2708, 2012

Dallas, Texas

American Cities
517

Founded in 1841, Dallas, Texas has a tradition of entrepreneurs and big business. The first western settler, John Neely Bryan, chose the Dallas area as a spot for a trading post, selling to American Indians and other settlers. Later, farming, ranching, and oil industries swelled the town’s population through the early part of the 20th century. Today, Dallas is a business capital with an emphasis on banking, communications, technology, health care, and logistics. Two of the world’s most profitable companies, AT&T and Exxon Mobil, are headquartered in the city. This eScapes scene features a look at the Dallas skyline and views from downtown’s Dealey Plaza. Though best known for its notorious connection to the 1963 assassination

1608, 2012

Miami, Florida

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 A tropical metropolis set beside the Atlantic Ocean, Miami is a destination for anyone looking for sunshine, entertainment, and culture. A quickly growing city with one of the most impressive skylines in the United States, Miami’s location has been instrumental to its success. With an ocean on one side of the city, and rich natural spaces on the other, Florida offers residents and visitors the best of urban and natural wonder. Miami is also home to great cultural diversity, particularly from Latin American immigrants. The mix of cultures in

2607, 2012

Dubai (Skyscrapers & Skyline)

World Cities & Harbors
617

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ XUMO Lifestyle Channel # 452 Rich from oil, shipping, and banking revenues, the city of Dubai has entered the 21st century as a Middle Eastern boomtown. Tourism and real estate development are now major sectors of Dubai’s economy. Although development has slowed in the wake of the global financial crisis, at one time the city was estimated to have up to a quarter of the entire world’s construction cranes. Dubai is now a vertical metropolis filled with impressive modern skyscrapers, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which opened in 2010. The ubiquity

0607, 2012

Bangkok, Thailand (Chao Phraya River)

World Cities & Harbors
572

Like most great cities, Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, is situated on a great river: the Chao Phraya, which runs 231 miles from the center of the country into the Gulf of Thailand. On a typical afternoon, the waters of the Chao Phraya are bustling with boat traffic. Ferries, river buses, and traditional longtail water taxis connect the two sides of Bangkok while freight barges move cargo up and down the river. The banks of the Chao Phraya are home to relatively sparse but impressive skyscrapers. Prominently featured in this eScapes video are the three towers of the Chatrium Riverside hotel and residence, where a 1248-square-foot condominium sells for about $300,000. The towers are part of a recent

2203, 2012

Dixboro, Michigan

American Cities
514

While Dixboro, Michigan might not be a city on the list of great American tourist destinations, its small town charm, scenic beauty, and nostalgic atmosphere make it enchanting to any visitor who happens to pass through. Sprouting from the lone vision and finances of Boston ship captain John Dix, the proper Village of Dixboro consists of only a handful of acres on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. In the 1820s, Dix built the area’s first barn and established a saw and grist mill in his new settlement. When the incoming railroad bypassed Dixboro in favor of nearby Ypsilanti, however, the growth of Dixboro slowed and John Dix left for Texas. Now a quaint community known for

1203, 2012

San Antonio, Texas

American Cities
572

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 San Antonio is the most-visited city in Texas, and there are plenty of reasons why. Not only does the city boast a wide variety of restaurants and shops, award-winning golf courses, spas, theme parks, and museums, but it has the most famous tourist attraction in the state: The Alamo. A key location in the Texas Revolution, the Alamo now stands as a historical monument and museum. Nearby, the San Antonio River Walk, the city’s second-most-popular attraction, offers natural and architectural beauty. Visitors can walk beside the river for miles,

0703, 2012

Los Angeles, California

Full version of the single song episodes featured here, in our Media Library showcase, are available to watch free on the eScapes’ Xumo Lifestyle Channel # 452 Underneath the bustle of Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, is a strong creative pulse. Los Angeles has been the worldwide capital of film production since the early 1900s, and about one-sixth of the city’s 3.8 million people work in the arts. On any drive through the city, you are never too far from a concert hall, movie theater, or sound stage. Viewing the sprawling city and its impressive downtown skyline from afar, it’s hard to imagine the city’s humble beginnings as a missionary settlement in

1301, 2012

Las Vegas (Cityscape with Mountains)

American Cities
500

It may be Friday the 13th, but eScapes invites you to feel lucky anyway, with a virtual trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas originated as little more than a spot to switch trains on the journey west. Today, tourists from all over the world are drawn to the city for its bright lights, resorts, restaurants, and entertainment venues. This eScapes video offers a distant view of the city, including the Spring Mountains just beyond the city limits. While the modern cityscape, completely divorced from its past, is the reason why Las Vegas is popular today, the rugged mountains and surrounding desert are reminders of why the city became popular in the first place. Nick Colionne

1910, 2011

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

American Cities
552

The Great Plains might not be known for large cities, but Oklahoma City is an exception. The 31st largest city in the country, Oklahoma City stands out in the center of the United States, equidistant from New York and Los Angeles. One third of Oklahoma’s entire population resides in the Oklahoma City metro area. This eScapes video tour of Oklahoma City includes relaxing views of downtown’s impressive architecture, including the striking glass facade of Leadership Square and the state capitol. One of the most famous sights in the city is the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The site of 1995’s tragic federal building bombing has been transformed into a beautiful landscaped park. A reflecting pool, less than

1210, 2011

St. Louis, Missouri Gardens

American Cities
515

Dozens of parks are hidden in the cityscape of St. Louis, Missouri. The most famous might be the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, the home of the Gateway Arch that also includes acres of landscaped grounds and two large ponds. However, the city also holds the Missouri Botanical Garden, the nation’s oldest continuously-operated botanical garden. Some views of the Missouri Botanical Garden featured in this video include the the park’s Victorian District and the domed Climatron, a tropical greenhouse that spans 24,000 square feet with no interior structural support. Earl Klugh is contemporary jazz guitarist originally from Detroit, Michigan. Since his first album in 1976, Klugh has received twelve career Grammy nominations and produced more than twenty