1203, 2012

San Antonio, Texas

American Cities
452

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 San Antonio is the most-visited city in Texas, and there are plenty of reasons why. Not only does the city boast a wide variety of restaurants and shops, award-winning golf courses, spas, theme parks, and museums, but it has the most famous tourist attraction in the state: The Alamo. A key location in the Texas Revolution, the Alamo now stands as a historical monument and museum. Nearby, the San Antonio River Walk, the city’s second-most-popular attraction, offers natural and architectural beauty. Visitors can walk beside the river for miles,

2010, 2011

Avenue of the Giants, California

Scenic Earth
400

The Avenue of the Giants– US Highway 101 in Humboldt County, California– runs for 31 miles through one of the most scenic landscapes in the country. Along the way, the road cuts through Humboldt Redwoods State Park, home to over 17,000 acres of old-growth coast redwood trees. These redwoods spurred much of the early settlement in the area. Settlers in the second half of the 1800 found opportunity for logging in the forest, although it could take up to a week to fell one of the giant redwoods. Much of the redwoods were eventually cut down before conservation movements were born in the early 20th century. Fortunately, preserving the forest created even more economic opportunity through

0110, 2011

Juneau, Alaska (Gastineau Channel)

Scenic Earth
363

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

2209, 2011

San Francisco (Golden Gate Bridge)

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

1009, 2011

Zion National Park

Scenic Earth
420

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

2207, 2011

Puno, Peru (Floating Islands)

Scenic Earth, World Cities & Harbors
358

The Puno region of Lake Titicaca in Peru has been home to the Uros people since before the Inca empire. The Uros people are known for their unique floating islands. For hundreds of years, this culture has made its home on artificial islands made from interwoven reeds from the lake. Traditionally an isolated hunting and fishing society, the Uros have in modern times expanded to the mainland, and have found new sources of income in the tourism focused around their islands. Peter White is an English smooth jazz guitarist who played with several artists, including a 20-year span as accompanist and writer for Al Stewart, before launching a solo career in 1990. With several Top 10

1607, 2011

New York City Harbor

The one-of-a-kind atmosphere of New York City is evident in the skyline of Lower Manhattan as seen from the mouth of the East River. Just as iconic as the skyscrapers are the spaces between them: the famous New York City grid layout provides clear lines of sight for miles down the long streets parallel to the Hudson River. A short ferry ride from Battery Park (visible at the beginning of this eScapes video) is the Statue of Liberty. The most enduring symbol of New York City, as well as the entire United States, the popularity of the statue is rivaled only by the iconic Empire State Building, which was the tallest building in the world from

1307, 2011

Portland, Oregon River Ride

American Cities
353

The 187-mile-long Willamette River runs through downtown Portland, Oregon, where it is spanned by eleven bridges. Many of these bridges hold world records or set records when constructed. The Steel Bridge, featured in this scene, is the second-oldest vertical-lift bridge in the world– second only to the Hawthorne Bridge a little farther downriver. In this video, eScapes takes you on a late-afternoon ride down the river from the Broadway Bridge past the double-lift Steel Bridge. Sitting in the channel are the Korean freighter Eastern Queen and the Italian Michele Bottiglieri, reminders of Portland’s role as an aptly-named port city. Euge Groove is a smooth jazz saxophonist who has lent his talent to recordings and tours from

0107, 2011

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Scenic Earth
334

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