Whenever we get the chance, we try to take a few hours to explore the local art scene when we visit new cities. Whether we’re bringing the kids or we’re sneaking in a couple of hours between meetings, hitting the local art museum is a must!

Can’t decide where to start? TripAdvisor has a list of the Top 25 museums around the world. From the Art Institute in Chicago and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris to the Acropolis Museum in Athens and the National Gallery in London, you’ll see a number of familiar destinations as well as a few unexpected ones.

For art lovers who want to stay in the U.S., Fodor’s has a list of the Top 20 must-see art museums in America. The list does not just feature cities on the coasts, the Detroit Institute of Art and Houston Museum of Fine Arts also made the cut.

If you’re traveling with little ones, Matador Network has a list of the top children’s museums in the U.S. We’d love to stop by the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY. You can take a walk down Sesame Street and explore a life-size doll house.

One tip from the pros: Whether you’re booking a trip to the Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., or the many museums in New York City, make a plan before you leave. You can easily spend an entire day in just one or two museums, so choose your destinations carefully.

If you want to make art rather than view it, you can take an art retreat. Flavorwire has a list of ten artists’ retreats around the world to get your creative juices flowing. Not sure if you’re ready for one of these? An Artists’ Retreat with Anna Rhodes is the perfect place for beginners to start. Each retreat has a different theme to fit your interests.

Do you have a favorite art museum? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.