I live in southern PA near the Mason-Dixon line. See owls? Not so much. But hear owls often, usually a Great Horned or Barred Owl at night from bedroom window. Love to hear them calling to each other when they are in the neighborhood.
Another occasion was at a local environmental education center we stumbled upon a program featuring their ongoing study on saw whet owls. Happened to see one in the flesh when caught to be banded and released.
Lastly, a few years ago, when down on the Delvarva Peninsula was made aware of a snowy owl sighting on the ocean beach in Delaware sitting on the beach. We were not alone in enjoying this unusual sighting and were joined by a number of birders. Just fascinating.