One of the most I love photos is the one my husband took of my little wife and me in front of a box of wildflowers at Storm King, an outdoor art museum in the Hudson Valley of New York. So when I heard that this incredibly charming arts destination, spread over 500 bucolic acres about 90 minutes north of New York, reopened to the public after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, I knew we had to take a day trip.
Things went a little bit more on this visit. Since Storm King limited capacity, we had to make a reservation well in advance, plan our arrival time and prepare. You can rent motorcycles regularly to tour the huge property, but the service was closed, as was the outdoor coffee (although you can order packed lunches, snacks, beer and wine in advance). So we packed comfortable shoes and a picnic and headed for this getaway undetected in the lush Hudson Valley.
They were all respectful, wore a mask and stayed away from each other (easy when you have 500 acres to scatter). We enjoy being able to walk and soak up the beauty of herbs while admiring the stunning sculptures and large-scale art installations through artists such as Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein and Maya Lin. We walked a long way of trees and imagined that we were in the French countryside. And we even took off our mask for a while and tried to recreate the photo we took with my daughter the last time we visited her six years ago.
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Going to Storm King was precisely the restorative escape we were looking for after months of shelter at the place in New York. And I know we’re not alone. This summer, many Americans are looking to locate a portion of the outdoor area to get some new air and, let’s face it, a replacement for the stage of our homes, while following the fitness recommendation in the middle of COVID-19. And while some travelers prefer to go en masse to crowded beaches, lakes and national parks, I think the most productive way to communicate with nature includes an open box full of art facilities.
Here are some of my favorite cultural spaces to make a stopover across the country right now: open places with security measures implemented, which makes the stops a lovely delight in the sun.
Storm King, Etat, New York
New York’s Hudson Valley is home to Storm King, a vast museum of outdoor sculptures. Lately you can see the light of the Kiki Smith River, highlighting Smith’s interest in the area and water, pointing to Storm King’s proximity to the Hudson River. Also presented is the Outlooks program, which introduces an emerging artist mid-career. This year, Storm King presents A Stone That Thinks Of Enceladus through New York artist Martha Tuttle. Visitors can walk among the glass and marble rocks that make up the Tuttle facility.
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Clark Institute of Art, Massachusetts
Both an art museum and a study center, the Clark Art Institute presents its first outdoor exhibition in September. Ground/work is an artistic reaction to Clark’s landscape, which encourages visitors to interact in the herbal environment. The artworks will be installed over the next two months and visitors are invited to see the process. Meanwhile, Clark’s 140 acres of wooded trails and meadows remained open to visitors.
Sculpture Patterns, New Jersey
While Grounds for Sculpture, near Trenton, prides itself on its ever-changing seasonal landscape, summer is a pleasant time to visit. The gardens feature a meadow full of wildflowers and butterflies and a pond full of fish. Download a self-guided tree tour in advance or attach yourself with the works of fresh sculptors strewn across the 42 acres of the site.
The Glenstone, Maryland.
A stone’s throw from Washington, D.C. is the Glenstone, a museum of fresh art with extensive terrain. While the party inside has recently reopened, you can’t miss the surrounding area. With nearly three hundred acres of landscape to explore, visitors will be pleased to find an integration of nature, art and architecture.
Miami Design District
Outdoors, pedestrian-friendly, artistic and innovative, Miami’s Design District is a must-see. In the context of fabulous department stores and restaurants, eclectic public art and artwork shine. One art installation not to be missed is Buckminster Fuller’s Fly’s Eye Dome, a geodesic dome made of fabrics and techniques, with enough surrounding area to enjoy.
Inspiration Alley, Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the best place for an artistic walk. Start your hike in the burgeoning Neighborhood of Cowtown Foundry. Inspiration Alley, a colorful walkway, is covered in ever-changing artwork through local artists. From here, head to the cultural district, where more public art awaits, along the striking exteriors of The Modern and The Kimbell museums. Complete your exploration with a relaxing oasis: Fort Worth Water Gardens Waterfall.
