Incredible Destinations

Cenotes are underground rivers from which the Mayas obtained water, and also at some, conducted religious rituals. Cenotes are prominent in Yucatan, Mexico where above ground rivers do not exist. The present day Maya continue to cherish the over 2000 cenotes that exist and continue to use them to collect water.

Cenotes are underground rivers from which the Mayas obtained water, and also at some, conducted religious rituals. Cenotes are prominent in Yucatan, Mexico where above ground rivers do not exist. The present day Maya continue to cherish the over 2000 cenotes that exist and continue to use them to collect water.

Cenotes are underground rivers from which the Mayas obtained water, and also at some, conducted religious rituals. Cenotes are prominent in Yucatan, Mexico where above ground rivers do not exist. The present day Maya continue to cherish the over 2000 cenotes that exist and continue to use them to collect water.

The Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City is composed of several cathedrals built over several centuries. It is here where Catholics believe the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to a peasant indian. The photograph shows that one of the cathedrals is at an angle. This is because Mexico City was founded on a dry lake bed and the weight of the cathedral, made of stone, has caused it to sink.

The Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California is a landmark in the Los Angeles skyline. It showcases the modern architecture of the skyline. This Los Angeles landmark has been featured in a number of movies and television shows. A visitor to the hotel can wonder at the Los Angeles skyline from the hotel's top floor which is a rotating restaurant.

Cancun, Mexico has some of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches. However, when the rare post hurricane tropical storm passes through the tranquil beaches can be transformed into rough ocean displays.

Cancun, Mexico has some of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches. However, when the rare post hurricane tropical storm passes through (this tropical storm originated from a hurricane occuring in Honduras) the tranquil beaches can be transformed into unruly ocean displays.

This ruin in Tulum, Mexico is the Casa del Chultan, the home of a Mayan nobleman.

Catalina Island is off of the Southern California coast. The view is of the bay of the town of Avalon, a welcoming hamlet with hotels, shops and restaurants. It is a tourist destination and resort. The Wrigley family, creators of Wrigley chewing gum, lived on the island. One of the draws to Catalina Island is the opportunity to see wild bison brought to the island by the Wrigley family to conserve these animals.

Cathedral City is a desert city in the Coachella Valley in California. Along Highway 111, one of the main thoroughfares through the Coachella Valley, one has the opportunity to drive alongside beautiful palm trees while seeing the San jacinto Mountains in the background. The trees and mountains wonderfully compliment each other.

The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana is the former Catholic cathedral of the City of Los Angeles, California. It opened in 1876 and remained as the city's cathedral for over 100 years until 1994 when it suffered severe damage during the Northridge earthquake. It was going to be demolished by the diocese, but in 1996 the City of Los Angeles took control of the building. It was then restored and converted into an event venue and restaurant. The cathedral is one of the city's original buildings.

The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana is the former Catholic cathedral of the City of Los Angeles, California. It opened in 1876 and remained as the city's cathedral for over 100 years. In 1994 is suffered severe damage during the Northridge earthquake and was going to be demolished. In 1996 the City of Los Angeles took control of the building which was then restored and converted into an event venue and restaurant. The cathedral sits near the city's highrises.

Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The temple seen in this photograph is the Temple of the Jaguar, a religious temple where the Mayans practiced ceremonies to honor one of their gods, the jaguar.

During the Christmas season the Mission Inn in Riverside, California gets decorated with over a million lights and animated displays. Thousands of people visit this destination from the day after Thanksgiving when the lights are lit until New Years Day when they are turned off. It is truly festive with several Christmas vendors lining the promenade next to the mission selling food and goods. This image is of the Mission Inn during one Christmas season.

This is the Walt Disney Concert Hall located at downtown Los Angeles. It is the home of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. Its surface is made of shiny stainless steel plates that were coated with a non-glare sheen to avoid creating excessive heat and glare for the surrounding buildings.

