We’ve been doing a travel series on Massachusetts and the more we discover, the more we want to get in a car NOW and take a road trip to seaside cuisine, folk music festivals, white water rafting and an incredibly impressive art scene.

From Edith Wharton to Norman Rockwell, here are six destinations that make our arts itinerary in and around Boston.

MASS MoCA

Ever wanted to see a giant bird made from construction materials? How about an octagonal bunker containing an abandoned office? Housed on a restored 19th century factory campus, MASS MoCA is the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the country. It’s always changing, and it’s always interesting.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Hey, you don’t have to have a kid to enjoy this place! Eric Carle’s picture books, like The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug, have inspired generations of children, and now you can explore works by Carle and other illustrators. At the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art you’ll find galleries, an interactive art studio, a reading library, live events and more! Ever thought of writing your own children’s book? WE HAVE.

The Mount. Edith Wharton’s Home

She was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Literature for her masterpiece, The Age of Innocence. Situated in Lenox, Massachusetts, The Mount is a grand and gorgeous example of New England architecture and happens to be the birthplace of The House of Mirth. Step back in time, explore the beautiful gardens and exquisite home of American legend Edith Wharton and get inspired to pen something great. 

Norman Rockwell Musuem

Although it’s debatable whether Norman Rockwell could be crowned the best American artist in the 20th century, there’s no denying that his vast body of work captured everyday life in America with accuracy. Although much of his work was very wholesome, he did not shy away from showing the inequalities and controversy of the times through his artwork.  Set in the artist’s hometown, the museum holds the world’s largest and most significant collection of original Rockwell art, as well as his Stockbridge studio (open May through October), and exhibits the works of other contemporary and past masters. Like his work or not, a trip to this museum will provoke interesting conversation and is definitely time well spent.

Museum of Bad Art

Since 1994, this museum has been dedicated to collecting “bad art”. The London Times listed it as one of the top 50 greatest museums in the world and we are just plain curious. What makes art “bad” anyway? Well, you’ll have to go and find out!

Decordova Sculpture Park & Museum

Just 20 miles west of Boston, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum is dedicated to fostering the creation and exploration of contemporary sculpture and art through a dynamic slate of rotating exhibitions, innovative learning opportunities, a constantly changing 30-acre landscape of large-scale, outdoor, modern and contemporary sculpture, and site-specific installations. Sounds cool. We don’t pay enough attention to sculptures.