– This post was written by Liam McGarry –
The Remarkable Venue Awards are Tiqets’ annual tourism awards, highlighting the very best museums and attractions around the world. The nominees are recognized for providing world-class visitor experiences, as attested to by over 850,000 customers.
Expert judges in 2021 include travel & lifestyle journalist Stacey Leasca, John A. Marshall from NYC & Company, and Kenneth Shapiro from TravelAge West.
The United States is a leader in tourism experiences – read on to find out which remarkable American museums and attractions earned the top prize across five categories.
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Most Remarkable Venue: The Menil Collection
“It was a great experience with beautiful artwork and a calm, soothing environment.” – Gabriel, United States
The Most Remarkable Venue is the most prestigious of the awards being presented at the RVAs. Based on reviews from Tiqets customers, Houston’s Menil Collection stands out for providing a serene and contemplative atmosphere to enjoy some of the best art in the United States.
The Menil is home to the life’s art collection of John and Dominique de Menil, French philanthropists and art collectors who immersed themselves in the Houston community in the 1940s and 1950s. It boasts one of the world’s most important Surrealist art collections, as well as Byzantine and medieval relics, Indigenous art from across the globe, plus a strong catalog of modern and contemporary art.
Works from the hands of masters like René Magritte, Giorgio de Chirico, and Salvador Dalí line the walls, but the Menil is as much lauded for its illuminating spaces as it is for its collection of treasures. The Cy Twombly Gallery and the Dan Flavin Installation at Richmond Hall are hugely popular sites within the museum’s sprawling campus in the leafy Montrose neighborhood of Houston, setting the Menil apart as one of the best museums & attractions in the US.
Best Museum: National Museum of African American Music
“A really moving presentation across all eras and genres.” – Brendan, United States
The Best Museum award recognizes the top museum or art gallery in the country, based on customer reviews on Tiqets.com. The National Museum of African American Music finally opened in 2021, and it didn’t take long for this eagerly anticipated, interactive museum in Nashville to win the affection of Tiqets’ musically minded customers.
The museum tells the story of how music in the United States and around the world has roots in Black culture. From blues to rock & roll, country, and jazz, popular genres can all be traced back to the arrival of Africans in the US during the 1600s, who brought with them a strong musical heritage.
Visitors can walk to the beat of America’s story and music history through curated galleries like Rivers of Rhythm, Wade in the Water, One Nation Under a Groove, and The Message.
There are seven galleries where visitors can wow at over 1,500 authentic artifacts from all eras of American music. B.B. King’s guitar Lucille, Ella Fitzgerald’s leopard-print coat, and a trumpet owned by Louis Armstrong are on display with a whole load more memorabilia. You can even flex your vocal cords to the tune of Oh Happy Day with a virtual gospel choir!
Best Attraction: Thriller Miami
“Exceptional, fun, and safe. We enjoyed every bit of it.” – Naomi, United States
The Best Attraction award honors the best attraction, from theme parks and zoos to guided visits of cultural locations. It recognizes venues that stand out for their appeal to all types of visitors.
A combination of fun guides, incredible speedboat adventures, and a safety-first approach had Tiqets customers quick to share positive reviews of their high-octane experiences with Thriller Miami. With two levels of adrenaline, Thriller Miami provides options for families, couples, and seasoned thrill-seekers.
The Speedboat Adventure zooms around Miami with an added focus on the area’s history and culture, taking in Biscayne Bay, Star Island, and Fisher Island. The Hurricane provides what you might expect from the name – thrills, spills, twists, turns, and soggy shoes!
What really sets Thriller Miami apart are the guides – quick-witted and obsessed with visitor enjoyment, Tiqets customers report back time and time again that their Florida experience was made that bit more special by their incredible hosts.
Best Landmark: Empire State Building Observatory
“Better than imagined, everyone was so nice. Museum was spectacular, as were the views!” – Patricia, United States
The Best Landmark category recognizes venues such as cathedrals, churches (or any place of worship), castles, natural landmarks, historical or iconic buildings, and observation decks.
There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being one of the most iconic landmarks in existence, but Tiqets’ customers regularly report back that the guys at the Empire State Building Observatory are doing a stellar job.
This Art Deco masterpiece scrapes the sky in the center of Manhattan and has done since way back in 1931. From the moment the smiling team of burgundy-uniformed staff welcomes visitors at the door, they’re able to get a feel for the prestige attached to the once tallest building on Earth.
From the sky-high 86th-floor observation deck, visitors can gaze down at the yellow specks of New York taxis and out to six surrounding states (bonus points if you can name them). The free Official Empire State Building Guide app keeps you in the loop from the ground all the way up, and there are options for food and drink with one of the best views in the Empire State.
Best Onsite Experience: Museum of the Bible
“Loved the format, layout, and content. Made a complex subject enjoyable and understandable.” – Michael, United States
The Best Onsite Experience award is based on customer reviews on Tiqets.com relating to the onsite experience, including staff interaction and information available at the venue.
The Bible has had an unrivaled effect on western culture, but it’s not exactly a page-turner. The Museum of the Bible is a five-star hit with customers, who praise its ability to make the religious subject matter immersive, fun, and understandable.
The most popular stories in the Good Book – Noah’s ark, the burning bush, Passover, and more – are told through virtual-reality experiences, interactive displays, seven floors of awesome artifacts, and state-of-the-art temporary and permanent exhibitions.
Everything from the exhibits to the knowledgeable staff and unique storytelling displays has earned the Museum of the Bible its place among the very best museums and attractions in the US.
Best Hidden Gem: Musical Instrument Museum
“In my humble opinion, this is one of the best museums in the world. I took my 14-year-old granddaughter there and we literally spent the entire day!” – Merrily, United States.
The Best Hidden Gem award is chosen by a panel of industry experts, rewarding smaller or lesser-known venues that provide an experience that’s impossible to forget.
Music is a cultural universal, and has been part of the human experience from the very beginning. The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix celebrates the tools of this beautiful pastime, housing 8,000 musical instruments from countries around the globe.
This wonderful space is eye and ear-opening for adults and children alike, whether they’re innately musical or looking for the sounds that speak to them. Guests are encouraged to make music in the Experience Gallery and compare instruments from all continents in the Geographic Gallery. There are interactive and audiovisual elements throughout, as well as workshops, concerts, and more. Tiqets customers are quick to serenade the Musical Instrument Museum with positive reviews, gushing about the educational opportunities inside.
Most Innovative Venue: Las Vegas Raiders – Allegiant Stadium
The Most Innovative Venue award spotlights museums and attractions that found new and original ways to bring culture to their visitors.
With football, there’s a deep connection to supporters that’s hard to match in other cultural spheres, and the Las Vegas Raiders wanted this idea to be at the core of their stadium tour offering.
Raiders fans explore the most exclusive areas of the stadium, but this is much more than a look behind the curtain. This fully immersive journey weaves the unbeatable spirit of the three-time Super Bowl winners and its fans into a tour that shows off the incredible technology inside the Raiders’ $1.9B Allegiant Stadium.
The tour blends emotional storytelling and technological innovation. Guests feel wonder and surprise at every turn, with key moments including an audio show in the Broadcast Booth and a visit from Raiders legend Howie Long in the Press Conference room. Fans take in an ultra-inspiring pre-game pep-talk from a holographic Coach Gruden in the Raiders’ enormous locker room, before running onto the hallowed turf just like the players do on game day.
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