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You don’t have to be in New York or Paris to experience the culturally-rich adventure of visiting an art museum! No matter which area in the Sunshine State you’re visiting, it is possible to see some exquisite art during your Florida vacation. In fact, Florida is home to several popular art museums, four of which are described below.

Museum of Florida Art: DeLand
The Museum of Florida Art is the only museum in the state dedicated to exhibition of Florida art and Florida artists. It has grown extensively since its inception in 1951 and is currently located across from Stetson University in historic DeLand, which is noted for its architecture. The museum attracts visitors from across the state and offers an impressive class and workshop schedule, offering classes and programs for children and adults.

Salvador Dali Museum: St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg’s 20,000 square-foot Dali museum is home to the world’s largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work outside of Europe. Seven of the painter’s 18 “masterworks” including The Hallucinogenic Toreador and The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus are on display. The museum first opened in 1982 but opened a new state-of-the art location on 01/01/11 at 11:11 AM. In addition to displaying Dali’s work, it is the museum’s mission to educate the public and promote understanding and enjoyment of art through classes, tours, and other special programs.

Ringling Museum of Art: Sarasota
The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art was built by John Ringling, the most well-known of the Ringling Brothers of circus fame, as a place to house his personal art collection in the 1920s. It is now the state art museum of Florida. The Ringling Museum is home to 21 art galleries comprised of European paintings, Asian, American and contemporary art, and more—more than 10,000 art objects in all! It’s entirely possible to spend several hours visiting the Ringling estate, which also contains the Ca’ d’Zan, Mable and John Ringling’s waterfront mansion; an impressive rose garden; and the Ringling Museum of the American Circus. The museum and its art collection continue to grow—you never know what you might see! (Find more great things to do in Sarasota.)

Miami Art Museum: Downtown Miami
The Miami Art Museum offers a vibrant mix of culturally diverse art. The museum is dedicated to contemporary art and receives an impressive 60,000-plus visitors each year. A new location overlooking Biscayne Bay is in the works and tentatively slated to open in 2013. The Miami Art Museum prides itself on collecting and displaying work by artists residing in South Florida, and a variety of exhibitions visit the museum each year.

Have Fun at Florida Art Museums
Seeing art in person for the first time can be a truly unforgettable experience. Go ahead and explore Florida’s art museums. There’s a lot to learn and discover, and you’ll definitely have some fun along the way.