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July / August 2006
Top Stories:
Mount Shasta
Northern California’s tallest peak presides over miles of hiking trails, the Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway, the McCloud River, and the charming town of McCloud.
Healdsburg, Calif.: Wine & Art
A Sonoma County getaway offers tasting rooms and galleries near the plaza and rural vineyards in the outlying lush countryside.
Lahaina, Maui: History & Culture
The once-thriving whaling town of Lahaina now entices tourists with its historic buildings, giant banyan tree, aquatic activities, and luaus.
Pacific Grove, Calif.: A Serene Escape
A quiet enclave on the Monterey Peninsula offers a seaside sanctuary for people and wildlife.
National Parks: Escaping the Crowds
A seasoned traveler tells how to avoid the crush of visitors in Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone.
Yakima Valley: For the Fruit
For a delicious summer tour of fruit stands and wineries, head to eastern Washington.
Cheyenne, Wyo.: Rodeo!
Cheyenne Frontier Days ropes in the crowds with the country’s biggest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
Portland’s science museum delights the kids with hands-on exhibits.
Western Tourist Traps
Are popular spots like Fisherman’s Wharf, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and the Winchester House of Mystery still worth visiting?
Miss Malsy & the Souvenir Debacle
Should you have to buy souvenirs for the whole family? Miss Malsy dishes out her best gift etiquette advice.
Great National Park Food
Chefs at Yosemite, Yellowstone, Olympic National Park, Crater Lake, and other parks serve up natural meats in natural settings.
What’s New in the West?
Check out a cornucopia of the latest Western happenings: travel books, an Ansel Adams exhibit, and a dog-friendly Web site.
San Francisco’s Green Hotel
Stefan Muhle has turned the Orchard Garden Hotel into an environmentally-friendly establishment.
Cell Phones on Vacation
VIA readers share inventive ways they use cell phones when they travel.
Best Burgers!
VIA readers share many of their favorite places for hamburgers in the West.
Free Travel Upgrades
Follow these tips to get a fancier rental car, a first-class airplane seat, or a top-floor hotel room.
Cheap Gas of Yesteryear
In Woodland, Calif., Reiff’s Gas Station is a tribute to gas pumps of old.
San Francisco’s Cable Cars
Hop aboard for facts and fancy about the city’s beloved cable cars.
Weekenders:
North Shore Lake Tahoe
For Sierra fun, including beaches, boating, and a bit of the Bard, head to this alpine getaway.
Spokane, Wash., Escape
An eastern Washington city has turned century-old buildings along the riverfront into galleries, cafés, and stylish inns.
Gearhart, Ore.: Coastal Getaway
Just 90 minutes from Portland, a seaside village boasts quiet, a long beach, and antique shops.
Oregon’s McKenzie River
Central Oregon boasts a gem of a waterway that has great fishing, waterfalls, trails, and hot springs.
Underwater Viewing in the West
Get a glimpse of life under water at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Bonneville Dam, and Oahu’s Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
Rock Hound Hot Spots
At fee mining sites in the West, you can play prospector and collect your own gems.
Portland’s Multnomah Village
Just five minutes southwest of downtown, you can discover a neighborhood with a mix of galleries, eateries, and specialty shops.
Billings’s Montana Avenue
A neighborhood steeped in Old West history has become a trendy place to get a buffalo steak or a falafel and pick up antiques or art.
Wyoming’s Internment Camp
Visitors can view what remains of Heart Mountain where 14,000 Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II.
I-80’s Nut Tree
Near Vacaville, Calif., a former way station for travelers has redefined itself with an open-air market, bocce courts, four acres of shops, and the Nut Tree Family Park.
Alaska’s Inside Passage
Take a cruise on a ferry or ship, and see orcas, bald eagles, and glaciers.
Fishing on Big Hole River, Mont.
Along the river’s 153 miles, you can catch brook, brown, and rainbow trout, plus burbot and mountain whitefish.
Cody, Wyo.: History Escape
Five museums at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center connect the myths and reality of the Old West.
Whitefish, Mont.: Theater Season
Whitefish’s Alpine Theatre Project attracts play-goers and quality actors.
Alberta Street: Portland, Ore.’s, Art Spot
Every Thursday night, galleries, shops, and restaurants stay open late for Art Walk in this hip hub.
Astoria, Ore.: Bring the Kids
The little ones can sit in a fire truck, ride a trolley, and see a miniature Fort Clatsop.
Joseph, Ore.: Outdoor Getaway
An historic town at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains beckons with outdoor delights.
Sun Valley, Idaho: Shopping Heaven
The towns of Sun Valley, Ketchum, and Hailey have a treasure trove of shops.
Santa Cruz, Calif.: Music for Everyone
In summer, groove with the music in clubs, on the beach, and at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Benicia, Calif.: A Town for Kids
The Playground of Dreams, fireworks, and carnival rides await the little ones.
Bass Lake, Calif.: Summer in the Mountains
Just 14 miles south of Yosemite, a Sierra getaway offers skiing, fishing, camping, and Jazz on the Lake.
Carson City, Nev.: A Place to Relive History
Tour the old U.S. Mint, hit the Kit Carson Trail, and stop by the Nevada State Railroad Museum.
Your Car:
Your Car: Car Exhaust and Upgrading Gas
AAA auto experts weigh in on car exhaust and grades of gasoline.
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