July / August
VIA AAA Traveler's Companion
VIA cover
Home  |  Weekenders  |  Events  |  Archives
July/August 2007
What’s New in the West

Mount Rainier

By Laurie Isola

Starting July 1, visitors to Montana’s Glacier National Park can ditch their cars at the Apgar Transit Center, located 1.5 miles from the west entrance, and hop a shuttle. The buses make 16 stops, mainly along the popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. (406) 888-7895, www.nps.gov/glac.

After a nine-year closure, Disneyland’s submarine ride reopened June 11 with a new cast of characters: Nemo, Crush, Marlin, Dory, and others of Finding Nemo fame. (714) 781-4565, www.disneyland.com.

You can now travel easily from Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park headquarters to Juneau with new ferry service on the Fairweather Express II. Three hours one way, $70. (888) 229-8687,
www.visitglacierbay.com.

Now drive Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks with Gaper Guide, a GPS unit that sits on your dash and describes 750 sites via your car’s stereo. Colter, a moose, narrates, while scientist "friends" pipe up on Old Faithful, Jenny Lake, and more. (307) 733-4626, www.gaperguide.com.

Unfold the updated Guide to Willamette Valley Wineries to find wineries, lodging, and activities around Oregon wine country. (503) 646-2985, www.willamettewines.com.

What’s the hippest spot in San Francisco? This summer it will likely be the Hotel Tomo in Japantown. There you’ll find blown-up stills of Japanese animation on walls, flat-screen TVs in every room, and a game lounge where guests can pull up a beanbag for PlayStation action. From $135. (800) 738-7477, www.jdvhospitality.com.

Las Vegas is now home to Red Rock Lanes, the most expensive bowling center ever built in the United States, with a striking 72 lanes. Starts at $3 per game. (702) 797-7467, www.redrocklasvegas.com.

More space means more art at the Seattle Art Museum, which opened a new wing in May with exhibits of modern art, classical European works, and traditional African pieces. (206) 654-3100, www.seattleartmuseum.org.

Unfold the updated Sonoma County Farm Trails Map & Guide to find over 100 farms and shops where you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, olive oil, and cheeses. (800) 207-9464, www.farmtrails.org.

 

Back to Top

This article was first published in July 2007. Some facts
may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.


Travel Tools

Plan a cruise

AAA Maps & Driving Directions

Send to a friend

AAA Members Only

Planning a roadtrip?
Use TripTik


Order a Map or TourBook

Reserve air, car, & hotel

(Recommended maps: San Francisco,
Las Vegas,
Idaho & Montana,
Oregon & Washington,
Colorado & Wyoming,
Alaska & Northwest Canada,
Seattle,
Las Vegas,
California
)

Letters

Fire off a Letter

Read other Letters

Home   |   Weekenders   |   Events   |   Archives   |   About VIA Magazine   |   Map Stories   |    online
Copyright © 1996-2009 VIA Magazine   Contact Us  | Terms and Conditions  | Privacy Policy