A Date with Da Vinci

Earlier this month, we visited the High Museum of Art and took advantage of Bank of America's Museums on Us program. (If you are a BOA customer, you should totally check out this program. It allows you free admission to many museums and other attractions during the first full weekend of each month. It's a great program--but it does look like some of the participating venues aren't on the list this year. But I digress ...) (Another side note: The High also grants free admission to Fulton County residents the first Saturday of each month. You can read more about it here.)

It was nice to get in for free--especially because parking in the museum's parking garage will set you back $12! Yes, you read that right: $12! Ridiculous, but that's another story.

I really want to like the High. I do. And I will admit that the two times we have been, it has been on a Saturday offering free admission via the above programs. So I understand the crowds. But it is more than that. The museum is so hard to navigate and so spread out. I don't think it is just me, either. You think you can get to one place via this stairwell or that hallway--only to find locked doors. (I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that has got to be some kind of fire hazard or something.) Then it takes about 10 minutes to figure out another route to your destination. OK, I am exaggerating, but you get the idea. I felt like a mouse in a maze with no exit or prize. I wanted to see a particular exhibit (other than the Leonardo da Vinci one), and it practically took an act of Congress to get there. OK, so maybe I was in a bad mood anyway, but still. It was ridiculous. I was so frustrated and turned around, I was ready to leave before we even found it.

On the brighter side, though, the museum does have a great children's area. Kate especially enjoys the area where kids can make marker drawings. I know--what a surprise, huh? ;o)

Oh yeah, we saw the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit. It was neat. I enjoyed it about as much as one can with a 2-year-old in tow. :o) I think Tanna enjoyed it a lot more--he got the headset to learn about some of the pieces on exhibit. He is the one who really wanted to see it, so I am glad. Unlike last time, no photos were allowed--so I don't have a lot of pics. But here are a few of our visit ...


Our budding artist


Explaining her art. I think one of those guys is Ah-Pah. Seriously. :o)


Smiling with Mommy


More art


Outside and ready to go--Kate's face completely cracks me up!


One last photo with the giant horse in the background.