If you only have time for one San Antonio museum, make it the McNay. Perched atop a hill with panoramic urban views, this Spanish Colonial Revival mansion (ca. 1929), once the home of a wealthy art collector, is so picturesque that it’s often used as a backdrop for photo shoots. The focus of the holdings, comprising 20,000 works, is modern art, but Medieval and Renaissance works are represented too. You’ll spot big names like Van Gogh, Manet, Gauguin, O’Keeffe, Hopper, Modigliani, Cézanne, and Picasso, while being introduced to many lesser known masters. Southwestern prints and drawings, a collection of art glass, and the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts are also draws for art lovers. Attached to the original mansion is a contemporary wing, designed by French architect Jean Paul Viguier to house temporary exhibitions. I find the contrast with the original building jarring—kind of like the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre—but the modern structure’s innovative roof and ceiling allow it to adjust the lighting according to the needs of a particular exhibit, many of which are interactive and oriented toward kids. It’ll take you 2 hours to go through this place at a leisurely pace, longer if it’s cool enough for you to stroll the beautiful 23 acres of landscaped grounds dotted with sculpture.