TRAVEL
The US is home to incredible Renaissance art. I traveled to NYC to explore the collection at the MET, and played tourist in my own backyard at the National Gallery of Art in DC.
MUSEUMS
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art - NYC
The Met on Fifth Avenue has one of the most impressive Renaissance collections outside Europe, offering a powerful look at how art evolved to focus on human experience, emotion, and storytelling. From luminous altarpieces to portraits that feel unexpectedly personal, the galleries highlight how artists in Florence, Venice, and beyond were rethinking beauty, faith, and the world around them. It’s a space that feels both quiet and alive—and absolutely worth making time for.
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The National Gallery of Art - DC
The National Gallery of Art in D.C. has a Renaissance collection that’s both beautifully curated and surprisingly intimate. It brings together works by artists like Giotto, Botticelli, and Raphael, offering a clear look at how ideas of beauty, devotion, and realism were changing across Europe. The galleries are calm and spacious, giving you time to actually look and connect with the art. It’s a chance to see world-class works up close—without ever leaving the National Mall.
NYC
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We took the Amtrak Acela train from Washington's Union Station to New York's Moynihan Train Hall. The train is all Business Class and makes fewer stops than the regional routes. We arrived in under 3 hours and it put us right in the center of the city.
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Though a Renaissance® hotel would have been a more obvious choice, we stayed at Le Méridien New York, which was perfectly located at the bottom of Central Park. It was a 30 minute walk through beautiful park scenery to The MET. The hotel had a chic lobby, comfortable rooms, and a fantastic rooftop restaurant with views of Central Park.
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We spent two days viewing the art at The MET, and honestly, could have visited every day for a month and still not taken it all in. We couldn't travel to NYC without seeing a Broadway Show, so we got tickets for & Juliet, an awesome show that flips the script on Shakespeare's play and explores what life would be like for Juliet if she didn't end it all over Romeo. The soundtrack featured pop music from the 90s and 00s. which was woven through a storyline of female empowerment.
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We took advantage of a daily dining credit at our hotel and ate our breakfasts at their rooftop restaurant, Grill 57. The setting was beautiful, the food was delicious and the view was incredible!
Caffeine was required to help fuel our busy weekend, so we met my mom's friend at CINICO, an Italian coffee shop and café in midtown. I enjoyed a latte along with the requisite avocado toast.
After & Juliet, we had a major steak craving, so we got carryout from a favorite chain: Morton's. Mom and I split a filet and I devoured their Lobster Mac & Cheese.
On our final evening, we dined at Blue Ribbon Sushi, where I had a shrimp tempura roll with avocado and a yuzu mocktail!
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What's a trip to NYC without shopping? Luckily, our hotel was perfectly located near some amazing retailers.
We window shopped at Tiffany & Co and The Plaza.
We took advantage of the Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom, and explored The Shops at Columbus Circle.
Sadly, it's hard to be bougie on a budget, so my only purchases were from clearance racks: a black tube dress from Aritizia and a knit tote to carry my art notebook in from J. Crew.
DC
As a native of the DC area, I sometimes forget how fortunate I am to be surrounded by some of the world’s most profound pieces of art. Living here, I have unparalleled access to masterpieces that many people only dream of seeing in person.
Though the National Gallery of Art was a quick day trip for me, I’m working on a list of things to do, see, and experience while you’re visiting the nation’s capital.
