What's New in the West: September 2007

This September, the Hawaii Superferry will start shuttling people and cars between Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. (877) 443-3779.

  • California's Central Valley gets a dose of culture with the Gallo Center for the Arts opening September 27. Two theaters will offer performances ranging from jazz to opera. (877) 488-3380, www.galloarts.org.
  • On National Public Lands Day, September 29, volunteers will help clean up America's backyard—its public lands. In return, national park sites from Yosemite to Arches are offering free admission to all visitors. www.nps.gov.
  • The photo-filled book Julia Morgan: Architect of Beauty, by Mark Wilson, showcases commissions as large as Hearst Castle and as small as headstones. Available October 1. $60, www.gibbs-smith.com.
  • After a six-year absence, Southwest Airlines reintroduces service to San Francisco International Airport with flights to Las Vegas, San Diego, and Chicago. (800) 435-9792.
  • Travelers on Alaska Airlines can catch flights to Sitka at 10 percent off published fares to attend the annual WhaleFest (www.sitkawhalefest.org.). Travel must take place between October 29 and November 7, and you must book online at www.alaskaair.com. The promotional code is EC02807.
  • The Grand Teton National Park Discovery and Visitor Center opened August 11 with high-tech exhibits and large windows framing the craggy peaks. (307) 739-3300, www.nps.gov/grte.
  • This fall, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver moves to its new environmentally sustainable downtown home—with a rooftop garden and interior walls made of translucent recyclable plastic. (303) 298-7554, www.mcadenver.org.
  • Beyond Bizarre, a new Portland Walking Tour, takes you to the creepiest parts of town: the entrance to a shanghai tunnel where you'll use gadgets to test for supernatural activity, and the site of a long-ago cholera outbreak. From $19. AAA members receive a discount on prepurchased tickets. (503) 774-4522.
  • Need a place to stay in downtown Boise? Hyatt Place has taken over the former AmeriSuites, updating it with plasma-screen TVs, faster Wi-Fi, and self–check-in kiosks. From $129. (208) 375-1200.
  • In Washington Wines and Wineries: The Essential Guide, Seattle Times wine columnist Paul Gregutt rates wineries on a 100-point scale and highlights top vintages. $34.95. www.ucpress.edu .

Photography courtesy Hawaii Superferry

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

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