Wall Challenge, Lexington, Kentucky
Put on your walking shoes and go out on the sidewalk in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wall Challenge asks visitors to see as many of the more than 30 street art facilities in the city centre as possible. From whimsical drawings to works commissioned from world-renowned artists, the city is colorful and colorful, just the elevator we all need. Don’t miss one of the most popular murals, Lincoln, a colorful depiction of President Lincoln through the famous Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra.
Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans
Nestled among the local pines, magnolias and oaks surrounding two lagoons, is the Sydney Sculpture Garden and Walda Besthoff at the New Orleans Museum of Art, home to more than 90 sculptures by famous artists from around the world. You can even participate in the yoga categories of Saturday mornings in the gardens: a true immersion in art and nature that is purely Zen.
Holmes County Open Air Art Museum, Amish Country, Ohio
There is no doubt that the Amish country of Ohio is beautiful. Between its hills, vast fields and deciduous forests, Amish Country is a bucolic escape less than two hours northeast of Columbus. The Holmes County Open Air Museum, located in the area, combines art and nature at the Inn at Honey Run. You will locate original works through regional artists in a variety of media.
Michigan Legacy Art Park
Michigan Legacy Art Park is proud to exist at the intersection of art, nature and history. The 30-acre wooded lot is located on leased land on Crystal Mountain (for a profit of $1 a year!). Along the two-mile trails through the deciduous forests, visitors will notice 49 sculptures, 31 stones of poetry and the natural and herbal beauty that makes northern Michigan famous. This park almost designed for social estrangement.
Farnsworth House, Illinois
“It’s picnic season and there’s no better place for lunch than on the lawn at Farnsworth House, about two hours south of Chicago. A national historical monument, the personal property celebrates the life and times of the famous doctor and scientist of studios Edith Farnsworth Currently, visitors can purchase tickets in advance to enjoy visiting the grounds and trails.
Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee
Get your fix of art while touring 40 acres of park, lake and wood in Milwaukee’s Lynden Sculpture Garden, where admission is free. Small teams (nine or less) can travel the social distance as they walk between the sculptures of the estate. You will notice works through Alexander Archipenko, Lindsay Daen, Henry Moore and many others.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
After spending so much time at home over the past few months, relaxing between art and the sun is the best antidote to cabin fever. In the center of downtown Minneapolis is a real gem: the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Give a way to join with modern and fresh art while maintaining the rules of social estrangement, no reservations required.
Las Vegas Neon Museum
Fortunately for us, the neon capital of the world houses the Neon Museum, which commemorates and preserves the history of Las Vegas. Lately it houses an exhibition area known as Neon Boneyard, a collection comprising more than two hundred iconic, unreassefied and out-of-use symptoms that light up at sunset. Can’t stop in person? The Neon Museum now offers a 360-degree virtual tour with informative access points.
Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle
Head to Seattle’s largest green space, Olympic Sculpture Park, which spans nine acres along Seattle Bay. Walking through the open-air park, place fashionable art sculptures among the local plants of the Pacific Northwest. You can even cool off along Elliott Bay’s boardwalk and enjoy the view of the Olympic Mountains.
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I’m a lifestyle authority and a content strater who works with brands to create a tough narrative. In this column, “Transformative Journey,” I look
I am an authority on travel and lifestyle and a content strater who works with brands to create a tough narrative. In this column, “Transformative Journeys,” I read about how travel can replace women’s lives. I profile actors and disruptors and canopy trends and destinations that attract women today. I’ve been writing about travel since the beginning of my career, when I started as a honeymoon editor, even though – – I wasn’t married at the time. Since then, I have written for several publications, adding Food and Wine, Wallpaper and The New York Times. I was editor-in-chief of Yahoo Travel, which was named the most productive online travel magazine under my direction. Before that, I was deputy editor-in-chief of Travel and Leisure. Throughout my career, I have made the impression regularly on television, adding Good Morning America and NBC Today. Journalism is part of my legacy: my great-great-grandfather was a Civil War correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. Follow me on Twitter (@laurabegley) and Instagram (@laurabegleybloom).