Artsy Destinations Across the USA

From world-class museums to striking street murals and immersive installations, the USA is a dreamscape for art lovers. Across the country, creativity flows out of galleries and into city streets, sculpture gardens and even desert landscapes. Whether you’re drawn to thought-provoking exhibits, lively art festivals or interactive experiences that invite you to step inside the work, these destinations celebrate art in all its forms.

Los Angeles, California: Creativity Without Bounds 

Los Angeles isn’t all Hollywood glamour and California cool – it’s a global art hub where creativity sparks conversation. See Judy Baca’s “Great Wall of Los Angeles,” a landmark of Chicano art and activism, or explore the world’s largest live-in artist complex during the twice-yearly Brewery ArtWalk. At The Broad, view works from pop art icon Andy Warhol, or wander through the impressive galleries of The Getty, where European art meets stunning architecture in a hilltop garden oasis. For an intimate experience, join an artist-led walk with LA Art Tours. Music and architecture lovers alike will marvel at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Art is Part of the Landscape in Denver, Colorado

In Denver, Colorado, art feels naturally woven into the city’s landscape. A unique city initiative channels one percent of major project funding into public art, resulting in more than 400 installations throughout Denver’s lively neighborhoods. Browse Denver Art Museum’s renowned Indigenous collection or step into alien worlds at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station. Time your visit for the Santa Fe Art District’s First Friday Art Walk to mix studio tours and galleries with flavorful street food.

Providence, Rhode Island: East Coast Creative Capital

This New England destination is more than a bustling Rhode Island city. Here, a scenic river winds through a thriving downtown and inspires innovation. Providence’s adventurous art scene draws creatives to institutions like the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and WaterFire Arts Center, where the river is set aglow during seasonal lightings. For a glimpse of the city’s underground arts community, pop over to Dirt Palace, a feminist collective in a former library, or AS220, a vibrant hub for experimental art and performance.

Admire Art in Lakes and Gardens in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Scenic Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a sightseer’s dream with lush lakeside parks and iconic works like “Spoonbridge and Cherry.” See this whimsical sculpture and 60-plus other installations at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or roam the Walker Art Center’s 11 galleries showcasing cutting-edge contemporary artists. In winter, bundle up for the Art Shanty Projects, where interactive installations transform a frozen lake into a playful art village.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Murals and Whimsy

Philadelphia is a city of firsts – including the USA’s first museum and art school, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Peruse this landmark institution on a curator-led tour or lose yourself in the dazzling mosaic world of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. To experience the city’s artistic soul, join a street art walking tour or hop a trolley to see why more than 4,000 murals have earned Philly its “Mural Capital of the World” nickname.

New Orleans, Louisiana: Creativity Comes Alive in the Big Easy

A blend of French, Spanish, African and Caribbean roots makes New Orleans, Louisiana, a city where culture moves through every mural, ritual and rhythm. During Carnival season, spot Mardi Gras Indians parading in bright feathered headdresses and intricately beaded garb. Browse colorful Creole storefronts and galleries along Magazine Street, or head to the Warehouse District for a powerful look at Southern identity at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. In City Park, spend time among intriguing sculptures and thoughtful exhibitions at the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: A Creative Oasis 

Santa Fe’s mystical sunsets set the sky ablaze over high desert vistas and Pueblo-style architecture – a view that’s inspired generations of artists. Explore the original Meow Wolf for an experiential art exhibit and unravel a sci-fi mystery inside the House of Eternal Return. Then wander through the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, where abstract florals and New Mexico landscapes showcase one of America’s most influential painters. Visit in August to explore the Santa Fe Indian Market, where hundreds of Indigenous artists gather for the world’s largest fair of its kind.

San Juan, Puerto Rico: Art-Filled Streets in an Island City

With bioluminescent bays, colorful facades and mural-covered streets, San Juan feels like a world away, yet this dreamy island city is right in our backyard. Art here is shaped by island culture and social currents, whether you’re touring the street art of Santurce or discovering contemporary pieces by Puerto Rican and Latinx artists at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico. For a handmade keepsake, stop by Puerto Rican Art & Crafts for traditional Vejigante masks, part of festival tradition.