I spent last weekend in San Diego watching sea lions sun themselves on giant rocks and eating fresh oysters with beach views. I know New York is also coastal, but the West Coast cities really hit different.
Built from copper and redwood by local carpenters, the Sea Ranch Chapel was modeled on a murex shell, though some have compared it to a mushroom or a conquistador’s helmet. Tucked away off Highway 1, it serves as a nondenominational refuge that anyone can use for meditation and prayer.
Conservation scientist Dr. Timm Döbert and his partner Leanna Carriere just set off from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska—and they won’t stop pedaling until they reach the southern tip of South America. Their expedition, Wings of Survival, is modeled on the migration routes of shorebirds: the greatest long-distance athletes on Earth, and among its most endangered.
This squat, round hut may look like an enchanted hobbit home, but it is in fact the work of British artist Chris Drury. The only illumination in the 14-foot diameter room comes from a small hole in the roof of the chamber which acts as a camera obscura, a medieval optics trick that projects a mirror image of the outside world onto the interior wall.
Have you explored this woodland wonder? Don’t forget to count it!
Head to Southwest Louisiana to experience the flavors, rhythms, traditions, and natural beauty that make this region unmistakable. From Cajun and Creole cuisine to zydeco music, Mardi Gras traditions, and the untamed beauty of the Creole Nature Trail, Lake Charles brings Louisiana culture to life.
Hidden within Florida’s Adventure Coast, the Wind Chime Memorial Tree transforms remembrance into sound. Covered with hundreds of hanging chimes left in honor of loved ones, the installation creates a constantly shifting chorus that changes with every breeze. Part memorial, part public artwork, it offers a quiet and unexpectedly moving experience tucked into the landscape.
