2209, 2011

San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge)

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is instantly recognizable and a symbol of the entire city. Almost as famous (and seen in the foreground of this video) is the frequent ocean fog that blankets the city and the bridge. San Francisco Bay’s fog is one of the reasons for the bright red/orange color of the bridge, formally called “International Orange.” The distinctive color is more apparent to passing boats and ships and also complements the surrounding landscape. The bridge and other San Francisco landmarks can be seen from Pier 39, a popular destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The 300-berth Pier 39 Marina serves boaters of all kinds, and offers relaxing boat tours of the bay. Nestor

2109, 2011

Point Vicente Lighthouse

Lighthouses
494

Standing tall over California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula, Point Vicente Lighthouse has been in continuous operation since 1926, although it was reduced to a mere 25 watts during World War II. Today, like most currently active lighthouses, the Point Vicente Light has been modernized with electronic equipment. Also like many lighthouses, it is rumored to be haunted! A small museum sits on the grounds and it and the tower are opened to visitors once a month. Marc Antoine is contemporary jazz guitarist. Though gifted from a young age, his playing was threatened by a serious accident to his left hand while he was a teenager. Despite a grim prognosis, Antoine recovered to become one of today’s leading

2009, 2011

Lake Tahoe

Scenic Earth
520

Sitting on the border of California and Nevada, the two-million-year-old Lake Tahoe has been recognized for its beauty since before the country’s westward expansion. Early pioneers, like the Indians at the site before them, were impressed by the calming lake and within a few decades, the site had become a favorite vacation destination for wealthy western families. Today, the shores of Lake Tahoe host a large resort culture of hotels, casinos, and ski lodges. These attractions are kept just far enough from the lake as to not damage the pristine beauty of the lake, which attracts countless boaters each year. Those who haven’t seen Lake Tahoe in person yet better hurry– the lake will be completely

1909, 2011

Port of Los Angeles

Shipwatching, World Cities & Harbors
533

The port of Los Angeles began as a small port used by Spanish traders. Over the centuries, it has developed into what is now the largest shipping port in the United States. This eScapes video features an APL shipping vessel making its way out to sea, loaded with containers. Freighters like this are a common sight in the port, but it also serves recreational boaters and is one of the largest cruise ship ports in the country, providing homeport to Carnival, Disney, Princess, and Norwegian cruise lines. Andy Snitzer is a jazz saxophonist who has toured with many popular artists including the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon. Also an accomplished producer, his solo work blends a

1709, 2011

Dana Point, California

Tropical Beaches
437

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

1609, 2011

Feather River Canyon

Scenic Earth
514

The Feather River Canyon is a popular scenic driving route in Plumas County, California. A few sights along this route are particularly famous. One of them, featured in this video, is the intersection of the Tobin bridges over the Feather River. The upper bridge carries trains over the lower bridge, which carries automobile traffic. This location can be especially breathtaking as trains pass through the canyon. Even when they don’t, the interaction of this evergreen landscape, rushing river, and criss-crossing bridges can be a beautiful and relaxing scene in itself, as evidenced by this video. Brian Hughes is a contemporary jazz guitarist. He has released several albums since the 1990s and been a frequent accompanist and

0109, 2011

San Diego, California

American Cities
497

San Diego, California has a close relationship to the Pacific Ocean it sits on. A popular destination for boating, surfing, and fishing, San Diego also houses the U.S. Navy’s largest base on the West Coast. This eScapes scene begins with a view of a modern fish bones sculpture adorning Embarcadero Marina Park. Seaport Village, an open-air commercial mall on the seaside, can be seen in the background. This sample video ends with a reverse view of the San Diego skyline from Coronado Island, just across San Diego Bay from downtown. Most of the city’s skyscrapers are close to the same height– due to the proximity of San Diego International Airport, they’re limited to 500 feet– but

2808, 2011

Los Angeles City Hall

In a city where skyscrapers are taken for granted, Los Angeles City Hall still manages to turn heads. This seat of L.A. city government was the city’s tallest building for forty years, as new constructions were limited by building codes and earthquake stress concerns. In 1968, City Hall finally lost its title, and is now only the 28th tallest building in Los Angeles. Still, the dated art deco architecture of the building makes it prominent in a field of generic steel-and-glass towers. At night, the white masonry of the building makes it stand out even more against a dark sky. Also illuminated and the featured in this video is the Court of Historic American Flags, lining

1708, 2011

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Lighthouses
460

Point Loma Lighthouse, first lit in 1855, was built at the top of a 422-foot hill overlooking San Diego Bay. The height of the light was supposed to make it a clearly visible signal, but it was actually too high. The light would often be shrouded in heavy fog cover and low clouds. Without a fog signal, the lighthouse keeper sometimes resorted to firing a shotgun to warn mariners of the rocky coast. Regardless, the lighthouse ran for 36 years, doing its job well when weather permitted. The lighthouse was replaced in 1891 by a new Point Loma Lighthouse a few hundred yards down the hill from the original. The Old Point Loma Light still stands

0408, 2011

Klamath National Forest

Scenic Earth
442

The Klamath National Forest covers 1,700,000 acres of Northern California and the lower part of Oregon. The forest gets its name from the Klamath people– the indigenous tribe of Southern Oregon. It is densely populated with old-growth conifer trees. The national forest covers a fraction of the much larger Klamath-Siskiyou Region, the largest concentration of roadless wilderness on the West Coast. This region, largely unprotected outside of the national forests, is recognized for its great biodiversity and habitat variety. It is one of seven areas in North America considered an Area of Global Botanical Significance by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Rippingtons is a Grammy-nominated American contemporary jazz band. Since its formation in