What's New in the West: March 2012
Highlights include new tours of Hearst Castle, classes at the Alaska Folk School, and The Chocolate Guide: North American Edition.
- In San Simeon, Calif., three new daytime Hearst Castle tours include self-guided access to gardens, walkways, and the magnificent Neptune Pool. hearstcastle.org.
- The updated Hike Utah’s National Parks app has details on close to 100 outings in five parks. $2. itunes.apple.com.
- Witness the art of cheese making on tours of Petaluma Creamery in Petaluma, Calif. Tourgoers get to sample the wares, too. springhillcheese.com.
- Reopening on May 19, the renovated Buffalo Bill–Western History Gallery at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo., will feature dioramas and historic artifacts dedicated to its namesake. bbhc.org.
- Learn traditional crafts including wood carving and antler basket weaving at the Alaska Folk School, part of the Northern Susitna Institute in Talkeetna. northernsusitnainstitute.org.
- The temporary exhibit East/West: Visually Speaking at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Mont., explores cultural taboos and western ideas through the paintings, embroidery, and other works of young artists in China. March 22 to July 29. artmuseum.org.
- Hawaiian wa’a, or traditional outrigger canoe paddling, is the latest activity offered by Ocean Sports in Waikoloa, Hawaii. From $27. hawaiioceansports.com.
- The e-book The Chocolate Guide: North American Edition showcases over 80 of North America’s best chocolatiers and confectioners, from mom-and-pop shops to gourmet purveyors. $2. barnesandnoble.com.
- The new visitor center in Ketchum, Idaho, boasts flatscreen monitors, iPad stations, and blowups of Ernest Hemingway, the local literary hero. visitsunvalley.com.
- Download the free iPhone app Public Art PDX to find the locations of 530 public artworks, including sculptures, murals, and fountains, within the Portland metro area. publicartpdx.com.
- Seniors and disabled citizens can now buy lifetime passes to national parks through the U.S. mail. $20 (includes a $10 handling fee.) store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html.
This article was first published in March 2012. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.
