Traveling for the Arts in America

I’ll be honest:  if it were up to me, New York would top every arts-related list in just about every category. But contrary to what we who live here believe, the entire world does not revolve around New York City and in the U.S. alone there are many cities to experience the very best in arts and culture.

Best City for Museums: Washington, D.C.

 You can’t top our nation’s capital when it comes to museums, especially since every branch of the Smithsonian Institute is completely free to visitors. Stroll the length of the National Mall and you’ll pass the American History, Natural History, National Portrait Gallery and Air and Space museums, along with many more. But don’t limit your museum hours at the Smithsonian. The city’s best are elsewhere but well worth the entry fee. Brought kids? Take them to the International Spy Museum, which has interactive and kid-friendly activities but is just as fascinating for adults. The Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of the best in the world and takes visitors along a powerful journey that should be experienced over a longer period of time than a typical museum tour. My personal favorite is the Newseum, which charts the history of the American media and has permanent exhibitions on the Berlin Wall, 9/11, and presidential elections.

Best City for Theater: New York, NY 

Even though all actors destined for feature films leave us for greener pastures out West, New York is still home to the best theater in the country and perhaps the world. Consequently, the famous ones always come back to star on Broadway. For example, this season we’ve seen Scarlett Johansson, Al Pacino, Jessica Chastain, and Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey. But with hundreds of theaters all around town, visitors can experience Broadway-quality performances without necessarily paying Broadway prices and still catch the likes of Sigourney Weaver, David Hyde Pierce and Ethan Hawke.  And don’t sweat it if you couldn’t score tickets to Shakespeare in the Park (the free tickets are nearly impossible to come by) because every night you can find cheap seats at an endless variety of shows.

 Best City for Art: Santa Fe, NM

 In the art world, Santa Fe is known for more than just Georgia O’Keefe, although you definitely shouldn’t miss the museum dedicated to her work on your next trip. Contemporary art thrives in New Mexico’s capital and at the heart of it all is Canyon Road, a mile’s worth of galleries exhibiting world class Native American, historic, contemporary, sculptural, and architectural works. Fans of modern art will want to explore the nearby Railyard District, where old warehouses have been converted into studio galleries, antique shops, bookstores, and restaurants. SITE, a nonprofit contemporary arts organization is one of the most notable of the Railyard District galleries and exhibits biennially.

Best City for Music: Austin, TX

Not only is Austin a breeding ground for artists (Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Janis Joplin, to name a few), but it’s one of the best places to visit for fans of them, too. As the self-proclaimed “live music capital of the world,” you won’t have any trouble finding a show to suit your whimsy every night of the week. Austin has 75 venues in downtown alone, all within walking distance from one another. So after a beer or two on Sixth Street, you’re more likely to stumble into an awesome concert than a creepy alley. Texas’ capital is best known for the long running PBS music program Austin City Limits (which has added an annual festival) as well as the world famous South by Southwest festival, combining film, art, comedy, and music—but good luck getting tickets.

Best City for Comedy: Chicago, IL

Perhaps it’s something about the relentless wind that makes Chicago residents just want to hole up inside and write jokes. Either way, Chicago rivals New York and L.A. in terms of talented performers, minus the obnoxious prices of New York and the soul-sucking conceit of L.A. Don’t expect vanilla material—Chicago crowds aren’t impressed by your run-of-the-mill “the difference between men and women …” jokes. There’s a huge alt-comedy scene as well as a thriving improv community (just ask Tina Fey and Amy Poehler who both got their start at Second City Theater).  It’s the place to be for up-and-coming comics and their cheerleaders.