Seattle Art Museum

This giant museum houses one of America's premier art collections, which ranges from European masterpieces to contemporary sculpture. Although the museum has received some criticism following its expansion in 2007 -- many believe that the building has a bit of a clinical atmosphere -- the collection itself easily makes up for it. Even if you're not the biggest fan of art museums, this one is a must. The Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park are also part of the museum complex.

The main part of the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is located in Downtown Seattle just south of the Space Needle. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and stays open a bit later on Thursdays and Fridays. SAM does charge a pretty hefty admission fee, but you can get in for free if you time your visit to the first Thursday of the month. For more information on hours and admission prices, visit the Seattle Art Museum website.