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January / February 2009
Top Stories:
Japanese Tourists in California
Writer Don George joined four different Japanese bus tours to view the Golden State through their eyes.
Winter Beachcombing
Pacific beaches from Alaska to California lure collectors in search of artifacts, junk, and treasures.
Whistler, B.C.: Pre-Olympic Fun
A skier hits the slopes of Whistler and Blackcomb peaks for winter thrills.
Happy Birthday Oregon
Best-selling novelist Katherine Dunn salutes Oregon on its 150th birthday, a state shaped by water and, also, by the lack of it.
Amazing Public Sculpture
Check out 17 extraordinary art works such as Isamu Noguchi's austere Black Sun in Seattle, Andy Goldsworthy's ephemeral Stone River in Stanford, Calif., and Keith Haring's joyful Three Dancing Figures in San Francisco.
Cody, Wyo.
A bona fide Western destination appeals to museum-goers with the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and ropes in cowboys, hikers, and anglers with its downtown shops.
Member Benefits: January 2009
Learn about AAA's new Premier membership offering, a GPS device, the Gas Price Finder, plus helpful home and driving tips.
Volcanic Destinations
See molten lava at Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, caves at Lava Beds National Monument in California, and lava tunnels at Ape Cave in Washington.
Art Restorer
Alejandro Reyes-Vizzuett talks about fixing more than 400 dilapidated works of art, including those at Heritage Park Museum in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Befriending Locals
VIA readers share ways to make friends when traveling.
What's New in the West: January 2009
Check out free Disney tickets, CultureBus tours of San Francisco art museums, Los Angeles's new Grammy Museum, a luggage locator gizmo, and more.
Dungeness Crab Season
From mid-November through summer, you can get fresh crab at diners and festivals in California and Oregon.
A Sacramento Boutique Hotel
The Citizen Hotel, newly transformed by hotelier Joie de Vivre, provides an elegant new place to stay in California's capital.
Sunscreen in Winter
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect against skin damage and cancer when snow fun calls.
Dessert First
Chefs in San Francisco, Portland, and Las Vegas are adding sweet things to main courses and savories to their desserts.
Portland's Velvet Museum
The Velveteria, an offbeat collection of hundreds of velvet paintings, includes works with clowns, John Wayne, and banditos.
Splitting the Tab
Miss Malsy offers sage advice on how to split the dinner tab fairly.
Abraham Lincoln Sculpture
View a 13-foot-high head of the 16th U.S. president on Interstate 80 about seven miles east of Laramie, Wyo.
New Quarter for Alaska
A 25-cent piece depicting a grizzly feasting on a salmon has arrived in time for the state's 50th birthday.
Yellowstone's Winter Caretaker
In a Q&A Steven Fuller describes the job of keeping roofs free of snow at Canyon Village.
Frog Exhibit
Disappearing frog species, such as the Oregon spotted frog, are highlighted at British Columbia's Vancouver Aquarium.
Columbia River Bar Pilot
Thron Riggs discusses the dangers and delights of leading ocean vessels through a treacherous harbor entrance called "the Graveyard of the Pacific."
President's Message
Paula Downey reviews AAA's financial strength, A.M. ‘s A+ rating, and the recent Annual Report.
Weekenders:
Carmel Valley
For winter deals, wineries and upscale dining, as well as guided trail rides and wildflower walks, head to California's Carmel Valley.
Downtown Eugene, Ore.
A ten-square-block in the city's center draws crowds with the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, the Fifth Street Public Market, the First Friday Art Walk, and a collection of eateries.
Favorite Small Towns
VIA readers write about their best-loved little towns in seven Western states.
Disney's Castle
The 77-foot-high Sleeping Beauty Castle at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim has had a magical makeover.
Mount Rainier Lodge
Paradise Inn, a 1917 timbered lodge in Washington's Cascade Range, has reopened its doors again after a two-year renovation.
Jackson Hole Tram
A new aerial tramway lifts skiers and sightseers 4,139 feet up Rendezvous Mountain in Wyoming.
Bargain Ski Spots
Save money at Western ski destinations such as Beaver Mountain, Bear Valley, Ski Anthony Lakes, Lost Trail Powder Mountain, White Pine Ski Area, and Solider Mountain.
Montana's Nordic Center
Stillwater Mountain Lodge, a new Nordic-only center in Whitefish, attracts cross-country skiers.
Bead Collection
Shipwreck Beads, in Lacey, Wash., claims to have the world's largest selection of beads.
Tacoma, Wash.'s, New Hotel
Hotel Murano boasts museum-worthy glasswork by Dale Chihuly, Lucio Bubacco, and Hiroshi Yamano.
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