Elvis Presley could have lived anywhere in the world, but even at the highest peak of his fame he devoted himself to Memphis. Elvis was born 100 miles away in Tupelo, Mississippi, moved to Memphis with his family at the…
A pink Cadillac belonging to Elvis Presley inside the Presley Motors Museum at Graceland
Elvis Presley's pink Cadillac (Photo by California News Press)
The city of Memphis, Tennessee, has adopted the tourist-drawing tagline “Home of the Blues,” with “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” as a close runner-up. Memphis Tourism opts for an all-encompassing “Home of Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll.” With a…
A vintage neon sign reading Popular Tunes and Welcome to Memphis
(Photo by California News Press)
The third Monday in January is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday to honor the life and legacy of the foremost figure of the American civil rights movement. The National Civil Rights Museum, adjacent to and encompassing the…
Signage for the Lorraine Motel at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee against a gray sky
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was born in Wisconsin, rose to fame among early modernist art circles in New York City, and traveled widely across the globe during her 98 years of life. Yet her artistic legacy is forever tied to Santa…
A display of skull paintings over a cabinet with animal skulls at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, has long been known as the “City of Seven Wonders,” referencing its proximity to an enviable number of natural treasures. The small city in Northern Arizona sits at 7,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by aspen and pine…
A mixed landscape of fan palms, juniper and pines at Walnut Canyon near Flagstaff, Arizona
Outside of studying anatomy or working in the medical field, there are few opportunities to see the real inner workings of the human body. We can learn about the ways in which our bodies work, view diagrams and imagine what…
Close up view of the head and torso of a human body on display at Bodies at Bally's in Las Vegas
By J.C. Thomas It’s not at all difficult to imagine the joy of the two prospectors who followed a wisp of steam into an Alaskan valley and discovered Chena Hot Springs in 1905. Amid far-northern wilderness, rarely free of ice,…
Mist rising over bathers in the hot springs pool at Chena Hot Springs Resort near Fairbanks, Alaska
Gorgeous scenery and rafting fun await with New Wave Adventures at Alaska’s Denali National Park By J.C. Thomas Imagine whitewater rafting down an ice-cold river in the wilderness of interior Alaska… are you excited or scared? Maybe both? All the…
A wide stretch of the Nenana River outside Denali National Park in Alaska
Moab, Utah is a very cool city. It has a trendy vibe, but in a timeless, not-actually-trying sort of way. Moab is also very good looking, with low-slung buildings and artsy accents that don’t bother trying to compete with the…
Arches National Park scenery near Moab, Utah
Highlights of Santa Fe, the oldest capital in the United States, include amazing art galleries, 17th-century landmarks and an out-of-town trip down the Rio Grande By J.C. Thomas For a first-time visitor arriving in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it doesn’t…
The county building in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an example of the city's own style of architecture
All About Denali National Park and Preserve, the No. 1 Destination in Interior Alaska By J.C. Thomas Denali National Park, the prime tourist destination in interior Alaska, is an astonishingly impressive section of the continent’s far north. It takes a…
A Denali National Park tour bus in front of a mountain and tundra backdrop
A cooling and thrilling jet-boat river ride is a definite must-do in Moab, Utah By J.C. Thomas Moab, a small city with big attractions in eastern Utah, draws visitors from all over the world with its close proximity to Arches…
The soil-tinted water of the Colorado River framed by tall red rock formations in Moab, Utah seen from a jet boat tour with Moab Jett