Philadelphia named top US destination

Philadelphia named top US destination

PHILADELPHIA

Lonely Planet gave some love to The City of Brotherly Love last week, ranking Philadelphia the No. 1 place to visit in the United States in 2016.

“Philly’s on a roll right now,” the travel guide company said in a statement. “The city is experiencing a transformation to its urban core, yet retaining its deep American history and uniquely gritty flavor.

The company noted that Philadelphia hosted Pope Francis in September and will welcome the Democratic National Convention this summer. In November, it was named the country’s first World Heritage City.

Lonely Planet said it picks the “top 10 most exciting, intriguing and up-and-coming” destinations for the list, and called Philadelphia “a national treasure.”

Rounding out its top 10 list for 2016, in order: Natchez, Miss.; Yellowstone National Park; Birmingham, Ala.; Alaska; Somerville, Mass.; Northwest Arkansas; San Antonio; Southern New Mexico; and Milwaukee.

Van Gogh bedroom recreated as rental

CHICAGO

Art lovers have a chance to spend one starry night in a replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s bedroom for only $10.

The Art Institute of Chicago decorated a one-bedroom apartment to look like Van Gogh’s painting of his bedroom in the south of France. The room in Chicago’s River North neighborhood is listed on Airbnb as if the artist himself were renting it for cash to buy paint.

Renters also will get tickets to the Art Institute’s “Van Gogh’s Bedrooms” exhibition, which runs through May 10.

Geography quiz

Q. To which continent would you travel to visit the Altiplano region?

A. South America. Located in the Andes, the Altiplano is a high plateau area in parts of Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina. The world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca, is located there.

OneJet adds flights

IMPERIAL, Pa.

OneJet has named Pittsburgh a “focus city” and plans to add daily flights to Hartford, Conn., and four other cities.

The carrier uses seven-passenger Hawker 400 jets to cater to business travelers. It launched service from Pittsburgh International Airport in May, with nonstop flights to Indianapolis and Milwaukee.

Last week, the company pledged to add nonstop flights to four still-to-be decided destinations later this year, and to hire about 40 pilots, mechanics and other workers in Pittsburgh.

Combined dispatches