1110, 2012

Ambassador Bridge (Detroit, Michigan)

World Cities & Harbors
710

American truck drivers taking cargo “south of the border” would likely be on the way to Mexico. But from Detroit, Michigan, they could also head to Canada across the Ambassador Bridge, which carries more than 25 percent of all trade between the United States and its northern neighbor. Thanks to a dog leg in the Detroit River, this is the only border crossing at which Canada lies to the south of the U.S. In this sample video, a parade of trucks crosses the bridge in both directions as the sun sets in the west. Silhouetted in the foreground is the Detroit Princess riverboat, which offers dinner and pleasure cruises along the river for public and private

0410, 2012

Wat Arun at Sunset

Thailand holds tens of thousands of Buddhist temples, but none as famous as Wat Arun, the beautiful “temple of the dawn” in the capital city of Bangkok. The exact age of Wat Arun is unknown, but it dates back at least to the 1600s, during the era of the country’s Ayutthaya Kingdom. The iconic spires– or prongs— were not added until the reign of King Rama II in the nineteenth century. The tallest spire is a symbol for Mount Meru, the center of the Buddhist universe. It stands over 260 feet tall. Visitors to the temple can climb the central prong via a series of steep steps, for a beautiful view of surrounding Bangkok. This eScapes

2902, 2012

Key West, Florida (Ocean Sunset)

Tropical Beaches
623

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 Perhaps best known for its location at the southernmost point of the continental United States, Key West, Florida is a destination for anyone seeking a tropical climate, interesting people, and a rich history. Just 90 miles north of Cuba, Key West is a cultural melting pot that has inspired great works from Ernest Hemingway, Tennesee Williams, and more recently, Jimmy Buffett. This eScapes video takes you to the beach for a gorgeous sunset over the sea. Even as night falls, passing boats bring the water to life and swarms

2402, 2012

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse (Sunset)

Lighthouses
572

Watch full HD version of this single song sample episode on the eScapes’ Xumo LifeStyle Channel #452 The Point Cabrillo Light Station, located in Mendocino County, California, is a California State Historic Park. The lighthouse indeed has a long and interesting history. First lit in 1909, it was a guide for a record number of ships carrying lumber to rebuild San Francisco after its 1906 earthquake. It later adopted new technology when it became a monitoring station for the now-defunct LORAN electronic navigation system. Since its construction, the lighthouse has been maintained by a variety of owners and keepers, and is now owned by California State Parks and managed by the Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association. The

1901, 2012

South Haven Lighthouse

Lighthouses
559

South Haven, Michigan is known for its harbor on Lake Michigan, and its harbor is known for its South Pierhead Lighthouse. Since 1903, this lighthouse has stood on the lakeshore, but not always with its distinctive appearance. The lighthouse was originally painted white, and had a wooden walkway instead of the black metal catwalk of today. Before 1903, a completely different wooden lighthouse stood in its place. The elevated walkway allows access to the lighthouse in severe weather. As this eScapes video demonstrates, rough conditions at the light can be dangerous, but also amazingly beautiful. Strong winds off Lake Michigan create a spectacular show of waves crashing onto the pier, sometimes even riding above the 35-foot

2309, 2011

Charlotte Amalie Cruise Harbor

Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, is known for its many historical attractions and also for being the busiest cruise port of call in the islands. Millions of cruise passengers arrive at this port every year from various lines including Celebrity and Disney. In this eScapes video, a Celebrity Cruise ship heads out of the port city as a relaxing sunset provides a brilliant backdrop. 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 albums– five of them reaching No. 1 on the jazz charts. Klugh is a favorite of

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

0109, 2011

San Diego, California

American Cities
496

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

3008, 2011

Villa Beach, Peru

Tropical Beaches
433

Peru has more than 1,200 miles of coastline and 254 officially recognized beaches. Though some the beaches south of Lima are polluted, the situation has improved in recent years and many of the beaches are still excellent and relaxing places to take in a beautiful sunset, like the one featured in this video. This beach, Villa, has some of the strongest waves on the Peru coast. Boney James is a saxophonist who, despite his resistance to being labeled as strictly a jazz artist, was named the “No. 3 Top Contemporary Jazz Artist of the Decade” by Billboard Magazine in 2010. Influenced by many genres including R&B, James is a three-time Grammy-nominee who has sold more than

2208, 2011

St. Louis (Gateway Arch at Dusk)

American Cities
479

The Gateway Arch is instantly recognizable, as is the St. Louis skyline that bears it. This 630-foot monument, standing inside the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, celebrates the United States’ westward expansion and the role St. Louis played in it. Nearby, on the Mississippi River, steamboats and ships pass by to their own relaxing beat, as they have since the first days of westward expansion. Grady Nichols is a smooth jazz saxophonist who is quickly rising in the genre. With four released albums and collaborations with legends including Jeff Lorber and Paul Brown, Nichols is becoming a presence on the smooth jazz charts and a popular opening act and sideman for legends including Bob James, David Benoit,