittle, Devra Ferst

"Classic, grand, and impressive, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural institution. It is Philadelphia's answer to the Louvre, and houses one of the country's finest collections of art and sculpture. Tourists, locals, the stroller set…the gang's all here and they're all taking in the art at their own pace. Some skip entire galleries based on interests, while others read every placard. It's a choose your own adventure kind of place. And if all of this culture makes you hungry, you're in luck. The Cafe is bright and welcoming and features a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more. Prefer to cool your heels in a more formal setting? The Stir is an elegant spot designed by Frank Gehry that's perfect for lingering and lunching." - Nancy DePalma

"Even if you’ve never been to Philadelphia, you’ve probably seen the art museum (that’s all you have to say, everyone will know which one you mean). It’s famous in pop culture for the Rocky steps, but the cultural powerhouse is much more than that. Originally created for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, it has grown over the years to include 240,000 art pieces. There’s a little of everything inside: ancient Egyptian and pre-Columbian art, traditional Asian and European designs, and works by artists like Picasso and Salvador Dali. Admission is $20 for adults, and the first Sunday of every month is free from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, as well as Wednesdays from 5:00 PM to 8:45 PM. There’s also a Rocky statue in the front to pose by, if running up the stairs is all that’s on your itinerary." - MATADOR_NETWORK

"Classic, grand, and impressive, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural institution. It is Philadelphia's answer to the Louvre, and houses one of the country's finest collections of art and sculpture. Tourists, locals, the stroller set…the gang's all here and they're all taking in the art at their own pace. Some skip entire galleries based on interests, while others read every placard. It's a choose your own adventure kind of place. And if all of this culture makes you hungry, you're in luck. The Cafe is bright and welcoming and features a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more. Prefer to cool your heels in a more formal setting? The Stir is an elegant spot designed by Frank Gehry that's perfect for lingering and lunching." - Regan Stephens, Devra Ferst

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? Classic, grand, and impressive, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural institution. It is Philadelphia's answer to the Louvre, and houses one of the country's finest collections of art and sculpture. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one? It's comprehensive, spanning medieval Europe through contemporary America. Exhibits keep us coming back. What can we expect? This Museum is as much an architectural masterpiece as the items it displays, but the sheer size of the place can be dizzying. Come prepared to walk (a lot) to see it all. What did you make of the crowd? Tourists, locals, the stroller set...it's all here and they're all taking in the art at their own pace. Some skip entire galleries based on interests, while others read every placard. It's a choose your own adventure kind of place. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? Wear comfortable shoes and pack a stash of snacks for the little ones to keep them engaged. Any guided tours worth trying? Take a tour of a specific gallery to get a deeper understanding. All tours are free with admission. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it? They have the usual suspects (books, postcards, and the like) but some of the more unusual items are definitely worth perusing. Is the café worth a stop? If all of this culture makes you hungry, you're in luck. The Cafe is bright and welcoming and features a variety of tasty sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more. Prefer to cool your heels in a more formal setting? The Stir is an elegant spot designed by Frank Gehry that's perfect for lingering and lunching. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Plan to spend the day, since coming for an hour or so will leave you feeling you've missed too much.\" - Alex Van Buren