What) Located in San Diego's beautiful Balboa Park, the Timken Museum of Art houses the world-class Putnam Collection of European old masters, American art, and Russian icons.  Artworks in the collection range from 13th-century altarpieces through 18th-century portraits to 19th-century still lifes. Represented are the works of Dutch, Flemish, French and Italian painters, including Rembrandt, Rubens, Petrus Christus, Fragonard, Jacques-Louis David and Veronese, as well as American artists such as John Singleton Copley and Eastman Johnson.

    Where) 1500 El Prado, Balboa Park     Tue - Sat from 10am - 4:30pm and Sunday from 1:30pm - 4:30pm.    free   1-619-239-5548 (1)

    Why) Some of the most meaningful and moving experiences in my life have occurred in museums featuring paintings such as the ones described above.  Of course, there are also museums featuring such paintings that do nothing for me.  I wonder what sort of museum this will turn out to be?