In 2024, approximately 1 billion passengers departed from U.S. airports. Nearly a quarter of those travelers, about 236 million, experienced a flight delay or cancellation, according to a recent report from AirHelp, an air passenger rights company.
21.01.2025 - 15:05 / lonelyplanet.com / Renzo Piano / Vincent Van-Gogh / Claude Monet
Jan 20, 2025 • 7 min read
The USA’s second-largest art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago houses a treasure trove from around the globe. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, this collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings is second only to those in France, and the number of surrealist works is tremendous. The Modern Wing dazzles with Picassos and Mirós, while Japanese prints, Grecian urns and stained-glass windows stuff endless rooms beyond. And whatever you do, don’t miss the enchanting Thorne Miniature Rooms!
Ready to explore? This guide will help you uncover the must-see highlights and plan the perfect visit.
Born in 1879 as the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago was built in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire as a symbol of the city’s resilience and creative spirit. Over time, it evolved into a global cultural powerhouse crowned by the sleek Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano. Today, the museum is a testament to creativity and innovation, offering visitors a chance to connect with art that spans centuries.
The Art Institute of Chicago is brimming with iconic masterpieces and unexpected treasures across its many galleries. From Impressionist highlights to contemporary marvels, there’s something to spark curiosity and delight for every visitor. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss, broken down by floor.
The second floor of the Art Institute is home to some of the most famous works in the museum’s collection. Get close to Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (Gallery 240) and watch the painting break down into its tiny component dots. It’s easy to see why it took the artist two years to complete his pointillist masterpiece. Fans of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will recognize this one.
Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom (Gallery 241) depicts the sleeping quarters of his house in Arles. This is the second of three versions of the painting, created during Van Gogh’s 1889 stay at an asylum.
Claude Monet’s Stacks of Wheat (Gallery 243) captures the 15-foot-tall stacks near the artist’s farmhouse in Giverny. These paintings were part of a series that launched Monet’s career when they sold out at a show he organized in 1891.
Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks (Gallery 262) offers a lonely, poignant snapshot of four solitary figures at a neon-lit diner. The work was inspired by a restaurant on Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan.
Grant Wood’s iconic American Gothic (Gallery 263) features two stern-faced farmers modeled after the artist’s sister and his dentist. A lifelong resident of Iowa, Wood drew inspiration from his Midwestern roots.
Planning tip: Arrive early to beat the crowds, especially during summer.
Georges Seurat: A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of
In 2024, approximately 1 billion passengers departed from U.S. airports. Nearly a quarter of those travelers, about 236 million, experienced a flight delay or cancellation, according to a recent report from AirHelp, an air passenger rights company.
A spike in seismic activity has raised concerns of a potentially powerful earthquake on the Greek island of Santorini, prompting some residents and travelers to evacuate as a preemptive safety measure.
This month’s stargazing agenda brims with planet sightings. We have planet pairings, moon-planet hangouts, and a special treat to end the month: several evenings with all seven of our space neighbors up in the sky at once.
Jan 31, 2025 • 10 min read
Jan 31, 2025 • 11 min read
Planning an international trip for six people is challenging; doing it with four teenagers requires extra preparation. When my twin sons graduated from high school in Australia, we celebrated with a three-week adventure across the US and Mexico.
Pableaux Johnson, a New Orleans food writer, photographer and cook who spread the gospel of community by serving bowls of red beans and rice to thousands of people, and who documented the city’s singular Mardi Gras traditions, died there on Sunday. He was 59.
Visiting Disney World in Orlando was one of my most magical childhood memories, and I couldn't wait to share the experience with my 9-year-old daughter Ruby. So this past October, after countless hours spent scrolling Disney travel blogs riddled with pop-up ads and thousands of dollars invested in airfare, hotel, and park tickets, we entered the gates of the Magic Kingdom.
Jan 25, 2025 • 8 min read
The first thing you saw was the sign: an arc of three fish fashioned from red neon, blinking from left to right. Centered in blue neon just below: “Reel Inn,” the name of the invitingly ramshackle seafood restaurant it marked for 36 years.
If you’re on the Internet, you’ve likely seen an Instagram or TikTok claiming that on January 25, 2025, the seven planets in our solar system will perfectly align in the night sky. And if you’re on my side of the internet, you’ve also probably received an astrological reading dubbing the phenomenon a “massive energy shift” that will help you realign with your soul’s purpose.