Queen Anne & Lake Union
This 14-gabled house near the top of Queen Anne Hill was built in 1905 by Harry Whitney Treat, a friend of William F ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody. Treat also…
Must-see attractions in Western USA
Belltown & Seattle Center
In the basement of the Seattle Center Armory near the monorail stop, the Children’s Museum is old-school entertainment and a good bet if you want to tear…
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
The theater where Mia and Seb went to the movies in La La Land has been closed since 2007 (talk about movie magic!), but locals remain nostalgic for this…
Queen Anne & Lake Union
Seattle’s oldest park was originally designated a cemetery – but that status ended up being rather temporary, and the land was rededicated as parkland…
Santa Barbara
Descend the cliffs on a historic staircase (don’t worry, there aren’t actually a thousand steps) for some windy beachcombing and tide-pooling (only at low…
The Deserts
Despite the name, this low-budget museum is not so much about the famous teams of mules that transported borax from Death Valley to Mojave in the 1880s…
Santa Barbara County
By the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Surf Beach is, as its name suggests, popular with surfers, though fatal shark attacks in recent years mean you should be…
Washington Apple Commission Visitor Center
Central Washington
Washington's, America's and – quite possibly – the world's self-styled apple capital is also home to this little-visited yet surprisingly interesting…
Portland
A small sample of historical models collected by this large local retailer hangs on one wall of the Southeast Portland location. Since moving from its…
Los Angeles to Barstow
Cruising through Fontana, birthplace of the Hells Angels biker club, pause for a photo by the Giant Orange, a now-boarded-up 1930s orange-shaped juice…
Downtown, Pike Place & Waterfront
Formerly the Northern Life Tower, this 26-story art deco skyscraper, built in 1928, was designed to reflect the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. The…
Seattle
This glassworks studio and shop makes all its work in-house; if you’ve never seen a glassblowing demonstration, it’s worth checking out. The studio…
Hollywood
The last remaining Victorian home on Hollywood Blvd, built in 1903, and the former site of Miss Janes’ School, which was attended by the children of old…
The Deserts
Back in the day when the Butterfield Overland stage coach had a hard time making it across this pass, passengers had to temporarily get off and walk –…
Reno
A Victorian-themed place, the Silver Legacy is easily recognized by its white landmark dome, where a giant mock mining rig periodically erupts into a…
La Jolla
Commissioned by Ellen Browning Scripps and designed by famous San Diego architect Irving Gill, this notable building dates to 1915. The center has…
Ballard & Discovery Park
The bronze Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial at the base of the piers at Fishermen's Terminal just south of Ballard, commemorates Seattle fishers lost at sea…
Olympic Peninsula
All sorts of beach fodder is on display here, from sea glass and a mammoth tooth to airplane engine parts and detritus from the Fukushima disaster in…
Grand Teton National Park
This 1916 dam has scenic lake views and paved wheelchair-accessible trails at its southern edge.
Las Vegas
With the only walk-up (and drive-thru) wedding window in Vegas, plus a cathedral-style chapel, this newly built place also arranges weddings at scenic…
Central Washington
Acting as de facto headquarters of the Yakima Area Arboretum, this small building includes a gift shop with a bookstore and a few displays about the…
Yellowstone National Park
There has been a bridge at Fishing Bridge since 1902, but it closed to fishing in 1973 to protect spawning cutthroat trout – to the benefit of resident…
Southeastern Washington
This fine historic site showcases the original buildings from a US Army installation that existed here from its inception in 1858 until 1910 – everything…
Las Vegas
Above New York–New York's casino floor, a gargantuan carnival-esque arcade offers something for kids (and kids at heart) with 200-plus video games ranging…
Olympic Peninsula
The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe runs this museum in the beautifully restored old library building. Exhibits include artifacts from an ancient tribal village…
Mt Shasta Region
The tiny historical museum sits opposite the McCloud Chamber of Commerce and could use a bit of organization – it has the feel of a cluttered, messy…
Georgetown Arts & Cultural Center
Seattle
A former dance studio, this community-friendly arts center hosts rotating exhibitions as well as studio space, classes and workshops. It’s best visited…
Sacramento
Exhibits, stories and artifacts of some of Sacramento's most fascinating citizens, though much of the information is focused on the Gold Rush. Get tickets…
Northern Nevada
Amazingly, some couples actually do come to Lovelock to symbolically lock their love (a padlock) onto this cheesy monument: a steel chain encircling a…
Ballard & Discovery Park
A great example of the decorative brickwork that graces many of the buildings along Ballard Ave, the Portland Building has housed all kinds of businesses…
Oakland
This small park doesn't have much draw on its own, but it forms the geographic heart of Oakland's Little Saigon neighborhood, and is an interesting spot…
San Diego
Save Starlight (www.savestarlight.org) is an initiative working to restore, revive and revitalize Starlight Bowl. The movement hopes to put on concerts,…
Reno
The most family-friendly of Reno's casinos, Circus Circus has free circus acts to entertain kids beneath a giant, candy-striped big top, which also…
La Jolla
Although not open to the public, campus buildings (visible from the street) date back to 1898 and are a good example of early architecture in the area. If…
Seattle
Outside the Volunteer Park boundaries, the Louisa Boren Lookout provides one of the best views over the university and Union Bay. The small park is named…
The CD, Madrona & Madison Park
Just south of Viretta Park in Madrona is a small beachfront abutting Lake Washington called Howell Park. If you're looking for a beach with some elbow…
San Joaquin Valley
A small town's worth of historical structures, including a general store, schoolhouse and windmill, were relocated to this square on the east end of town…
Boise
Originally a boarding house from 1912, this building is home to Boise's popular indoor pala (Basque racquetball) court – check at the Basque Museum for a…
Kanab
Five miles north of town, this tourist trap is an oddball collection of genuine dinosaur tracks, real cowboy and Native American artifacts, and other…
San Diego
Just north of Old Town, this house dates from about 1820 and is said to be the oldest house in San Diego. It is now the pro shop for the public 18-hole…
