What's New in the West: March 2009

• 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 [2].
• 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 [3].
• 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 [4].
• At discovercaliforniawine.com [5], 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 [6].
• 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 [7].
• 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 [8].
• 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 [9].
• 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 [10].
• 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 [11].
• 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 [12].
• 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 [13].

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