1810, 2012

Pia Glacier, Tierra del Fuego

Scenic Earth
625

The Patagonia region of South America (between southern Chile and Argentina) is known for its breathtaking natural scenery, but the alien landscape around the the Pia Glacier might be some of its best. As this river of ice carves its way down its rocky mountain, it spawns an assortment of waterfalls and icebergs in the channel below. Boulders of ice are scattered across the terrain, and lucky visitors may even see the glacier calving– when large pieces break off and crash into the water. This is one of the many glaciers along the Beagle Channel’s “Avenue of Glaciers.” The surrounding area is extremely desolate but a popular destination for cruise ships and adventure excursions. Boney James

0309, 2012

Gstaad, Switzerland

Scenic Earth, World Cities & Harbors
679

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 One look at the Swiss town of Gstaad leaves no question why the area is known for its many ski resorts. Though the town itself is small and only lightly populated, the surrounding mountains provide plenty of dramatic views, dozens of hiking trails, and clean white slopes for the area’s most famous pastime. In addition to skiing, Gstaad is also known as a relaxing getaway for the rich and famous. Countless celebrities have lived or kept homes in the hills around the village, and plenty of expensive boutiques cater

3008, 2012

Chester, England

World Cities & Harbors
718

Founded as a Roman fort in the first century, Chester, England now blends its historic atmosphere with modern attractions and luxuries. Nicknamed “the walled city” for the two miles of stone walls around it, Chester has made a conscious effort to preserve its heritage. History is reflected around every turn: in medieval buildings and cathedrals and in street names like “Eastgate” and “Foregate” that hark back to the city’s origins. A relatively recent addition to the city is the Eastgate Clock, built in 1899 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The second-most photographed clock in the United Kingdom (after Big Ben), the clock is a tourist attraction and a worthy complement to the Victorian-era timber-frame buildings

1308, 2012

Marblehead Lighthouse

Lighthouses
682

Ohio’s Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie is the oldest and one of the most popular lighthouses on the Great Lakes. This lighthouse has been in continuous operation since 1822, and, like many, has undergone several transformations in its history. Visitors to the original lighthouse would have seen a rougher limestone tower, ten feet shorter, and a clear fresnel lens lit with a whale oil lantern. Today, a green lens sets the tower’s electric light apart from nearby air beacons. Now completely automated with modern technology, the light is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard and open to the public. Nearby, sightseers can also visit the stone home of the original lighthouse keeper, Benejah Wolcott, a Revolutionary

1505, 2012

Karukinka Natural Park, Chile

Scenic Earth
556

On the Chilean part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago lies the Karukinka Natural Park, offering more than 700,000 acres of untouched wilderness. The park’s private ownership and relative inaccessibility, along with proactive conservation efforts, have kept this area a pristine and therapeutic getaway for nature enthusiasts. The careful stewardship of this land is especially noteworthy given its history. When an American company bought the land in the 1990s, it was for logging purposes. After those plans were spoiled by environmental group opposition, the land was bundled with other assets and sold to investment giant Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs eventually donated the land to the Wildlife Conservation Society, a New York-based nonprofit. This eScapes video shows

0304, 2012

Alpena on St. Marys River

Shipwatching
461

The Great Lakes freighter Alpena was launched as the Leon Fraser in 1942, carrying iron ore across the Great Lakes. In 1989, the ship was converted to a self-unloading cement carrier and shortly afterward was renamed the Alpena, after the hometown of its fleet, Inland Lakes Transportation. In this eScapes video, the 519-foot Alpena moves downbound the St. Marys River near Sault Ste. Marie. The waterfront buildings and distant wind turbines of Ontario can be seen in the background. Peter White is an English smooth jazz guitarist who played with several artists, including a 20-year span as accompanist and writer for Al Stewart, before launching a solo career in 1990. With several Top 10 jazz albums

0601, 2012

Little Sable Point Lighthouse

Lighthouses
594

Little Sable Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan was first lit in 1874 and is one of Michigan’s most picturesque lighthouses. Not only is the lighthouse itself striking with its natural brick exterior, but the surrounding natural setting is beautiful as well, featuring sand dunes, a pristine beach, and a forest. The tower’s brick complements the landscape well, but it has only been exposed for part of the light’s career. From 1900 to 1977, the tower was painted white to make it more visible to mariners. Little Sable Point Lighthouse is now on the ground of Silver Lake State Park, and despite its secluded location, is a popular destination for beachgoers during the summer months. John Tesh

3110, 2011

Colca Canyon, Peru

Scenic Earth
504

Peru’s Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, is home to extraordinary geological and biological diversity. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Colca area is home to a desert landscape, rolling hills, stepped gardens, steep cliffs, and the Colca River. Cacti and aloe plants thrive on the landscape. Birdwatchers are drawn to the canyon for the Andean condor, one of the world’s largest birds, drawn to the currents of warm air rising from the canyon. Dave Koz is a smooth jazz saxophonist who has released over a dozen albums in his 20-year solo career. He is also a radio host on the Smooth Jazz Radio Network and of the syndicated Dave

2109, 2011

Point Vicente Lighthouse

Lighthouses
513

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

0209, 2011

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee has been a Great Lakes port since 1835, and its port has been important through the city’s long history as an industrial powerhouse. Over the past decade, Milwaukee has created a more postindustrial economy, but the Port of Milwaukee is still an important transport center for the city and the entire western Great Lakes region, including Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The waters around the port are important to recreation and the city’s developing tourism industry. The Milwaukee Boat Line’s Iroquois, seen in this video, is the oldest passenger vessel still operating on the Great Lakes, and offers a variety of entertainment excursions. Walter Beasley is a contemporary jazz saxophonist and a full professor at Boston’s