Downtown Los angeles in black & white is a digital rendering of a photograph I took of this unforgetable skyline. The Los Angeles skyline was built on a hill which makes it visible from several miles away including throughout the city of Las Angeles and its nearby suburbs.

The downtown Los Angeles, California skyline is a beautiful mix of modern and older masonry buildings. In this image you see glass and steel highrises contrasting with faux stone buildings. This difference in architectural stlyes builds on Los Angeles' art deco beginnings. The glass building in the background, the Wilshire Grand Hotel, is the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.

The downtown Los Angeles, California skyline is a beautiful mix of modern and older masonry buildings. In this image you see glass and steel highrises contrasting with faux stone buildings. This difference in architectural stlyes builds on Los Angeles' art deco beginnings. The glass building in the background, the Wilshire Grand Hotel, is the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.

This dry stream runs across an abandoned ranch where my grandparents once lived. As a child I visited this ranch many times, and this nostalgic photograph was taken after my grandparents had passed away.

El Castillo, also known as Kukulcan pyramid, is in the Mayan site of Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico. It is the largest man made structure in Chichen Itza and was considered a holy site by the ancient Mayans created for the King's and Priest's religious ceremonies (hence the name El Castillo which means "The Castle".)

El Castillo or Pyramid of Kukulcan is in Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico. It is a step pyramid that was used to observe the Sun's solstice by having a represented serpent, created by the temple's side stones shadows, crawl up the side of the pyramid. It was also a place where the Mayas made sacrifices to their gods.

The El Convento Hotel is a former Catholic convent which was converted into a hotel. It sits in Old Town San Juan, Puerto Rico and the courtyard facing the hotel creates an air of romanticism both day and night. This photograph catches El Convento Courtyard's nightime allure.

These glowing anemone are in the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. these marine animals are from the Pacific Ocean and glow when placed in blue light. This image is of the anemone as they can be seen at the aquarium and in the Pacific Ocean.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of nature's spectacular landmarks. It was carved by the Colorado River and displays several layers of Earth's outer core. It is because of these layers that the Grand Canyon displays such a vibrant difference in color at differing levels. In this image you can distinguish these layers.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of nature's spectacular landmarks. It was carved by the Colorado River and displays several layers of Earth's outer core. It is because of these layers that the Grand Canyon displays such a vibrant difference in color at varying levels.

The Grand Central Station in downtown Los Angeles, California is the hub for all incoming and departing trains from Los Angeles. Millions of commuters pass through its gates annually. It's Spanish architecture compliments other buildings in the area.

Long Beach, California is a coastal city in Southern California. One of its beautiful destinations is Shoreline Village which is a collection of restaurants and shops surrounding the docks. This shopping destination has walkways along the bay and docks with great views. One of these is this beautiful Japanes garden highlighted by the Japanese architecture in the background.

This photograph is of jellyfish hanging out together in a tank in the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Seeing the complexity of these creatures joining together and them swimming away was a wonderous experience for me. It is truly beautiful to see these creatures dancing their form of tangle in their tank.

This lighthouse in Long Beach, California is a functioning lighthouse although it is just a decorative landmak. Large ships do not approach this part of the Long Beach bay so they are not at risk of crashing onto the land surrounding the lighthouse.

Areas in Long Beach, California are well known to the Southern California locals as a quick get away from the busy city. Here, one of its sites, Shoreline Village’s lighthouse is depicted in the afternoon sun.

Long Beach, California has an iconic bay which allows for beautiful views out to the Pacific Ocean. Some of these beautiful views consist of small man-made islands such as the one photographed. These islands were created in 1965 to tap into oil reserves found off the Southern California coast.

Los Angeles, California has a panoramic skyline that is constantly expanding. It is well known for anyone that has the priviledge of working in the upper floors of one of these buildings that the rewarding views include beautiful sunsets, sunrises, views of other highrises, views out to the ocean and the nearby mountains. An evening skyline view of other highrises is a wonderous sight.

