Escape the heat, humidity with visits to area museums

What to do on a lazy summer day?

There’s always a book to read or some yardwork waiting. So why not try something different, like a visit to an art museum or gallery?

Chances are, there’s one near you, and here are a few things you stand to gain by going:

1. A gallery excursion is a gift that keeps on giving — studies show that, while the pleasure of buying something fades quickly, actual experiences make for lasting, positive memories.

2. It will give you something to talk about. Old masterpieces open a window to history, while contemporary art is a great starting point for discussing current events.

3. What you see might inspire your own creative impulses.

4. You might leave feeling happier and more relaxed — studies show that looking at art releases dopamine (the brain’s pleasure chemical) and reduces the output of cortisol (the stress hormone).

5. There could be a gift shop or cafe right on site. Pastries and coffee, anyone?

Here are exhibitions featured this summer in some of the area’s major galleries:

Andy Warhol Museum: “The Chelsea Girls Exploded,” through Jan. 12.

Carnegie Museum of Art: “Ruth Root,” through Aug. 25; “Influencers: The Pritzker Architecture Prize,” through Oct. 20.

Frick Art Museum: “A Sporting Vision: The Paul Mellon Collection of British Sporting Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,” June 15-Sept. 8.

Mattress Factory Museum: “A Selection from the Greer Lankton Archive,” ongoing; “Artists in Residence: William Earl Kofmehl III, Laleh Mehran, OSGEMEOS, Karina Smigla-Bobinski and Christina A. West,” through Aug. 4.

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art: “Tom Persinger: The New American Farmer,” through June 9; “Mingled Visions: The Photographs of Edward S. Curtis and Will Wilson” and “The Outsider’s Gaze,” through June 30; “Era of Cool: The Art of Jon Van Hamersveld,” July 20-Oct. 20.

Though by no means comprehensive, this list can help you plan some arty outings. Admission is free, unless otherwise noted:

Andy Warhol Museum: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun., until 10 p.m. Fri. $20, $10 children, students, senior citizens. 117 Sandusky St., North Side. 412-237-8300 or warhol.org

Boxheart Gallery: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. 4523 Liberty Ave., Bloomfield. 412-687-8858 or boxheart gallery.com

Carnegie Museum of Art: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Mon., until 8 p.m. Thurs. $19.95, $14.95 age 65 and older, $11.95 ages 3-18 and students with ID. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. 412-622-3131 or cmoa.org

Carnegie Museum of Natural History: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Mon., until 8 p.m. Thurs. $19.95, $14.95 age 65 and older, $11.95 ages 3-18 and students with ID. 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. 412-622-3131 or carnegiemnh.org

Childrens’ Museum of Pittsburgh and Museum Lab: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $16, $14 ages 2-18 and 60 and older. 10 Children’s Way, North Side. 412-322-5058 or pittsburghkids.org

Feathers Artist Market and Gifts: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Wed., 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. 102 Fourth St., Irwin. 412-325-1000 or Facebook

Fort Pitt Museum: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $8, $7 age 62 and up, $4.50 ages 6-17 and students with ID. Point State Park, Pittsburgh. 412-281-9284 or heinzhistorycenter.org

Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery: noon-4 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 6:30-8 p.m. Wed.; Memorial Day to Labor Day: noon-3 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 6:30-8 p.m. Wed.-Thurs. Saint Vincent College, Unity. 724-805-2188 or mccarlgallery.org

Frick Art & Historical Center: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun., until 9 p.m. Fri. Free admission to grounds, Car and Carriage Museum, Greenhouse and permanent collection. Fee for Clayton tour and special exhibitions. Reservations advised for tours. 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze. 412-371-0600 or thefrickpittsburgh.org

Greensburg Art Center: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 1-4 p.m. Sat. 230 Todd School Road, Hempfield. 724-837-6791 or greensburgartcenter.org

James Gallery: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 413 S. Main St., West End Pittsburgh. 412-922-9800 or jamesgallery.net

Latrobe Art Center: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 819 Ligonier St., Latrobe. 724-537-7011 or latrobeart center.org

Mattress Factory: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun. $20, $15 students and 62 and older; free for children under 6. 500 Sampsonia Way, North Side. 412-231-3169 or mattress.org

Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat. 5833 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside. 412-441-5200 or morganglass gallery.com

North Hills Art Center: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 3432 Babcock Blvd., Ross. 412-364-3622 or northhillsartcenter.com

Panza Gallery: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. 115 Sedgwick St., Millvale. 412-821-0959 or panzagallery.com

Penn State New Kensington Art Gallery: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Administration Building, 3550 Seventh Street Road, Upper Burrell. 724-334-6056 or newkensington.psu.edu

Photo Antiquities: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon., Wed.-Sat. (call ahead to confirm hours). $10, $8 students and age 65 and up. 531 E. Ohio St., North Side. 412-231-7881 or photoantiquities.org

Senator John Heinz History Center: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $18, $15 age 62 and older, $9 ages 6-17 and students with ID. 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh. 412-454-6000 or heinzhistorycenter.org

Silver Eye Center for Photography: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Wed., Fri., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 4808 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh. 412-431-1810 or silvereye.org

Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 1-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 1 Boucher Lane, Ligonier Township. 724-238-6015 or sama-art.org

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 221 N. Main St., Greensburg. 724-837-1500 or thewestmoreland.org