July / August 2009
Top Stories:
Paso Robles in Summer
The California Mid-State Fair, wineries, an olive oil fest, and an
old-fashioned downtown lure travelers.
San Francisco's Yerba Buena
A museum and garden district is home to the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, a vintage carousel, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and other cultural delights.
Member Benefits: July/August 2009
Highlights include car maintenance tips, the Statue of Liberty, a history of car rental, and two free AAA applications for your iPhone.
Endangered State Parks
The current situation of state parks in California and Oregon is a study in contrasts.
Best Bargains
Find summer deals in Disneyland, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Park City (Utah), and Vancouver, B.C.
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway
A 218-mile loop in Eastern Oregon delivers high desert and the Wallowa mountain range, plus rafting and jet boating on the Snake River.
Cabela's Outdoors Store
A retail temple for sports buffs has the usual gear, plus giant aquariums, stuffed animals, shooting ranges, and restaurants.
Oregon Vortex: Mystery Spot
Unexplained phenomenas at the Oregon Vortex near Gold Hill lure curious believers and skeptics.
Owens River Reborn
The restoration of the Owens River in the Eastern Sierra has been a boon to anglers, birders, boaters, hikers, and nature lovers.
California Academy of Sciences
The renovation of San Francisco's premier science museum includes a four-story rain forest, a living roof, a planetarium, and a coral reef.
Saving State Parks
Here's how you can help save endangered state parks.
Japanese Small Plate Dining
Izakays, food bars that serve small dishes, can be found in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hawaii, Oregon, and Las Vegas.
Italian Cuisine in San Francisco
Dine at eight restaurants, including La Ciccia and Farina, to experience the regional culinary delights of Italy.
Utah's Open Pit
Visit the largest excavation on earth, the Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine, southwest of Salt Lake City.
Anderson Valley Wine Pro
In a Q&A, Kristy Charles, the executive director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, talks about wineries, restaurants, and picnic spots in the valley.
Bigfoot Souvenir
In Felton, Calif., you can pick up a Sasquatch action figure with rubber stamp feet.
Stay Cool in the Car
VIA readers share their tips for being comfortable without turning on the air conditioner.
16 Favorite Thrift Stores
Save at thrift shops in California, Oregon, and Las Vegas.
Marine Mammal Center
Watch rescued sea lions and seals at this newly rebuilt research facility in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, Calif.
What's New in the West: July/August 2009
Find out about Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Honolulu's Bishop Museum, audio tours of California's Highway 395, and a new penguin habitat in Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.
President's Message: July/August 2009
Paula Downey discusses AAA's array of tips, tools, and programs to help teen drivers and their parents.
Weekenders:
Port Townsend, Wash.: Summer Getaway
An Olympic Peninsula town offers historic architecture and a long list
of festivals.
Seaside, Ore.
A sweeping beach, a boardwalk, and the Promenade draw summer vacationers to a coastal mecca.
Lombard Street
Here are four fun facts about San Francisco's crookedest street.
Portland's Hawthorne Neighborhood
Powell's Books, Pastaworks, the Bagdad Theater & Pub, and other hot spots line the main drag of this urban hub.
Sail to the Islands
Take a boat to two Western isles: Anacapa Island, Calif., in the Channel Islands, and Wizard Island, in Crater Lake.
Rent a Fire Lookout Tower
Book an overnight stay in a fire lookout through the National
Forest Service.
Boise's Linen District
A blue-collar neighborhood west of downtown Boise has become a
chic destination.
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