The Portland Art Museum, located in the heart of Portland's Park Blocks, is a sprawling building containing art from ancient up to modern times. The museum has eleven collections, each with different types of art, from Native American Art to Photography; Asian Art to Impressionism. The museum is perhaps best known for its Modern Wing, which contains works by Monet, Manet, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh and other masters.

Best and worst time to go to the Portland Art Museum
If you can manage it, try to time your visit with one of the museum's near-daily public tours. The museum's calendar of events can be found on its website. As with most museums, weekends tend to be more crowded, but if you go on a weekday afternoon you may find you have the place almost to yourself.

Must see/do at the Portland Art Museum
Portland has a rich Native American culture, and the Native American Art collection pays tribute to the culture's richness and diversity with its display of totem poles, moccasins, ceremonial pieces, beaded clothing and more. The Impressionism exhibit in the Modern Wing contains works by many of the most famous artists and has pieces like Waterlilies by Monet and Van Gogh's Ox Cart. The museum also hosts a number of rotating special installations and exhibits from some of the finest works of art from around the world.

Admission to the Portland Art Museum
Admission is always free for children under age 18. Admission is around $15 for adults, with discounts for seniors and students. Some temporary exhibits may have an additional charge.

Parking and public transportation to the Portland Art Museum
The museum does not have a dedicated parking lot. However, there is street parking available as well as public lots for a fee. The museum does not validate, but many nearby businesses do. The museum is also serviced by the Portland Street Car and a number of bus lines.

Food at the Portland Art Museum
The museum has a small coffee shop, Museum Grounds, which serves local coffee, teas, pastries and light breakfast and lunch options. It is filled with art books to peruse and is surrounded by a sculpture garden, giving lovely views while you sip your Stumptown coffee. If you come midday on a Wednesday during farmers market season, you can create your own lunch from the Shemanski Park farmers market, located just one block north of the museum.

Insider tip for visitors to the Portland Art Museum
The museum offers free general admission on the fourth Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. You can also gain free admission on the first full weekend of each month by presenting a valid Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit card as part of the Museums on Us program. The museum also hosts a number of family-friendly events, including a monthly slow tour of the museum for babies and their caregivers and a weekly family tour of the museum.

Author's bio: Ali Wilkinson is a mom to three young children and she loves exploring all Portland has to offer with them. She is the founder of a Portland events website aimed at families, and writes about parenting on her blog run.knit.love.