Los Angeles, California has a panoramic skyline that is constantly expanding. It is well known for anyone that has the privilege of working in the upper floors of one of these buildings that the rewarding views include beautiful sunsets, sunrises, views of other high rises, views out to the ocean and the nearby mountains. An evening skyline view of other high rises is a wondrous sight.

The Mayan ruin in this photograph is in Tulum, Mexico. It is one of several ancient buildings located at a site overlooking the Mexican Carribean. This site is the only Mayan site located by the ocean.

The Mayan ruin in this photograph is in Tulum, Mexico. It is one of several ancient buildings located at a site overlooking the Mexican Caribbean. This site is the only Mayan site located near the ocean.

The Mayan ruin in this photograph is in Tulum, Mexico. It is one of several ancient buildings located at a site overlooking the Mexican Caribbean. This site is the only Mayan site located near the ocean.

The Mayan ruin in this photograph is in Tulum, Mexico. It is one of several ancient buildings located at a site overlooking the Mexican Caribbean. This site is the only Mayan site located near the ocean.

The Mayan ruin in this photograph is in Tulum, Mexico. It is one of several ancient buildings located at a site overlooking the Mexican Caribbean. This site is the only Mayan site located near the ocean.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California is a Spanish hacienda style luxury hotel with a colored history. It originally was an hacienda/ranch that was restored into what is now the hotel. It is a historically protected site and has had several high level vistors including many presidents and Queen Elizabeth.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California is a hotel modeled after the California Missions and built from a restored Spanish-style hacienda. In this view of the hotel the top level of the tower is a chapel which is used to perform weddings. This side of the hotel leads to a street promenade where visitors can shop or eat at various restaurants.

The Mission Inn, in Riverside, California, is a histroric hotel and landmark. It is visited by many tourists and visitors because of its classic hacienda stlye architecture and collection of shops and restaurants in the area.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California is a luxurious hotel built on the location of a restored Spanish-style hacienda. The luxurious hotel takes the form of a California Mission (hence the name Mission Inn). The dome at the top of this iamge is tiled with red Spanish tiles and much of the Mission Inn's architecture (like the dome) derives from Spanish cathedrals.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California gets decorated with several million Christmas lights that get switched on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Fireworks and the Mission Inn lighting make the event spectacular bringing in thousands of people to witness the event. The image of this couple trying to capture a picture of this corridor during their self-guided tour through the Mission Inn captures what so many of the visitors do when visiting the hotel during this time.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California gets decorated with several million Christmas lights and ornaments that get switched on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Fireworks and the Mission Inn lighting make the event spectacular bringing in thousands of people to witness the event. I found the image of this mother trying to convince her little girl to continue with the self-guided tour through the lit corridor very heart-warming, and I couldn't resist taking this beautiful picture.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California is a hotel built from a restored Spanish-style hacienda. The luxurious hotel takes the form of a California Mission (hence the name Mission Inn). Celebrities and heads of state have stayed here. The decorative ornamental lights seen in this image are typical for the Mission Inn during the Christmas season.

The Mission Inn in Riverside, California gets decorated with several million Christmas lights that get switched on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Fireworks and the Mission Inn lighting make the event spectacular bringing in thousands of people to witness the event. The image of this couple trying to capture a picture of this corridor during their self-guided tour through the Mission Inn captures what so many of the visitors do when visiting the hotel during this time.

The Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, also known as the San Gabriel Mission, is located in San Gabriel, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. It is the fourth of 21 missions built in California by Catholic Spanish Franciscan missionaries. It was founded in 1771 and is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Los Angeles area. It served as the main church for the area of El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, the original name of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it was built using indigeneous slave labor, and some of its bells are among the largest brought to California from Europe.

The Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, also known as the San Gabriel Mission, is located in San Gabriel, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. It is the fourth of 21 missions built in California by Catholic Spanish Franciscan missionaries. It was founded in 1771 and is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Los Angeles area. It served as the main church for the area of El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles, the original name of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, it was built using indigeneous slave labor, and some of its bells are among the largest brought to California from Europe.

