3107, 2011

Blue Hen Falls

Scenic Earth
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The Cuyahoga River Valley has long been a destination for outdoor recreation and the appreciation of nature. Threatened by urban sprawl, the area became a national recreation area, and later Cuyahoga Valley National Park, to ensure its protection as wilderness. Blue Hen Falls is not the most dramatic waterfall in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. That honor belongs to the 60-foot Brandywine Falls, one of the park’s most visited attractions. However, the quiet Blue Hen Falls is a perfect out-of-the-way location for relaxation and meditation. Jim Brickman is a songwriter and solo pianist. One of the most commercially successful adult contemporary artists, Brickman has six Gold or Platinum albums and multiple prestigious awards and nominations. His romantic

2007, 2011

Oppenheimer Beach

Tropical Beaches
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This relaxing beach on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands gets its name from J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist and researcher best known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” In the 1950s, Oppenheimer and his wife purchased a house above this beach, which was then known as Hawksnest. In 1967, Oppenheimer died and his ashes were placed in the water off of the beach. Years later, the beach was willed to the people of St. John by Oppenheimer’s daughter, Toni. The government has since managed and developed the site and decided to name it after the Oppenheimer family. Acoustic Alchemy is a smooth jazz group from London. Originally a duo of acoustic guitarists,

1007, 2011

Samsø, Denmark

Scenic Earth
350

Samsø (pronounced sam-SOO) is a peaceful island in the middle of the country of Denmark. Largely agricultural, Samsø is known for its summer strawberry picking and early potato harvest. Much of the island is covered with wheat fields. Samsø is also noteworthy for its use of clean energy. After a government competition encouraged communities to switch to renewable energy, Samsø, which had traditionally relied on imported coal and gas, began producing more than 100% of its energy from renewable sources. The many wind turbines on the scenic landscape are monuments to the island’s change and progress. Acoustic Alchemy is a smooth jazz group from London. Originally a duo of acoustic guitarists, the band has expanded and

0907, 2011

Quebecois on St. Marys River

Shipwatching
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The Quebecois is one of the great steamship freighters of the Great Lakes. Built in 1963, this ship has carried countless loads to and from the United States and Canada. Shown in this video under the Upper Lakes Shipping fleet, the ship is now owned by the Algoma Central Corporation and was renamed Algoma Quebecois in early 2012. The St. Marys River channel connects Lake Superior with Lake Huron and is the site of the Soo Locks in the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario. The locks carry ships past the natural rapids of the St. Marys and were constructed in 1837. Ando Kal is an instrumental musician. “Ambrosia” is the first commercially

0107, 2011

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Scenic Earth
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There are few landscapes as dramatic as the American West, and few drives as stunning as Utah’s Scenic Byway 12. Passing through many of Utah’s natural wonders, the United States Government has designated Route 12 an “All-American Road” for its beautiful scenery and for being a “destination unto itself.” The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument covers 1.9 million acres. Millions of years of geologic stress have folded the Grand Staircase region into stunning cliffs and unique landforms. The geologic history evident in the these rock formations is the basis for Route 12’s nickname, “A Journey Through Time.” Halcyon Shore is a husband-and-wife musical duo that specializes in uplifting instrumental rock. “The premier cinematic concert experience,” Halcyon Shore’s