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Step 1
Spend a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met is perhaps the best known art museum in the country and rightfully so. It is home to one of the largest permanent collections of art in the world, boasting over two million pieces that span over 5,000 years of art history. With its rotating permanent collection and ever-changing special exhibits, there is always something new at the Met.
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Step 2
Take time to appreciate the art at the Museum of Modern Art, another of New York's most famous museums. The MoMA is home to a large collection of modern artwork of every medium, including over 22,000 films, video and other media materials.
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Step 3
Visit the American Folk Art Museum. This smaller museum offers an excellent look at the varied traditions of artistic expression in everyday American life, from colonial times to the present. Art at this museum includes not only sculpture and painting but also textiles such as quilts, rugs and other handmade items from various regions.
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Step 4
Stop by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Like all Guggenheim art museums, the New York location is home to a varied collection of modern and contemporary art, including the building itself, which is an architectural masterpiece.
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Step 5
Participate in the programs offered at the museums. One way to get the most out of a visit to an art museum is by taking a guided tour or listening to the audio guide. The tours will enrich your experience, and you will learn more than if you only looked at the art. Also, many other great programs, such as lectures and art classes, are designed to help you better appreciate art.
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Step 6
Plan ahead so you have enough time to visit any given museum. Some museums will take more time to explore than others--the Met, for example, is so vast that you will need several hours. Smaller museums may take only an hour or two, but it all depends on how much time you want to spend reflecting on the art. Whatever you do, don't be in a rush, or you won't enjoy the experience.
