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This small museum honors Selena Quintanilla Perez—known simply as Selena and considered by some to be the Mexican equivalent of Madonna—a wildly successful singer–songwriter during the 1990s who was murdered by a former president of her fan club. See her red Porsche, some of her favorite outfits, and other items that honor her memory and legendary career.
Founded in 1920 as a retreat and place of worship, the center also offers one of the best views along the Pacific Coast, a sweeping seascape extending north and south as far as the eye can see. Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi, created two beautiful meditation gardens that are open to the public. The gardens are planted with flowering shrubs and trees and contain a series of koi ponds connected by miniature waterfalls. Swami's Point at the south end of the gardens is a popular surfer's break. Inspirational services are on Sunday 9:30 am–noon and Thursday 7–8 pm.
A quintessential (and free) L.A. experience, the nondenominational Lake Shrine temple and meditation garden was founded by guru Paramahansa Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship, a nonprofit spiritual organization headquartered in Los Angeles that promotes traditional yoga and meditation. The gardens, lakes, trails, windmill, and other structures are enjoyed by practitioners, locals, celebrities, and office workers alike as a place to step out of the rat race and into tranquility for a few minutes. Its miraculous survival in the Palisades fire has inspired new visitors. Free reservations are mandatory and can be made online.
The pleasant, historic neighborhood that begins east of the Sellwood Bridge was once a separate town. Annexed by Portland in the 1890s, it retains a modest charm, with stores and restaurants along 13th Avenue carrying an interesting mix of goods and edibles. Just north is the Westmoreland neighborhood, another cluster of mostly indie retail and dining centered around the intersection of S.E. Milwaukee Avenue and S.E. Bybee Boulevard.
Nearly 17 acres of tall old pines and grassy lawns overlooking the Willamette River make a visit here purely relaxing. A paved path circles the park and most of the action—ballpark, ball fields, playground, and tennis court. Sellwood also sports a terrific location—Oaks Bottom Refuge and Oaks Amusement Park are nearby, and the easy-going Sellwood neighborhood has charming shops and restaurants, convenient for a takeout picnic.
Hamilton, like Stevensville and Darby, is on the doorstep of the 1.3-million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area and is not far from the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area to the east. Hundreds of miles of trails wend through the forests, where visitors may encounter bears, elk, moose, deer, and bighorn sheep. There are also songbirds and birds of prey such as eagles and owls.
You can fish, boat, and water-ski on the Seminoe Reservoir, the primary attraction within Seminoe State Park. This is also a popular spot for camping and picnicking. It's on a Bureau of Land Management backcountry byway, Carbon County Road 351, which links Sinclair with Alcova.
This brick courtyard is an oasis of flowering fruit trees and inviting benches, along with a charming fountain. Surrounding it is a plethora of interesting shops selling clothing, shoes, chocolates, and various other artsy and touristy items. Longtime favorite La Casa Sena has a popular patio that takes up a good chunk of the courtyard, creating a downright magical environment for summer dining. The buildings, erected in the 1700s as a single-family residence, once included quarters for blacksmiths, bakers, farmers, and all manner of help.
Housed in a former ice house, the celebrates and documents the region's history, from the French and Indian War to the city's ascent as America's premier industrial center. Located in the Strip District, the center features the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, as well as exhibits on the history of glass, Lewis & Clark, and Pittsburgh's diverse ethnic heritage.
Follow a sandy mine road for the first section of this 8-mile round-trip trail in Saguaro West, then ascend via a series of switchbacks to the top of a ridge and cross the Hugh Norris Trail. Descending on the other side, you'll meet up with the King Canyon Trail. The Esperanza ("Hope") Trail is often rocky and sometimes steep, but rewards include ruins of the Gould Mine, dating back to 1907. Moderate.
Elaborate woodwork and Victorian furniture decorate the 1855 Queen Anne mansion on Cayuga Street, which is lined with grand homes. A female ghost is said to wander its 23 rooms.
The history and current culture of the Seneca Nation and of the Iroquois Confederacy is explored at this museum on the Allegany Indian Reservation. Displays include a partially reconstructed longhouse, silver and beadwork, baskets, corn-husk items, sculptures, and paintings.
Other wineries near Geneva that are worth checking out are White Springs Winery, Billsboro Winery, and Ventosa Vineyards. For information, contact the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
More than 30 wineries make up the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Some favorites are Fox Run Vineyards in Penn Yan, Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, and Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars in Lodi.
Why did reform movements flourish in the Finger Lakes? Many of the answers are at this museum, where narratives of water power, transportation, industry, and cultural history are interwoven to tell the story of 19th-century Seneca Falls. The museum has interactive exhibits for kids, who are urged to ask questions of tour guides.
Exhibits at this zoo along the Genesee River include Rocky Coasts, providing aboveground and underwater viewing of a polar bear, penguins, and sea lions; A Step Into Africa, a re-creation of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater with African elephants and olive baboons; and a cougar exhibit in which you can crawl through a tunnel to see the cats up close. During your day in the wild, you might also spot Bornean orangutans, white rhinos, Arctic wolves, and meerkats, among other beasts.
