Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

The Columbia River Gorge along the Washington/Oregon border is home to many great natural sights. Even away from well-known landmarks like Multnomah Falls and Mt. Adams, the general beauty of the region is engaging and a wonder on its own. This eScapes video tracks the aptly-named sternwheeler Columbia Gorge riverboat as it paddles through the heart of the gorge, dwarfed by the forested Cascade Mountains. Also visible is the “Bridge of the Gods,” a cantilever bridge spanning the river. This bridge is named after a land bridge that once crossed nearby and is a prominent part of local American Indian legend. Chris Standring is a jazz guitarist who has distinguished himself in the contemporary jazz realm

Los Angeles from Mount Lee

Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, has been the worldwide capital of film production since the early 1900s. One-sixth of the city’s 3.8 million people work in the arts. This eScapes video takes you to the hills of the city’s Griffith Park. One of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee overlooks the city as a symbol of the glamour and opportunity of the city’s entertainment industry. The hills also offer a panoramic view of the sprawling Los Angeles metro area, with the skyscrapers of downtown standing out and commanding attention. Lee Ritenour is a Los Angeles-raised guitarist that has worked in many genres including jazz, blues, and rock.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Established as the first National Lakeshore in 1966, the beautiful Lake Superior coast at Pictured Rocks was adopted by the National Park System as an answer to increased private ownership of the Great Lakes coastlines. Though the Lakeshore is home to sand dunes, forests, wetlands, and sandy beaches, it is best known for its steep sandstone cliffs and unique rock formations. The harsh wind, rain, and freeze/thaw cycles on Lake Superior are responsible for forming these dramatic landscapes are still at work: parts of some of the Lakeshore’s most iconic landforms have lost pieces in recent years. This eScapes video features Miner’s Castle, a major landmark at Pictured rocks. These seaside formations can be seen from

Indianapolis at Night

After the sun sets, downtown Indianapolis has an exciting nightlife before a backdrop of beautifully-lit buildings and monuments. This eScapes video begins at the city’s Artsgarden, a free venue for art exhibits and performances. Other sights in this video include the Indiana Statehouse, just a few blocks away, and the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, including the Indiana World War Memorial, a prominent building that contains tributes to fallen soldiers and a collection of military artifacts. Larry Carlton is an award-winning guitarist and singer. A longtime studio musician, Carlton recorded on more than 100 gold albums from some of the biggest artists in pop and rock. His distinctive ascent on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemange” has been recognized

Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota

Minnesota’s Minnehaha Park is such a beautiful and relaxing setting, you’d never guess it was right in the middle of one of the United States’ largest metropolitan areas, unless you spotted the cars passing behind the treeline. Nestled in the southern metro area of the Twin Cities, Minnehaha Falls gets its name from the Dakota words for, simply, “waterfall.” The urban park surrounding the 53-foot waterfall attracts over 850,000 visitors a year. Alexander Zonjic has performed on stages around the world as a solo performer, with his own group, and as part of jazz great Bob James’ band. An accomplished jazz flutist, Zonjic has performed worldwide and at major classical and jazz festivals throughout North America,

Shanghai, China (Riverfront at Day)

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Old and new come together along Shanghai’s Huangpu Riverfront. The Bund, a historic district with a limit on building heights, sits opposite the Pudong district, full of towering skyscrapers and commercial development. These skyscrapers are symbolic of Shanghai’s modern economic prosperity as the commerce capital of mainland China. Visitors and residents fatigued by the city’s booming activities can find relaxation in city parks such as the Lujiazui Central Green, featured in this video. Bob James is recognized for his role in establishing smooth jazz music. His influence on the genre is unmatched and extends into hip-hop, where his work is often sampled. A keyboardist, James may be best known for “Angela,” the theme from the TV

Dana Point, California

Dana Point is a California city known for its miles of beaches. A relatively new city, it was first settled in the early 1900s and not incorporated as its own city within Orange County until 1989. Dana Point is named after Richard Henry Dana, Jr., a seaman who took note of the area while sailing on the merchant ship Pilgrim in 1840. Today, a replica of Pilgrim can be seen at the Ocean Institute at the west end of the harbor. Sixty miles south of Los Angeles, Dana Point is a perfect place to relax by the seaside, but it is also known as a great surfing destination away from the crowds found at more famous

Las Vegas Strip

Known today as one of the world’s major resort and gambling cities, Las Vegas has long specialized in offering adult entertainment. For much of Vegas’s early history as a railroad boomtown, gambling (and alcohol, under Prohibition) was illegal in the State of Nevada. That was only a minor setback, however: gaming was still active on a small scale in the city’s many speakeasies. Recognizing opportunity in the influx of workers arriving to construct the Hoover Dam, Nevada legalized gambling and Las Vegas’ most famous industry took off. In only a few decades, Vegas had eclipsed the West’s other resort towns (like Galveston, Texas) and become known for its casinos, restaurants, and live entertainment. Today, Las Vegas

Zion National Park

Zion National Park, the largest of Utah’s five national parks, was once largely covered with a shallow sea. Sediments from this sea cemented into limestone, mudstones, and sandstones that can now be seen everywhere in what is now a desert environment. Millions of years of uplifting have raised huge blocks of land far above sea level, resulting in the stunning cliffs that have become a signature of the park. The scenic landscape is also home to other unique landforms such as natural freestanding arches. In some spots, opaque rivers full of sediment cut through the rock, providing stunning venues for wading along the park’s many hiking paths. Tim Bowman is a jazz guitarist who pulls from

Santa Fe Desert

Santa Fe is a busy historical and cultural center, as well the center of New Mexico’s state government. A tourist-friendly city with a progressive attitude, Santa Fe embraces modernity. However, just outside the city, a timeless desert landscape reminds visitors of a simpler time. This eScapes video features a vast expanse of empty New Mexico land, dotted with occasional plateaus, bushes, and ruins of ancient dwellings. Places like this are perfect relaxing getaways for those weary of the urban lifestyle. Jim Brickman is a songwriter and solo pianist. One of the most commercially successful adult contemporary artists, Brickman has six Gold or Platinum albums and multiple prestigious awards and nominations. His romantic pop-inspired piano sound is