The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Until a few years ago, you had to be kind of an art junkie to know that one of the country's best art museums is in Kansas City. (And that it's free to the public!) But when the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's new Bloch Building opened in 2007, suddenly everyone was talking about Kansas City. And with good reason. From the outside, the new building is pretty inconspicuous -- a series of translucent glass structures, or "lenses," scattered down the lawn in front of the museum's stately main building. From the inside, though, the new wing is a light-filled sanctuary for African art, powerhouse Asian collection, an eye-popping contemporary collection and rotating photography exhibits. Tall windows give tantalizing glimpses of the Kansas City Sculpture Garden outside. Even with its new, flashy sibling, the original building holds up nicely. Many of the collections have been reinstalled. (Definitely don't miss the American Indian galleries.) And the museum's cafe, the Rozzelle Court Restaurant, is memorably located in an Italian-style courtyard, complete with skylights and fountain. Food is served cafeteria-style, but sandwiches are made-to-order and generously sized. Even if you don't splurge on lunch here (prices venture toward the $10 mark), it's worth taking a break from the art to rest those "museum legs" over a cup of coffee in a lovely setting.