A striking triangular shape and a gorgeous green patina make this 1907 flatiron building unmissable, and the Financial District's skyscrapers make a great backdrop for it. In the 1970s filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola bought the building to use for his production company. The ground floor houses Coppola's swanky wine bar, Café Zoetrope.
The view from here is similar to that from Glacier Point, except you can't see the valley floor. A moderately steep, 1.1-mile path climbs to the viewpoint from the parking lot. Topping out at an elevation of 8,122 feet, Sentinel is more than 900 feet higher than Glacier Point.
A paradise for bird-watchers, Sepiessa Point Reservation consists of 174 acres on splendid Tisbury Great Pond. There are expansive pond and ocean views, walking trails around coves and saltwater marshes, horse trails, swimming areas, and a boat launch.
Estate Pinot Noir and sparkling and still Pinot rosés are the flagship wines of this Humboldt County producer, which also makes whites and reds from several other Northern California appellations and Oregon's Willamette Valley. The downtown tasting room—exposed beams, white walls, polished concrete floor—and its spacious gravel outdoor patio areas are highly social and family-friendly.
Take advantage of SoCal's legendary weather by spending a day in L.A.'s second biggest city park, which includes a Japanese Garden, soccer and baseball fields, a wildlife reserve, three golf courses, a model airplane fly zone, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and bike/running paths. Swan boats and bikes can be rented to paddle or circumnavigate Lake Balboa, especially pretty when the plum trees are in bloom. In summer, there are kayak excursions along the re-wilded section of the L.A. River that cuts through it. The recreation area will host skateboarding, archery, and BMX racing and freestyle (basically invented in The Valley) events at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Protected by a sand spit 4 miles southeast of Sequim on Sequim Bay, this woodsy 92-acre inlet park has picnic tables, campsites, hiking trails, tennis courts, and a boat ramp.
Delicate spring wildflowers, cool summer campgrounds, and varied winter-sports opportunities—not to mention more than half of the world's giant sequoia groves—draw outdoorsy types year-round to this sprawling district surrounding the national parks. Together, the forest and monument cover nearly 1,700 square miles, south from the Kings River and east from the foothills along the San Joaquin Valley. The monument's groves are both north and south of Sequoia National Park. One of the most popular is the
The Hume Lake Forest Service District Office, at 35860 Kings Canyon Scenic Byway (Route 180), has information about the groves, along with details about recreational activities. In springtime, diversions include hiking among the wildflowers that brighten the foothills. The floral display rises with the heat as the mountain elevations warm up in summer, when hikers, campers, and picnickers become more plentiful. The abundant trout supply attracts anglers to area waters, including 87-acre
Aimed squarely at young kids and their families, this water and theme park based on the popular children's show Sesame Street provides fun places for children to crawl, climb, and jump; float, slide, and splash; and meet, greet, and perhaps hug the ageless Big Bird and his friends. Though there are dry-land activities, the highlights of the park—especially on a hot summer day—are the water rides, including the Rambling River, the interactive Count's Splash Castle, and rides at Big Bird's Beach. (Water attractions are open seasonally.) As befits a park for preteens, the rides in Elmo's World and the roller coasters—Vapor Trail and Oscar’s Wacky Taxi—are modest by theme-park standards, but they've got enough excitement for young riders. Other favorites are the daily, and nightly, parades and shows; Sesame Neighborhood, a replica of the TV street; and pricey meals with characters like Elmo and Grover. Sesame Place Philadelphia is the world's first theme park to be a Certified Autism Center; see website for information. The park's gift shop is large. Buy tickets online in advance for substantial savings. Check ahead in case any rides or attractions are closed, and note that food is expensive and can be uneven in quality (see website FAQs for info on bringing water). No cash is accepted at the park, but you can buy a debit card at no cost.
On the spit of land between Sachem Pond and Cow Cove, this monument lists the names of the original settlers of Block Island and marks the spot where they landed in 1661 (swimming to shore with their cows). A ½-mile hike from here over sandy terrain will get you to North Light.
This spacious, beautifully designed winery inside RiverWalk resort serves its well-respected classic European-varietal dry wines and sweeter fruit wines. Just down the hall at Rhythm Tap & Grille, you can sample ciders produced by the winery's Rhythm Cider brand along with tasty gastropub fare.
Surrounded by towering red-rock canyon walls, these seven steep waterfalls plummet 181 feet into a tiny emerald pool that shimmers below. Hiking the steep 224 steps to the top of the falls is worth it for the view but you can also take an elevator to the Eagle's Nest look-out. Parking is free at the Penrose Equestrian Center, where a shuttle will take passengers to and from the site. Guides at Soaring Adventures sail patrons across the nearby canyon on 10 zip lines and lead those daring enough to make the trip across rope bridges and on rappelling adventures that feature views of the falls. Restaurant 1858 serves Southern comfort food with a Rocky Mountain twist (try the mixed grill with quail, bison, and venison or Colorado trout served one of seven ways) that is best enjoyed out on the patio overlooking the falls.
Owner Casey McClellan makes well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and other reds, as well as Sauvignon Blanc and a dry Rosé. The winery is in Walla Walla's historic Whitehouse-Crawford building and tastings are by reservation only.
