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What to do and see in United States, United States: The Best Art Galleries
Spanning 2,800 miles (4,506 kilometers) from east to west, the US is a vast patchwork of landscapes and metropolises. From Arizona’s red-rocked canyons and California’s coastal beaches to New York’s big city and Virginia’s storied past, it covers any topic any traveler could want or need.
Restaurants in United States
1. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,558 reviews
The renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is everything you could want in a Sonoran Desert adventure! Mostly outdoors and comprised of an AZA-accredited zoo, extensive botanical garden, two art galleries, and a natural history museum, the Desert Museum sits on 98 acres of pristine desert landscape. The Museum showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, featuring wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep in their natural settings. Bird lovers delight in visiting the Museum's two aviaries, one dedicated to hummingbirds! Kids love the interactive Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch exhibits, learning to appreciate our unique environment from a young age. The Museum's gift shops offer an incredible bounty of books, jewelry, crafts, and more. This family-friendly establishment offers something for everyone!
Reviewed By Eiregirl
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the few "must-see" things that we consistently recommend to *everyone* who visits the area. Young kids, teens, enthusiastic adults, tired/jaded adults, older folks who aren't as spry as they used to be - it's really a place for everyone. The Museum is accessible, welcoming, and it always receives rave reviews across the board from our visitors. Key highlights - --The "Museum" is really a combination of things. It does have indoor exhibits and the hands-on demonstrations that you'll find in other national museums, but that's just a fraction of what it offers. The Desert Museum is also a zoo with over 230 native animals - and it's one of the top-ranked public gardens in the U.S - and there is an aquarium - and a cool raptor area where trainers fly native birds of prey - and outdoor trails, etc. --The Museum setting is gorgeous. It's a short drive west of Tucson over Gate's Pass, and it sits smack in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Every inch of the place takes advantage of this unique setting, and it's the best place in town to learn more about the surrounding flora & fauna. --The Desert Museum has a team of top-notch scientists on their staff. In addition to their work with public visitors, many of them are also actively engaged in their field's specialty research and/or education. There is always someone out on the museum pathway with an interesting animal, native plant display, or other engaging story/tidbit of new information. (My kids' top memory - a 'scorpion wall' search around dusk.) You know what you see/hear in the Museum is coming from people who know their stuff. Be sure to carve out at least half a day to visit the Desert Museum while you're in the area. It's well worth your time.
2. Nedra Matteucci Galleries
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 348 reviews
An art gallery specializing in 19th- and 20th-century American art.
Reviewed By ColoradoChilidog
Sometimes it's the setting/location that makes a place and Nedra has it in spades. The historical buildings, classic interior rooms, vault, and art would make this a must stop but add in the garden area and that makes this a very special place. Every staff member would answer questions that I'm sure they are asked dozens of times per day. It's educational along with great art viewing.
3. Benson Park Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 603 reviews
Largest juried outdoor sculpture show in the United States, takes place each year over the second weekend in August.
Reviewed By archerymom
This is an amazing park with lovely handicap accessible access to all sculptures and eating areas. Lovelier in summer months, and home to the annual International Sculpture in the Park held on the second weekend of August, it is a wonderful destination year round to take a brisk walk or leisurely stroll around the ponds. It is indeed one of Loveland's finest parks and each year they add several amazing sculptures so there is always a surprise
4. Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Reviewed By MsCanuck24
Hidden in an unassuming warehouse building, a labyrinth of galleries exhibits thousands of paintings and sculptures from the Basha family's private collection. I spend hours there upon each visit. Admission is free, so please donate generously. It will be the most extraordinary collection of western art that you will ever see!
5. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24,263 reviews
Located in the heart of Seattle, Chihuly Garden and Glass provides a look at the inspiration and influences that inform the career of artist Dale Chihuly. Through the exhibition’s eight interior galleries, lush outdoor garden and centerpiece Glasshouse visitors will experience a comprehensive look at Chihuly's most significant series of work. With both day and night experiences, and full-service dining in the adjoining Collections Café, this long-term exhibition offers a unique experience rain or shine.
Reviewed By KLanicek - Austin, United States
This was an amazing privelege to witness the remarkable talent of Mr. Chihuly and his team of artists. From the amazing and gravity-defying displays to the glass-blowing demo in the courtyard, this place is fantastic! I would like to shake the hand of every member of the cleaning crew, too. Not a speck of dust marred the breathtaking sculptures with their thousands of glass pieces! I'd add that this place was fantastic for my friend and I (grown-ups) and my teenage son appreciated the artwork (and the the glass blowing demo), but I wouldn't risk bringing toddlers or young kids in unless their temperament is calm and obedient. This is a great place to bring older kids, though, to truly marvel at the talent and artistry that goes into making each piece and then putting all those pieces together into a sculpture (landscape, etc.) that is really magical. The gift shop has some unique pieces, too (lots of great gifts). I'm glad my spendy teen was at home or I'd be broke for sure! Another tip is that the gardens outside were just as beautiful as the displays inside. I'd recommend timing your visit with nicer weather (I'm told we got lucky) so you can maximize your experience. You can probably put your hood up and deal with raindrops, but the outdoor gardens are best when you're not rushed by rain. We also had the privelege of seeing the gardens from the Space Needle at dusk (lit up) and wish we had been able to go back into the gardens when it's lit up. From what we could see through the thick hedges (not much) and from above, it looked fantastic! Side note: We got a CityPass and were able to pair it with the Space Needle and MoPop and do all 3 in one day. That alone made it worth the cost of the CityPass.
