Good news: If you’re looking to travel and see priceless works of fine art, you don’t have to travel far. The Art Institute of Chicago may be just the ticket for you. The museum was recently awarded the title of No. 1 Art Museum in the world by TripAdvisor.com.

The Art Institute houses a world-class collection of artwork, ranging from antiquities to very modern pieces. The building is equally historic. And for those of you planning travel to Chicago, the museum is only closed three days out of the year: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

So the next time you are in the mood for a bit of art, remember: You don’t have to travel to Europe to see classic and modern art work. Your destination is right in your very own backyard.

Learn More:
See TripAdvisor’s full ratings.
Visit The Art Institute’s website.
Read all about it in the Chicago Tribune.

From museums and man-made marvels to the wonders of the natural world, Illinois has near-limitless opportunities for family fun. Check out this list for some of the top kid-friendly spots and activities in Illinois.

Much of the original alignment of the legendary Mother Road, which carried cars from Chicago to California, has been designated as part of the Route 66 Trail and is just a small part of the thousands of miles of bike routes in Illinois.

Whether you are planning an epic bike tour of the state or just want a leisurely ride with family, Illinois is home to a route that will meet the needs of any bicyclist. This excellent map, put together by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, shows the breadth of the state’s bicycling infrastructure.

Illinois continues to be one of the top destinations in the United States for international visitors. In 2012, Illinois had more than 2 million visitors, which ranked 6th in the country. Chicago had 1.4 million visitors.

Need to get there from here? You probably can if you live in Illinois. Chicago is home to O’Hare, which recently reclaimed its place as busiest airport in the world. Between O’Hare and Midway, you can catch a direct flight to 62 international cities and 156 domestic destinations.