The American Visionary Art Museum is one of Baltimore's best kept secrets. While not as popular as the city's high-profile attractions like the National Aquarium and Fort McHenry, it's a fascinating destination that will have you thinking about what you've seen for weeks after you've gone home. This quirky museum located in at the base of Federal Hill in Baltimore's Inner Harbor is the country's only museum devoted exclusively to the works of self-taught artists. The 35,000-square-foot main building has six galleries that explore one central exhibition theme at a time. The current theme, All Faiths Beautiful, features over 500 works that focus on the meaning of faith and belief, including the beliefs of others. A "Tall Sculpture Barn" (formerly the Four Roses whisky warehouse) accommodates just that: extra large sculptures and other plus-sized works of art such as a life-sized, interactive chess set of sculpted metal angels and aliens. In the adjacent Wildflower Sculpture Garden, wildflowers, aromatics, and climbing vines surround a wooden meditation chapel, marriage altar, and other eclectic works of art. It's unlike any art museum you've ever been to, and worth a visit to see the work of artists who might otherwise escape the notice of more traditional museums and galleries. The American Visionary Art Museum is a short walk from the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel.

[image via American Visionary Art Museum]