Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

For some reason, this sizable institution is not on the radar of many New Englanders. But the depth and breadth of its collections (more than 50,000 items) is always a surprise to newcomers. The oldest public art museum in the country, the Atheneum is known for its impressive Baroque and Hudson River School collections, but its evoking "Matrix" program keeps up with contemporary art. Kids love the "To Catch a Thief" program, which guides them through art-saving missions.