AmericaTheBeautiful.com © 2015

 - All Rights Reserved.

Peter’s Travel Log

• Travel Blog
• See America
• Travel Videos

Portland, Maine

In the mid-80s, the city of Portland, Maine  woke up to its identity as an artists’ town and the infrastructure and support for the creative community has continued to grow ever since. Situated on the coast of Maine, Portland is a town that has grown culturally in recent years.  Artists throughout the area focus on many of this beautiful New England setting’s natural beauty, history and industry as seen in this painting by artist Jenny Moore who paints as she watches the ships come to port. Whether you’re a working artist, or someone who simply needs art in their life,  Portland is a great town - a great city that  will leave lasting artistic impressions on your heart and soul.  Enjoy your Maine Visit.

Oxford, Mississippi

Oxford, Mississippi is home to many talented writers, performers, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and educators and as a result, offers an abundance of music, theater, dance, and comedy performances year-round.  Natural splendor and rich history makes Oxford, MS, a college town that defines culture in the South and it is the youthful edge of this town that infuses a dynamic arts scene with year round exhibitions and events.  Concerts and musicals are performed at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of MS. Other cultural events held in Oxford include an annual book conference and an arts festival such as The Double Decker Festival in late April. See More!

Brattleboro, Vermont

Brattleboro, Vermont is fortunate to have such a rich and diverse range of cultural resources, including a wide array of performing literary and visual arts organizations, performing venues, galleries, and museums, and a strong community of independent artists and craftspeople. Smithsonian Magazine named Brattleboro "One of the 20 Best Towns in America," saying "We think any best place worth traveling to should have one quality above others: culture."  Brattleboro even features a Gallery Walk - a year round first Friday of the month stroll through the galleries throughout downtown Brattleboro and nearby locations.  We think this is a great stroll!!!    See More!

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head entertainment consists of a world-class Arts Center of Coastal Carolina that welcomes Broadway-caliber performances to the stage; two local Hilton Head art leagues boast more than 200 talented members; and our superb Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra continually features some of the most talented musicians in the world.  From a pottery wheel spinning in Old Town Bluffton to a ballerina pirouetting across a Hilton Head Dance Theater stage, the area offers a dizzying array of culture and arts to explore. Painters, authors, sculptors, actors, dancers and musicians from Hilton Head and Bluffton regularly receive regional and national acclaim for their work.  See More!

Helena, Montana

Cradled in the foothills of the Montana Rockies, surrounded by pristine forests, alive with history and culture, lies Helena, "the heartbeat of Montana”.  Helena's Holster Museum of Art displays various works of art from historical to contemporary times. It also offers workshops, readings, and discussions. The Archie Bray Foundation for Ceramic Arts, which offers beautiful display pieces for sale, has attained a national reputation for training potters. The Ghost Art Gallery in Helena's old mining district features architecture and themes from nearby ghost towns, as well as western and wildlife art by fine local artists.  Helena, Montana’s setting adds to the inspiration of artist’s across this great state.   

Marquette, Michigan

Marquette , Michigan is located in the Upper Peninsula on the shores of Lake Superior.  The Marquette Arts and Culture Department was initiated by the efforts of artists and art groups in Marquette who exhibited the need for such an organization.  Today, The Marquette Arts and Culture Department serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity to the over 65 art groups in the area.  Together, they host annual festivals, monthly visual exhibitions, theater productions, community dance productions, calendars and much more.  We are confident that you will find a visit to Marquette, Michigan will be a highlight of your cultural trip.   See More!.  

The Hamptons, New York

The Hamptons are a group of villages and hamlets in the townships of Southampton and East Hampton, which form the South Fork of Long Island, New York. In the 1870’s, artists based in New York City found their way to picturesque rural retreats in Southampton and East Hampton where they established summer colonies that became world famous. In the 20th century, as the reputations of the art colonies grew, it attracted theater folk and writers and began to develop into a resort for the wealthy and art-oriented societies. Following WWII, The Hamptons attracted succeeding generations of visual and performing artists from celebrated to the soon-to-be-famous.  Today, while the Hamptons are well-known as a sophisticated resort playground, it is also a perfect destination for travelers interested in art and culture.  See More!

Carmel, California

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California often called simply Carmel, is a small city situated on the Monterey Peninsula. The town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history. In 1906, the San Francisco Call devoted a full page to the "artists, poets and writers of Carmel-by-the-Sea", and in 1910 it reported that 60 percent of Carmel's houses were built by citizens who were "devoting their lives to work connected to the aesthetic arts." City Councils have been dominated by artists over the years and the town has had several mayors who were poets or actors including Herbert Heron, founder of the Forest Theater, bohemian writer and actor Perry Newberry, and actor-director Clint Eastwood.  Set your sights on Carmel - See More!

Friday Harbor, Washington

From paintings and photographs to sculptures, fiber art and pottery, Friday Harbor, Washington is alive with art — and artists. You’ll see murals and tile mosaics by islanders on buildings and walls (check out the hardware store), and a stroll through the galleries, gift shops, and boutiques will give you a taste of the extraordinary variety of artwork created on this small island. San Juan Community Theatre and Island Stage Left put on a plethora of performing arts featuring multi-talented Islanders. Visual artists and photographers, often on a retreat, decide to make Friday Harbor their permanent residence. They relocate to San Juan Island for the captivating scenery. See More

Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota, Florida is known as Florida's Cultural Coast and is considered by some to be the cultural center of the southeastern US. It is home to many world-renowned artists and to the official state art museum of Florida, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Affiliated with Florida State University, it is the largest museum/university complex in the nation. You will also find a multitude of art galleries lining the streets, open studio shows, and one of the finest art schools in the world, Ringling School of Art and Design. Theater, music and film are also important venues of creativity in Sarasota and there is an abundance of theaters and performing halls to enjoy here.   See More!