Orlando Museum of Art: go for the exhibition, stay for Loch Haven Park

What it is

The Orlando Museum of Art is the city's main art museum, founded in the 1920s and set in Loch Haven Park just north of downtown. Its permanent collection covers American art, art of the ancient Americas, African art and contemporary work, and it hosts traveling and in-house exhibitions that change several times a year.

The museum also runs a yearly exhibition focused on contemporary artists working in Florida, which is a good way to see what the state's own art scene looks like right now. Shows of this kind usually run for several months, so there is a decent chance one is up during your visit.

It is a mid-sized museum, not a giant one. Two hours is plenty for most people. The quality of your visit depends a lot on which exhibitions are up, so look before you go.

When to go

The museum is usually closed on Mondays and open the rest of the week. Weekday afternoons are quiet. Weekends bring families and are still calm by theme park standards.

It is one of the best rainy-day options in the city. Summer storms usually pass in an hour, but a gallery is a better place to wait them out than a parking lot. The guide to a rainy day in Orlando has more ideas.

First Thursdays

On the first Thursday of most months, the museum hosts an evening event with work by local artists, music, food and drinks. It draws a younger local crowd and feels more like a party than a gallery visit. Each month usually has a theme, and local restaurants often bring tastings. It is a separate ticket from daytime admission and usually costs less. If your trip lines up, it is the most fun way to see the museum and meet the city's art scene.

How to plan the visit

1. Check the museum's site for current exhibitions and hours.
2. Park in the free Loch Haven Park lots off Princeton Street.
3. Start with the main temporary exhibition, while you are fresh.
4. Walk through the permanent galleries, especially the ancient Americas collection.
5. Cross the park to the Mennello Museum of American Art, a small museum with a sculpture garden by Lake Formosa.

Loch Haven Park and nearby

Loch Haven Park is the city's cultural campus. Next to the art museum are the Orlando Science Center, the Mennello Museum, a children's theater and a Shakespeare theater with performances through much of the year. You can easily build a full day here, with the art museum in the morning and the Science Center in the afternoon.

If you have small children, the Mennello Museum grounds and the open lawns between buildings are good places to let them burn off energy between galleries.

For food, Mills 50 is a few minutes east, with Vietnamese restaurants, ramen and bakeries. Ivanhoe Village, just west along Orange Avenue, has small bars, cafés and antique shops. College Park, a little further west, has a pleasant main street with local restaurants.

Tips and mistakes to avoid

• Do not assume the big show is on. Exhibitions rotate, and some gallery spaces close between shows.
• Bring a light sweater. Museums keep things cool for the art.
• Check bag rules. Large bags may have to be left in the car or checked.
• Skip the theme-park pace. Sit on the benches, read the wall texts and take a break in the lobby. Two calm hours beat one rushed one.
• Check for family days. The museum sometimes runs art-making activities for kids on weekends, which can make it easier with children.
• Combine your stops. Parking is free in the park, so leave your car once and walk between buildings.

If you only have room for one art stop on your trip, the Morse Museum in Winter Park is more unusual and cheaper. The Orlando Museum of Art is the better choice if you like variety, contemporary work or a lively evening event, and it pairs well with an afternoon at the Science Center for families.