The Art Institute of Chicago - go early, stay late. This museum has such an extensive art collection - Toulous-Lautrec, van Gogh, Pissarro, Gauguin, Cezanne, Miro, Piccaso, Ernst, Degas, Rodin Monet, Renior, Dali, Matisse just to name a few. Not to mention the various other collections: Roman, African, Asian artifacts; Prints and Drawings, Photography, Film, Video and New Media. My husband and I enjoyed every minute of our stay..

When I heard that the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute was designed by Renzo Piano I had to see it. I was familiar with his work on the new San Francisco Academy of Sciences which I absolutely love. The new modern wing is a light filled space. Many of the gallery windows frame the amazing view of Millennium Park and the Pritzer Pavillion by Frank Gehry. It's an architectural dream scape. Go see it!

If you are a lover of art, make time for this museum. The Monet room alone is worth the trip. I have been to musems in many cities and this is one of the best. In addition to looking on our own, we took a free tour with one of the docents, and it was wonderful.

Newly completed, this is worth the trip alone. Must be one of the most extensive collections of contemporary art in the world. Prepare to have your mind blown. The building is amazing, the connection to Milennium Park over a huge pedestrian bridge is phenomenal and the collection itself unparalled. Do yourself a favor and don't miss it.