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

Madison, Wisconsin

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

Las Vegas Strip

Known today as one of the world’s major resort and gambling cities, Las Vegas has long specialized in offering adult entertainment. For much of Vegas’s early history as a railroad boomtown, gambling (and alcohol, under Prohibition) was illegal in the State of Nevada. That was only a minor setback, however: gaming was still active on a small scale in the city’s many speakeasies. Recognizing opportunity in the influx of workers arriving to construct the Hoover Dam, Nevada legalized gambling and Las Vegas’ most famous industry took off. In only a few decades, Vegas had eclipsed the West’s other resort towns (like Galveston, Texas) and become known for its casinos, restaurants, and live entertainment. Today, Las Vegas

St. Anthony Falls, Minneapolis

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

Louisville, Kentucky

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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

Denver, Colorado

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

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

San Diego, California

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

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tusla– Oklahoma’s second-largest city– has long been a hub on the oil industry, but is now transitioning to a service-based economy with an emphasis on culture. This eScapes tour of Tulsa begins with a relaxing view of the clouds drifting over the University of Tulsa’s Bayless Plaza. Bayless Plaza, a landscaped gathering place in the middle of the university campus, houses the historic Kendall Bell, traditionally rung by graduating students at the completion of their final exams. Gota (full name Gota Yashiki) is a jazz and pop percussionist, vocalist, and producer. Before his solo debut, he worked with artists including Seal and Sinead O’Connor. Today, Gota still collaborates with other artists often, but is an accomplished

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