I am based in New Jersey, quite possibly the most light polluted state in America. One of the most helpful things you could do as a beginner is know an area near you with less light pollution. Depending on where you live, this could be anywhere from a multi-hour drive to your own backyard (although at that point you would know before you got to this site). 

 

More specifically, I live in a Bortle 7 zone. A helpful fellow named John Bortle invented the Bortle scale, an easy way to gauge the quality of the sky by the objects and phenomena you can see. ClearDarkSky has a wonderful map and explanation of all the grizzly details regarding the scale, and with a map of the whole Earth, it should be of help to all. If it is not, please send me an email with your galactic sector, solar system, and planet. A searchable alternative with the same map is hosted on DarkSiteFinder. If you're a city slicker like me, I recommend trying to find at least a Bortle 4.5 zone (yellow). It won't be the clearest, but the difference in sky detail between the city or suburbs and even partly rural skies is vast. On good days, the Milky Way can stand out like glaze on a donut, and it's my personal belief that everybody ought to see it at least once in their life.