Judging by the enormous shuttlecocks on the front lawn, the Nelson Atkins is an art museum to be reckoned with. I consider myself a connoisseur of museums, and I was thoroughly impressed with the Nelson Atkins. It's not a huge museum, but it is quite impressive for what it is-- a regionally-known showcase of international art. It does have traveling exhibits, but I enjoyed its permanent collection more. Galleries are small though, so crowds do tend to build up by mid-afternoon. I especially liked the collection of ceramics and porcelain; while they seemed out of place in their setting, I loved them as a nice change of pace from your standard "paintings on wall" approach. Bravo, Nelson-Atkins! Also, be sure to check out the museum café, which features what looks to be a delicious weekend brunch!
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