Explore Champaign-Urbana in Summer

The open-air Market at the Square hums spring through fall. As live music plays, shoppers browse a colorful array of woodworking, jewelry, pottery and clothing, as well as a bounty of fresh veggies. urbanaillinois.us/market

The Krannert Art Museum, one of the largest in Illinois, houses nearly 10,000 works. Ancient Egyptian sculptures and dreamy photos by Alfred Stieglitz vie for attention. Stop by the Kinkead Pavilion to see renowned U of I grad Lorado Taft's The Blind, a haunting group of eyeless, cloaked figures grasping at the air. See reviews and ratings.

The Cinema Gallery is a classic tale of an old space finding new purpose: The theater, built in 1870 as Busey's Opera Hall, now houses pieces from more than 50 local artists working in ceramics, paint and sculpture. With changing exhibits every six to eight weeks, you'll always find something new—and old, because you can buy vintage movie posters, too. See reviews and ratings.

If you want variety, head to the Spurlock Museum, where the mix of art and anthropological artifacts from around the world feels like a miniature of Chicago's Field Museum. You could spend an hour in this five-gallery museum and feel like you've spanned the globe. See reviews and ratings.

Pictured: The Krannert Art Museum.