These two orcas, or killer whales, are residents of Sea World in San Diego, California. There was a third orca in the tank in which they were held, but the mother orca would not allow it to approach its baby. I was taken by the protective nature of the mother orca towards its baby.

Naples Bay is a bay made up of several waterways and channels leading into the bay from the Pacific Oean. It is located in Long Beach, California and naples Bay has waterfront homes and restaurants which offer some fabulous views of ocean sunsets.

Los Angeles, California has a panoramic skyline that is constantly expanding. It is well known for anyone that has the privilege of working in any of its high-rises' upper floors that the rewarding views include beautiful sunsets, stunning sunrises, views of other high-rises, views out to the ocean and panoramic views of the nearby mountains. In this image you can see some of the modern glass and steal skyscrapers contrasting with Los Angeles' older art deco buildings. Los Angeles' downtown is adorned with many art deco buildings.

Palm Springs is a resort town located in the Southern California desert. It is known for the many palm trees that line its streets and the fresh water springs that are located in various local areas. Here its famous palm trees compliment the San Jacinto Mountains.

Park City is a ski resort town east of Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of the buildings on its Main Street were built during the 19th century silver mining boom. The nearby Olympic Park hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.

The cathedral at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has an impressive dome that is visible out at sea. Within the city it can be seen from different places, including here where it is seen from an overlooking restaurant. This photogrpah contrasts the colorful cathedral dome with the blue waters of the Puerto Vallarta Bay.

Puerto Vallarta is a colonial port town on Mexico’s Pacific coast. It is known for its tropical climate, colonial charm, and for having an extensive bay that is 50 miles across. This is a wide panoramic view of that bay.

This river runs through the center of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and drains into the Pacific Ocean. The beauty of this river is its tropical greenery which line the homes located on either side of the river.

Redondo Beach is a beach west of Los Angeles, California. It is a tourist mecca for its numerous restaurants and beautiful beach. Its pier is also visited by a vast number of tourists and locals. Here the Redondo Beach Pier is shown as the sun is setting over the colorful pier.

Rosarito Beach in Baja California, Mexico is a tourist destination. The city of Rosarito has many restaurants, shops and nightclubs that attract many tourists. One of the town's draws are the beautiful beaches and sunsets. In this photograph, if you look closely, you can see a small boat probably that of a fisherman, on the ocean.

This digital illustration of Sacramento, California's Capital Building was taken from a photograph of the building. During a visit to Sacramento, the capital of California, the cherry trees lining the front of the Capital Building were in full bloom. Those cherry trees are seen in front of the building.

The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. It is in the desert 40 miles east of Palm Springs and was a tourist and celebrity resort in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, the lake is considered a dead body of water in that it's evaporating faster than it gains water from limited sources. However, this lake is a stopping ground for migrating birds and some find protected stops in the lake's marshes.

The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. In the 1950s and 1960s the lake was a resort area for celebrities and families in the Southern California area. Today, it is evaporating quickly because it doesn't have a viable flow of freshwater to sustain it. While it does sustain an abundance of migratory birds, the lake itself today is over polluted making it unusable by humans for recreational purposes. However, the lake does offer beautiful sunsets and vistas for those visiting it. It has also been discovered to contain some of the world's largest lithium deposits on it's southern end, and these are being mined for use in electronic devices.

The Salton Sea is California's largest lake. In the 1950s and 1960s the lake was a resort area for celebrities and families from the Palm Springs area. Today it is evaporating quickly because it doesn't have a viable flow of freshwater to sustain it. While it does sustain an abundance of migratory birds, the lake itself today is over polluted making it unusable by humans for recreational purposes. However, the lake does offer beautiful sunsets and vistas for those visiting it.

The walkway or exterior corridor pictured here is at the San Gabriel Mission, in San Gabriel, California, Several centuries ago it was walked through by the monks and indigenous people who constructed this mission. The San Gabriel mission was the first Catholic mission constructed to serve the population of the Spanish village named Los Angeles.