6. Images of Nature by Thomas Mangelsen
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 274 reviews
Reviewed By CharlesC722 - Dawsonville, United States
Ever time I come to Jackson I make three or four visits to this fabulous Gallery. If you love wildlife this is a must see exhibit of Tom Mangelsen one of the top photographers in the world. You will be amazed at unbelievable scenes he has captured that seem almost surreal. Quite simply he seems to always be at the right place at the right time. Over the past six months I have purchased three o his selections and I proudly display them in my study . I particularly urge families with children to stop by because a visit is even better than going to a zoo! You will certain be in awe of what you experience!
7. The Glass Forge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 280 reviews
This is a fully operational glass blowing shop, where you can get up close and even try your hand at blowing molten 2000 degree glass. The artisans are usually working producing all kinds of glass art from vases, bowls to paperweights and sculptural pieces. Come browse the gift shop, or just stay and visit. It does get warm so can be very nice in the winter!
Reviewed By ThisDotDanni - Grants Pass, United States
Easy glass blowing for people who have never done it before. Wonderful selection of colors for making floats or ornaments. Awesome explanations!!
8. Lincoln City Glass Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 511 reviews
Reviewed By Amorrah - Eugene, United States
Had a great time !! Fun place to visit and make your own creations !! I would absolutely recommend giving it a shot !
9. Aurora Dora
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 428 reviews
When It's Dark, I See the Lights! I relocated from Brazil to Alaska in 2001 and have been chasing and photographing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) ever since. I never heard about the Northern Lights before I moved to Alaska. The first time I saw them it was love at first sight. That was it! From there on I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to share the Auroras with the world and show them to everyone who doesn't have the opportunity to see the Northern lights. That's what I have been doing since. From long and cold nights photographing amazing auroras through the skies, and teaching northern lights photography workshops, to the summers explaining and showing the auroras to the ones that are not able to visit Alaska in the winters. I am a photographer in Alaska, living the dream life of many photographers. Many of my images were published by NASA, Space Weather Live, Washington Post, space.com, Nature Photographer Magazine, Society of Nature Photographers, just to name a few.
Reviewed By richardp14
Like most of Talkeetna, the shop is plain and unassuming on the outside. The photos inside and a hidden gem. Dora has taken some of the most beautiful photos on the aurora, all with other interesting subjects in the picture. A float plane, an old truck, a mountain, or a tree all add to the incredible shapes and colors of the aurora displayed behind or above them. The metal prints are beautiful, but the photo versions are equally lovely.
10. National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,110 reviews
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta is an engaging cultural attraction that connects The American Civil Rights Movement to today's Global Human Rights Movements. The Center features four immersive and thought-provoking exhibit spaces, including a continually rotating gallery of items from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, where visitors can view the personal papers and items of Dr. King. The Center also provides designated event spaces and educational programs inspiring visitors to join the ongoing dialogue about contemporary movements for human rights around the world. 3/2/2020 - Closing at 3pm (Last ticket at 2pm).
Reviewed By Olde_biL - Markham, Canada
Our visit to the National Center for Human and Civil rights near Centennial Olympic Park completed our trifecta of civil rights themed museum visits during our one full day visit to Atlanta. (This was our second visit to Atlanta and our first without our children.) It proved a valuble complement to what we learned and experienced at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site. Admission to the center was more than the free for the MLK Jr. Historic site and the $8/adult for the presidential library. Nonetheless, it provides a powerful experience and the lunch counter simulation itself was worth more than the price of admission. Caution, this latter is not for the very young as cautioned by the posted signage. The simulation includes a reproduction of a lunch counter at which protesters would sit. The participant takes a stool and puts on a headset, places hands palms down on the counter, and closes their eyes. The sounds and jolting movement of the stool over about a minute and a half provide the merest taste of what young protesters must have endured. I emerged deeply affected, both marveling at the courage of the protesters and angry at the need. Most of the museum exhibits are well executed and interactive. Right from first exhibit hall is "Rolls Down Like Water", it houses the lunch counter but starts with Atlanta of the 50's, with interactive features such as the sign board upon which users choose the jurisdiction from which to display Jim Crow laws. The exhibit moves forward through time with displays covering the bus boycott, the freedom riders, notorious figures such as Bull Connor, and continuing through the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The museum isn't exclusively about the American Civil Rights movement. The "Spark of Conviction" on the 3rd floor houses a series of interactive mirrors that users can approach and select from a number of real individuals from around the world to hear their story. The objective is to allow an individual to choose someone that is like them in some way. Other exhibits work similarly and provide multi-sensory ways to interact and convey more than just facts about the struggle for civil and human rights. We spent more than two hours going through the museum. I feel better educated but also with a desire to return after doing more personal research and being better prepared to comprehend the material.
