I was lucky enough to see a launch. Holiday to Orlando for the obvious reasons from the UK, Shuttle launch kept getting delayed due to weather / technical issues , which saw us driving from one coast of Florida to the other to see stuff and catch the actual launch. Finally with the launch a "go" we drove across Florida, listening to the countdown on the radio, finally found a vantage point in the form of an upper deck in a bar, where other locals had gathered. We were about 5 miles from the launch tower.
I'll never forget seeing the Shuttle rise on a pillar of flame, brighter than the sun, in an eerie silence, and then the sound hit, and kept on coming. Impressive.