The San Gabriel Mission Playhouse is located in the Mission District next to the site where the Catholic Mission, Mission San Gabriel Arcangel (San Gabriel Mission), is located. The playhouse was constructed between 1923-1927 and is the venue for many live events. Its architecture is in the Mission Revival Style, common in California. Its interior is adorned with Native American influenced paintings and carvings and with tapestries that were gifts from the King of Spain in 1927.

The Shoreline Village boardwalk follows along the Long Beach, California boat docks. Shoreline Village is composed of welcoming restaurants and quaint shops that sell unique items. It is a beautiful setting where wonderous sunsets can be observed over the Long Beach bay.

The Shoreline Village boardwalk follows along the Long Beach, California boat docks. Shoreline Village is composed of welcoming restaurants and quaint shops that sell unique items. It is a beautiful setting where wonderous sunsets can be observed over the Long Beach bay.

St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic church located near downtown Los Angeles, California. It's tower dominates the landscape and can be seen for some distance away. It was built between 1923-1925, and it's architecture is in the Spanish baroque style. Both its exterior and interior are stunning.

Cabazon, California is just west of Palm Springs. When one travels from Palm Srings to Los Angeles one crosses through Cabazon. One of the great benefits of this western drive through Cabazon is the captivating sunsets that one has fortunate to see.

No, they're not celebrities in Hollywood, but rather, stars at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. These colorful starfish are varied species that can be found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the California coast.

The Tahquitz Canyon in Palm Springs, California can have waterfalls that form a stream that flows downhill towards Palm Springs. The stream here was photographed on a hike up the Tahquitz Canyon trail.

The Tahquitz Canyon Trail in Palm Springs, California is a hike up from the city to the San Jacinto Mountains on the western edge of the city. This image is of an stone outgrowth on the trail. This colorful outgrowth is a spectacular view when hiking the trail.

The Tahquitz Canyon leads up from Palm Springs, California. The waterfall can be viewed at the top of the hiking trail when the Palm Springs area has had vast snow and/or rain fall. Pictured in this image is the waterfall formed after vast amounts of snow that fell on the San Jacinto Mountains had melted.

The Los Angeles, California 4th Street bridge runs over the Los Angeles viaduct and leads into downtown. This bridge was constructed in the early 1930s and is an example of Los Angeles' art deco architecture. The skyscraper in the background is being constructed below 4th Street.

The US Bank Tower in the downtown Los Angeles, California skyline highlights this picture. It was taken from the grounds of another building which house open air eateries that face the building.

The Us Bank in Los Angeles, California was once the tallest building west of the Missippi River. It originally served as home for the Los Angeles Public Library (but the library later moved to another building). The building was designed to mimic Los Angeles' art deco architectural style. The architectect designed the building so that it would not have any hard corners making it easy to appreciate from any perspective.

The town of Avalon on Catalina Island in Southern California is seen on the distant shore. In the foreground is the Wrigley Mansion owned by the family that created the chewing gum by the same name. The town of Avalon on the coast was established to allow for the welcoming of Wrigley family guests to the island and it is now an international getaway.

Xel-Ha is an outdoor waterpark with swimming, hiking, watersports, and exploration available to the ourdoor enthusiast. Here is a salwater lagoon which opens up to the Carribean Sea is seen in this photograph.

Xel-Ha is a waterpark near Tulum in Quintanaroo, Mexico. Here one can do various activities like water sports, swim in lagoons or in the Carribean Sea, see animals such as manatees, or hike throughout the park and take in all of the beauty of Mexico's tropical jungle.

Xel-Ha is a waterpark near Tulum in Quintanaroo, Mexico. Here one can do various activities like water sports, swim in lagoons or in the Carribean Sea, see animals such as manatees, or hike throughout the park and take in all of the beauty of Mexico's tropical jungle.