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March/April 2009
What's New In the West

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The Golden Gate Bridge acts as a thermometer in Outdoor Exploratorium—20 new hands-on science and art exhibits that debut around San Francisco on March 13.
(415) 397-5673,
exploratorium.edu/outdoor.

The palm-size HYmini Deluxe
wind- and solar-powered charger
works with most cell phones, laptops, and iPods. Its builtin battery also recharges with a wall plug or USB source. $75.
hymini.com.

Arranged by month and difficulty level, Debbi Preston's 48 Dog-Friendly Trails in California's Foothills and the Sierra Nevada includes helpful tips on dining and parking. $15. 48dogfriendlytrails.com.

At discovercaliforniawine.com, plan wine tours and search for wineries by region, wine varieties made, and amenities.

Monte Cristo's Castle, Nevada's newest state park, 35 miles west of Tonopah, offers unusual rocks, views of the Crescent Dunes, and access to the Toiyabe Crest Trail. fomcc.info.

Portland Saturday Market reopens February 28 in a larger site at Waterfront Park. Find 260 vendors of crafts, clothing, furnishings, and food. (503) 222-6072, saturdaymarket.org.

This April, Washington County, Ore., uncorks the Vineyard & Valley Scenic Tour Route, a 50-mile loop outside Portland that links parks,
u-pick farms, stands, and wineries.
visitwashingtoncountyoregon.com.

Backcountry Roads Idaho by Lynna Howard has 30 maps, GPS coordinates, descriptions, and 114 color photographs by Leland Howard. $28. (800) 657-6465, caxtonpress.com.

Bargain Vancouver, B.C.: More than a dozen hotels are offering three nights for the price of two until March 31. (877) 826-1717, tourismvancouver.com.

The exhibit Echoes of Eastern Montana: Exploring Community History, at the Western Heritage Center in Billings, Mont., reflects on 20th-century life along the Yellowstone River through stories of ranchers, Crow tribal leaders, and railroad workers. Opens March 19.
(406) 256-6809,
ywhc.org.

The Fremont County Pioneer Museum in Lander, Wyo., reopens by Memorial Day in a new building with 10,000 square feet for displaying artifacts from the Wind River valley’s Native inhabitants and early settlers. fcpm.org.

Camping Alaska: A Guide to 300 of Alaska’s Best Campgrounds, by Montana Hodges, leads RV and tent campers to top sites, from Arctic tundra camps to seaside dunes. Available May 19. $20. (888) 249-7586, globepequot.com.

 


Illustration by Michael Klein


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This article was first published in March 2009. Some facts
may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


Related Stories

What's New in the West: September/October 2009

What’s New in the West: July/August 2009

What's New in the West: May/June 2009

What's New in the West: Jan. 2009

What's New in the West: Nov. 2008

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