Even though Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio has no shortage of natural beauty, it’s no wonder why Brandywine Falls remains one of its most popular sights. This 60-foot waterfall is not only beautiful, but educational for budding geologists who take the time to look at the thin layers of rock that create the falls’ “bridal veil” cascade. Located on the eastern edge of the national park, Brandywine Falls is surrounded by evergreens, maple trees, and hemlocks. Visitors to the park can look at the falls from various angles with the help of walkways and a pedestrian boardwalk. Jim Brickman is a songwriter and solo pianist. One of the most commercially successful adult contemporary artists, Brickman

Mt. Adams & Trout Lake, Washington

Even in a state full of beautiful scenery, the Cascade Mountains stand out. This eScapes video brings you a relaxing view of southern Washington’s Mount Adams from the edge of the tranquil Trout Lake, about 13 miles south of the summit. This untouched landscape is a perfect place to relax and take in the view. Just don’t sit for too long– Mount Adams is a dormant volcano and could erupt sometime in the next few thousand years. Gregg Karukas is a contemporary jazz keyboardist. After launching his solo career in the 1980s, Karukas formed a band that featured Dave Koz and Boney James, and became the original keyboardist for the Rippingtons. Now a genre favorite, Karukas

Isaac Ludwig Mill, Ohio

From 1868 to 1970, the historic Isaac Ludwig Mill at the Maumee River and Erie Canal near Toledo, Ohio, was an operational saw and grist mill, powered exclusively by water turbines (although a backup steam engine added in 1900 provided power during flood conditions). Today, the mill has been restored to its original condition and is a prominent attraction inside the Providence Metropark. Visitors can see demonstrations of the mill’s equipment, buy mill-ground flour and cornmeal, and see the mill’s powerful saw. Doc Powell is a Grammy-nominated guitarist who has built a legacy as a musical chameleon. His signature guitar sound has been featured in over 140 recordings by some of the premier stars in pop,

Colorado Springs

Visitors to Colorado Springs, near the foot of Pike’s Peak, would not be surprised to learn that this area originally inspired America, The Beautiful. Beauty is not in short supply in this amazing natural setting, where millions of years of prehistoric lake sediment and alpine glaciers have carved the landscape into a beautiful series of hills, mountains, and lakes, punctuated by impressive mountains. This landscape lends itself to skiing, hiking, and biking. The tradition of outdoor recreation in Colorado Springs might be one of the reasons why it is the site of the United States’ Olympic Committee and Olympic Training Center. Fourplay is a jazz “supergroup” formed in 1990. Permanently featuring jazz keyboard legend Bob James,

Juneau, Alaska (Gastineau Channel)

Juneau, Alaska, might lack the density and skyscrapers of most state capitals, but it’s big in another way: the consolidated city-borough of Juneau covers more than 2700 square miles of land area. Much of this area is desolate: Juneau is the state capital with the smallest population per land area, making a perfect destination for those looking for peace and solitary relaxation. Juneau’s location on the Gastineau Channel and its lack of nearby roads make boating a popular way to get around. Plenty of marinas and ferries service residents and visitors, and the channel is a popular cruise ship destination, as demonstrated by the Royal Caribbean ships seen docked in this video. Chuck Loeb is a

Toledo Botanical Garden (Pioneer Garden)

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The Pioneer Garden in the Toledo Botanical Garden re-creates a historical setting with plots filled with heirloom vegetables and flowers, grown organically, as in pioneer days. However, the centerpiece of the garden isn’t a re-creation: it’s the actual log cabin of Peter Navarre, a famed army scout and settler of southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio. Navarre, born to French parents and familiar with Indian society from a young age, was instrumental to American efforts in the War of 1812 and was involved in the death of British-allied Indian chief Tecumseh. His cabin, which originally stood elsewhere on Toledo farm, was moved to the Botanical Garden in 1975. Each year, the Garden hosts a “Peter Navarre Day”

Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota

Minnesota’s Minnehaha Park is such a beautiful and relaxing setting, you’d never guess it was right in the middle of one of the United States’ largest metropolitan areas, unless you spotted the cars passing behind the treeline. Nestled in the southern metro area of the Twin Cities, Minnehaha Falls gets its name from the Dakota words for, simply, “waterfall.” The urban park surrounding the 53-foot waterfall attracts over 850,000 visitors a year. Alexander Zonjic has performed on stages around the world as a solo performer, with his own group, and as part of jazz great Bob James’ band. An accomplished jazz flutist, Zonjic has performed worldwide and at major classical and jazz festivals throughout North America,

Sterling State Park, Michigan

Michigan’s only state park on Lake Erie, Sterling State Park in Monroe, offers lakefront fun including camping, swimming, fishing, and boating. Other attractions include hiking and bicycle trails through the nearby woods and wetlands. This eScapes video features a peaceful sunrise over the lake: a scene usually reserved for lakefront campers and those who make it to the park before the crowds arrive. 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 jazz guitar acts. Currently living in Spain, Antoine frequently tours with other

Lake Tahoe

Sitting on the border of California and Nevada, the two-million-year-old Lake Tahoe has been recognized for its beauty since before the country’s westward expansion. Early pioneers, like the Indians at the site before them, were impressed by the calming lake and within a few decades, the site had become a favorite vacation destination for wealthy western families. Today, the shores of Lake Tahoe host a large resort culture of hotels, casinos, and ski lodges. These attractions are kept just far enough from the lake as to not damage the pristine beauty of the lake, which attracts countless boaters each year. Those who haven’t seen Lake Tahoe in person yet better hurry– the lake will be completely

Feather River Canyon

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