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Build for the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, the Space Needle is the tallest structure where one can take in views of the city.  The tower itself was built to withstand winds of up to 200mph and up to a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.  The observation deck has great views and the rotating restaurant at the lower level gives guests a place to sit down and grab a bite.  It typically takes 45 minutes to complete a full rotation but at max speed, it can do it in about 20 minutes. Alternately, it can also slow down the rotation so that it would be a full 90 minutes to complete a cycle.

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Opened in May of 2012, Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit within the Seattle Center beside the Space Needle.  It primarily showcases the work of famed American glass artist Dale Chihuly and features 3 sections: the Garden, a Glasshouse and the Interior Exhibits.  Tickets can be purchased online for between US$20-35 and is generally one of the places you should go to when visiting Seattle.

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Roughly 29 miles southwest of Los Angeles and about an hour by boat from the Long Beach port (or Huntington Beach) lies the island of Santa Catalina or more commonly referred to as Catalina Island.  The island these days is primarily a tourist destination with the port city of Avalon being the main landing spot on the island.  The island hosts a variety of wildlife including Bisons and was once even hosted a military training facility during WW2.  The island owes its current state primarily to William Wrigley Jr. of chewing gum fame (also, the Chicago Cubs) who developed the island to what it is today.  One of the main attractions on the island is the Catalina Casino, a large theater built in 1929 that was the first theater in the world to be specifically built for “films with sound.”

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Inaugurated in 2007, “The Art of the Brick” is a show of LEGO sculptures by Nathan Sawaya. The show has been travelling the world and this particular one I caught was in San Francisco. The exhibition typically holds over a hundred pieces with some being made of tens of thousands of bricks. The exhibit includes both original as well as works of others reimagined using LEGO with several being suspended in air.

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While Manhattan is the heart of New York City, I'm not exactly sure if there's a particular draw for people to visit Tribeca. At least for tourists that is... aside from the Ghostbusters building which was actually a former firehouse and an interesting sight. Located between SOHO and the Financial District, the neighborhood just seems to be one of those places that's "in between" here and there. While it has interesting structures (like much of New York), it also has a significant apartment buildings, which are nothing special. And while recent developments are bringing in some very unique modern skyscrapers, you can also find older ones like the AT&T Lines building which is pretty much just a large windowless brick building that houses telecom equipment.

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A neighborhood located on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan between 30th and 41st St., Hudson Yards was redeveloped in 2012 to become an upscale residential and commercial center with several tall skyscrapers and large mall called “The Shops (at Hudson Yards).”  The most notable attraction in the area is a 16-storey 150-foot-tall structure called ‘The Vessel.’ Serving no other purpose than being a tourist attraction or centerpiece for the area, the structure cost an estimated $200 million, which was over twice the initial $75 million budget.  Visitors used to be able to ascend the structure however a string of suicides (4 as of this writing, including that of a 14-year old in August 2021) have led to the access to the upper levels closed indefinitely.

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One of the museums on Wilshire Blvd. along ‘Museum Row’ in Los Angeles is the Petersen Automotive Museum.  From fictional to historical, supercars, racecars, movie cars, prototypes and more, this museum commemorates the automobile, it’s history and various depictions in movies and media.  Founded in 1994 by magazine publisher Robert E. Petersen and his wife, the museum has over 100 vehicles on display with more kept in a vault in the basement.  Every so often there would be special displays such as the cars used in the James Bond movies.

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A member of the ‘Historic Hotels of America,’ which is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mission Inn is a historic landmark hotel located in Riverside, California.  The hotel itself seems to have been built having various architectural characteristics with sections featuring different designs and styles.  An eclectic structure, it now also has a spa, museum, and even some commercial offices within its premises.  You can spend a whole afternoon wandering around the corridors and finding interesting sections in the hotel which have both a rich history and unique design aesthetics.  Various former US presidents have visited the hotel and the entire complex takes up roughly an entire block in downtown Riverside.  There is even a beautiful church (non-denominational) on the grounds which is convenient for anyone wanting to have a wedding ceremony there and literally cross the courtyard to one of several ballrooms.

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In what can be described an enormous collection of rocks amidst really spiky plants (of which the park is named after) in the middle of the California desert where temperatures can hit well above 42°C, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the 423 National Parks in the United States.  Characterized by rugged rock formations (of which some resemble skulls, archways, etc.), the park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert.  Access is fairly easy through 3 main gates while passes can be acquired online for both individuals and vehicles.

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At around 40 acres, the Botanical Gardens at the University of California, Riverside contains more than 3,500 plant species from around the world.  While primarily established for teaching purposes the garden sports a wide variety of plants including specific gardens such as ones for cacti, roses and butterflies to name a few.  Additionally, there a trail that runs through the garden where various microclimates can be explored amidst the hilly terrain.

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A 2-mile loop trail through the forest at Arrowhead Ridge, the Will Abell Memorial Trail snakes through trees heading up to a peak where one can admire the natural beauty of the forest landscape that once encircled the entire Lake Arrowhead area.  Will Abell, a lifelong mountain resident and local artist to whom the trail was dedicated to passed away in August 2012 and was one Land Trust’s outstanding volunteers.

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Within the Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad, California, the Flower Fields is a flower garden only open to the public annually from March 1 through Mothers Day.  Most known for its Tecolote Giant Ranunculus, the site also sports a greenhouse filled with cymbidium orchids, a 300-by-170-foot American flag made out of red, white, and blue petunias and various other floral arrangements throughout the gardens including archways and gazebos.  While you can wander around on your own, there are also tractor tours you can hop on when not busy taking photos by the organized benches around the area.

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Opening its doors to the public in March of 1999, Legoland California was LEGO’s first theme park in the United States.  Located in Carlsbad, about 20 minutes north of San Diego, the park sports multiple areas spanning from Pirates to Castle, City to Technic with the newest section being related to the recent LEGO Movies.  Miniland USA sports numerous miniature LEGO buildings for various US cities from San Francisco to New York City and Washington DC.  There are 2 LEGO themed hotels outside the park where guests can stay overnight.

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At 300 acres, the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, California is home to dozens of species of birds and other animals that either stay there or stop by during migration.  Aside from the trails that are on the perimeter of the freshwater pools, there is also a butterfly park.  Additionally, the Audubon Society maintains a chapter office in one of the structures on site.

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Commissioned in 2014, the Ivanpah Solar Facility was the largest Concentrated Solar Facility at the time of its construction.  Situated in the Mojave Desert near the border of Nevada, the facility sports 3 massive towers with an array of mirrors reflecting sunlight towards the top in order to produce steam used to spin turbines which generate the electricity.  While operational, the area immediately around it is virtually empty although there is a golf course nearby (Primm Valley Gold Club).  The facility is visible along the I-15 and access is through Exit 291.

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Scotchmans Cove is a beach on the south end of the Crystal Cove State Park in California accessible through the Reef Point entrance heading towards Laguna Beach. Having a residential development just across Highway 1, it’s popular with the nearby residents who head to the beach to surf and relax.

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As one of the “gateway cities,” the Port of Long Beach, California is ranked as the second busiest port in the United States.  You can easily spot several waterfront attractions, which the city is known for while walking on the promenade.  A ten-minute walk can easily have you walking by outlet stores, the Aquarium of the Pacific, American Pride (the official Tallship of the City of Long Beach) and Lion’s Lighthouse to name a few.