1809, 2011

Madison, Wisconsin

American Cities
497

This relaxing view of Madison, Wisconsin could easily be mistaken for a view across an inlet of Lake Michigan– except Madison lies in the middle of the state, removed from the Great Lakes. Still, Wisconsin’s capital has great lakes of its own: the “Four Lakes” of Mendota, Menona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa surround the city. Looking at the downtown skyline, the Wisconsin State Capitol is impossible to miss. This is no accident; a local law prohibits any buildings within a mile to be taller than the capitol dome’s pillars. Although low, the downtown skyline remains dense with government buildings, the University of Wisconsin, and more. Joyce Cooling is a contemporary jazz guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She has

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

1409, 2011

Peche Island Rear Range Light

Lighthouses
518

Visitors to Peche Island Rear Range Light wouldn’t be blamed for assuming it was called the “Marine City Lighthouse.” After all, it is in Marine City, Michigan and decidedly not on an island. The words “Marine City” are even painted on the white steel tower. In fact, Marine City is only the second home of this historic lighthouse. In 1908, the light was first lit on Canada’s Peche Island at the head of the Detroit River at Lake St. Clair. It marked the river entrance until 1982, when it was decommissioned and replaced. Set to be destroyed, the citizens of Marine City, 34 miles to the northeast, decided to save the lighthouse and arrange its transportation

1309, 2011

Cathedral of Arequipa, Peru

World Cities & Harbors
441

The Cathedral of Arequipa, Peru illustrates the natural setting of Peru along the world’s “Ring of Fire,” the belt around the Pacific Ocean known for its high frequency of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Peru, affected by the Nazca Plate under the Pacific Ocean subjecting beneath the South American plate, lies in an active volcanic zone and experiences frequent earthquakes. This beautiful cathedral was first built in 1540, from sillar, a white volcanic rock common in the area. However, in 1583, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake. The cathedral was rebuilt by 1600 only to be completely destroyed by 1604 by both an earthquake and a volcanic eruption. Since its second rebuilding in 1656, the church

1209, 2011

St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis

American Cities
453

One of the only waterfalls on the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls offers more than a scenic outlook and relaxing ambience. The entire city of Minneapolis was built around the power of the falls, both literally and figuratively. Early entrepreneurs used the falls to power saw and flour mills, which attracted more settlers and led to the creation of the city. At the turn of the century, Minneapolis led the United States in flour production. By the mid-20th century, however, the flour boom was over and Minneapolis’ position had been lost as new power sources and transportation methods developed and Western crops suffered. Today, a hydroelectric plant still draws power from the falls, but the mills

1009, 2011

Zion National Park

Scenic Earth
521

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

0909, 2011

Louisville, Kentucky

American Cities
421

Downtown Louisville is filled with beautiful architecture and even when it’s not beautiful, it’s distinctive: like the giant baseball bat attached to the Louisville Slugger Museum. This eScapes scene takes you on a relaxing tour of downtown Louisville’s civic buildings, including City Hall (which houses the Metro Council) and Louisville Metro Hall (which houses the Metro Mayor). Outside the Metro Hall, the former Jefferson County Courthouse, stands a 1901 statue of Thomas Jefferson. A more recent, white statue of King Louis XVI stands on the nearby corner– a reminder of Louisville’s namesake. The Rippingtons is a Grammy-nominated American contemporary jazz band. Since its formation in 1985, the band has hosted many well-known musicians that have launched

0609, 2011

Denver, Colorado

American Cities
482

Denver, Colorado originated as a mining settlement in the mid-1800s. Since its location was determined by gold prospects, it is one of the few cities in history to be founded away from existing transportation routes or bodies of water. Today, Denver is a thriving commercial center with numerous industries and a wealth of tourism attractions. The 16th Street Mall, shown at the beginning of this eScapes video, is a mile-long pedestrian center filled with over 500 shops, restaurants, and bars. It opened in 1982 and was designed by famous modern architect I.M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre’s glass pyramid, the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The

0409, 2011

Point Aux Barques Lighthouse

Lighthouses
436

Built in 1847 to warn ships of a dangerous reef, Point Aux Barques Lighthouse in Port Hope, Michigan originally stood for only nine years before being razed and rebuilt. The original construction had used inferior materials that could not withstand the stress of severe weather. The new tower and keeper’s dwelling that stands today was finished in 1857. Its third-order fresnel lens, with an electric light since 1932, still serves Lake Huron ships. Fully automated since the 1950s, the lighthouse is now part of a park and museum. Chuck Loeb is a guitarist, composer, and producer. Known for his smooth jazz recordings, he is a versatile artist who has explored various other musical styles including classical