Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas

An exciting addition to the Dallas Museum of Art, this 2.4-acre (9,700 square meters) Sculpture Center opened in 2003 as a free public park including both indoor and outdoor galleries. Its modern sculpture collection includes more than 300 masterworks by Harry Bertoia, Constantin Brâncuși, Alexander Calder, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Auguste Rodin, among others. Raymond Nasher credited his late wife Patsy as his partner in collecting such remarkable works.

Whether it's day or night, sunny or rainy, visitors can get an interesting perspective of Nasher's permanent collection and special exhibits. The architecture housing the sculptures – designed by the world's most prolific museum designer, Renzo Piano – is no less amazing, with interior large window panels that allow for natural lighting, thus enhancing the shadows of curves and indentations of each piece of work.

The gardens are a wonderful retreat in the middle of a bustling downtown area, and that makes the Sculpture Center even more special. There is seating around in areas and the excellent café on site has a lovely patio as well.