Bristlecone pines a part of Colorado's landscape since days of Plato
Bowed but not beaten by harsh weather, the oldest living things on the planet cling to the 11,700-foot ridge at the foot of 14,000-foot Mount Bross. Bristlecone pines, gnarled, twisted and sometimes seemingly rootless, defy the tempests atop Windy Ridge, thriving against all odds.
( BY LINDA DUVAL, The Gazette (Colorado Springs), 11/18/2002 10:11 AM PST)

Denver doll museum takes toys seriously
Tiny dolls set tiny tables with tiny silverware in a scale-model mansion at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys. Little people and big people alike will delight in the museum, located in the historic Pearce-McAllister Cottage in a quiet neighborhood southeast of downtown Denver.
( BY LINDA DUVAL, The Gazette (Colorado Springs), 11/12/2002 12:08 PM PST)

Stunning views? Yes, Sur
California's Big Sur is a marvelous place. It's a stunning 90 miles where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean between Carmel and San Simeon.
( Bob Downing, Beacon Journal, 11/04/2002 08:22 AM PST)

Tahoe home truly was his castle
Long before today's jet set discovered Lake Tahoe, the strange doings at George Whittell's "castle" were the stuff of legend. Old-timers still tell stories about the all-night poker games with baseball great Ty Cobb, the weeklong parties with showgirls, and the lion and tiger that strolled among partygoers.
( By Martin Griffith, Associated Press, 11/04/2002 08:43 AM PST)

Denver museum illuminates black history of the West
Except for the occasional special exhibit, it's not easy to find the story of the black cowboy. This unsung hero of Western lore gets his due, however, at the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center - a big name for a small collection of artifacts.
( BY LINDA DUVAL, The Gazette (Colorado Springs), 11/04/2002 09:05 AM PST)

The new brat pack
LAS VEGAS -- In typical twentysomething slacker fashion, I have arrived in town with only $500 in cash, my passport and the clothes on my back. I have come to experience Las Vegas' youthful aspects -- the clubs, bars, restaurants and casinos that cater to the hip singles set.
( By Christopher Kelly, Star-Telegram Staff Writer, 10/28/2002 09:08 AM PST)

Getting away from crowds in Yellowstone
Sometimes the best way to see Yellowstone is far from the beaten path. The park gets 3 million visitors a year, most from June through September. It can get crowded, very crowded.
( By Bob Downing, Beacon Journal staff writer, 10/21/2002 06:59 AM PST)

Portland bubbles with active people pursuing simple pleasures
Portland is the kind of city that reminds you what the best cities are all about - people. Its architecture may not be especially distinguished or steeped in centuries of history, but Portland's cityscape is nonetheless tremendously appealing. There's enough variety in the built environment to keep the eye engaged and interested, and the city's various neighborhoods have distinctive, lively personalities. Portland's greatest pleasure lies in its sheer vitality - the interaction between its people...
( BY SUSAN C. HEGGER, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/21/2002 09:39 AM PST)

Just outside Portland, natural wonders wait to be explored
Portland's beauty lies not just in its livability as a city, as considerable as that is. It also lies in its proximity to areas of startling natural splendor. Two hours to the west is the magnificent, rocky Oregon coast; an hour to the east is the formidable Mount Hood, which on a good day can be seen from Portland.
( BY SUSAN C. HEGGER, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/21/2002 10:09 AM PST)