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A journey on Alaska Railroad offers ringside seats to striking landscape and a pleasant experience in comfortable seats, with dining options from full meals to snacks among ever changing views. RIDING THE RAILS ALASKA STYLE MEANS COMFORT AS WELL AS BEAUTY STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" Views from your coach are spectacular because Alaska Railroad cars hug the scenery. Conductor Wanda Robinson has been with the company 30 years. Here she greets "Keller and Cookie." PICTURE YOURSELF relaxing in a comfy train car, beverage of choice in hand, watching the world's most spectacular scenery glide by. You've got a front-row sea to nature's wonders with a spectacular adventure on Alaska Railroad. The popular rail offers a variety of day trip adventures to some of the state's iconic sights -- from snow-capped mountains to picturesque villages and the ever changing landscape of the sea. WE BEGAN our adventure in Anchorage, after a relaxing week exploring this lively corner of the state.  Our destination was Seward, 114 miles or about 4.5 leisurely train hours away.   A PEACEFUL yet exciting ride is guaranteed from Anchorage and many other cities because the train routes assure passengers are surrounded by inspiring scenery at every turn. Cheerful attendants welcome  passengers and make sure they are comfortable. They offer complimentary literature on the colorful history of the railroad. Announcements are made to remind where one may enjoy a leisurely meal or grab a light snack during the trip. Train passengers boarding in Anchorage have breakfast on the train, arriving in Seward after a lovely trip in time for lunch. A VARIETY of routes offer enticing options to choose from. National Geographic Traveler ranked our route among the Top Ten Train Rides in North America. Routes feature wildlife and quaint, historic towns, so there are plenty of options. We arose early to board our train in Anchorage and were off by 6:45 a.m. to wind along beautiful Turnagain Arm.  We traveled past snowy peaks of Chugach Range as the sea churned below, then emerged into verdant wilderness. The variety of landscape was striking. We arrived late morning in Seward, in time for lunch, checked our bags at the hotel and were off to explore a sea life center.  Near the Anchorage train station, a young fisherman shows off his morning catch in Anchorage, caught from a city bridge. THE OPERATION has depots in Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Girdwood, Portage, Seward, Talkeetna, Wasilla and Whittier. First, find the location that most interests you and go from there. Many of the journeys are designed for cruise travelers because savvy sea lovers often complement their cruise with a rail trip as we did before boarding our ship for an Inside Passage trip to Vancouver. It's a marvelous state -- best savored when someone else is doing the driving. Alaska by rail is tops!   Watching the tracks from the caboose is a pleasant option as passengers are free to explore around the cars.   More on train travel in Alaska, click here AlaskaRailroad.com ; 800 544-0552; 907 265-2494 The Alaska Native Heritage Center offers live performance, and a walk through history with indigenous homes and art. UP NEXT: Alaska offers colorful history in a variety of cities and towns, with something for everyone -- from the Northern Lights to trolley tours, salmon lore, fascinating cultural museums detailing life among the indigenous people. If you're in Anchorage, here's a "don't miss." A visit to Alaska Native Heritage Center offers a treasure trove of folklore, crafts and history, plus live performances of traditional dance and games. You'll likely see salmon and bears in your Alaska travels and you may meet a sled dog and hear about the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race. Meanwhile, explore, learn and live, and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, the arts, nature, family and more. Please share the links of stories that interest you : www.whereiscookie.com

Train day trippers: James B. Ganner and his uncle Bruce Keller take to the rails for a three-day Bay Area adventure, north from Redwood City to San Francisco, south to San Jose, and more. Our road warriors,  "Cookie and Keller" ride the rails in England, Asia and Europe, too. YOUNG TRAIN TREKKER KNOWS HIS 'RAIL ROPES,' TOURS WITH 'UNCLE KK'    STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER TRAIN TRAVEL o ffers many advantages over  other modes of transportation. If you make the time, a train trip offers opportunity to "smell the roses," enjoy the scenery, have a beer or cup of tea, stretch your legs, enjoy the company of your partner, friend or family. James and "Auntie Cookie" speed toward San Francisco on the commuter train from  the Ganner home in Redwood City.  In a recent scenario, trains offered time to spend with a beloved nephew, James Brian Ganner, who has a lifelong fascination with this time honored mode of transportation. "Uncle KK," aka Bruce Keller, travel photographer and himself a train lover, spent three days on the road with James, who explained his fascination with trains. "Trains fascinate me because they provide a reasonably priced service with convenient locations for hopping off and on," says James, who vividly remembers train journeys taken when he was only four and five years old. Watching the landscape change is a chief train trip plus. HE CONTRIBUTED his savings to a fund to help save a vintage train service in Napa because, he says, "I love trains. I wish more people would use them because they help reduce traffic and pollution.''  A.B. Pittendrigh, my great-grandfather and third great grandfather of James, was a telegrapher on the Northern Pacific Railroad. His daughter, my gran Olive -- great, great-grandmother to James -- grew up on trains. She passed that affection down the generations and onto our nephew. James, at right, leaves San Francisco behind on a ferry with his auntie and uncle. They reached the ferry terminal via train. I WAS INVITED  to day three of a northern California train adventure with "Uncle KK" and James. Day one featured a train trip from Redwood City to the ferry building near Fisherman's Wharf and back. Day two featured a trip south to San Jose and the stadium, a picnic and stroll, then back. Day three featured a return to the ferry building, and a boat ride past Alcatraz to Sausalito for a picnic and sight seeing, then home. Cookie has a train ticket in hand, here in Madrid, awaiting a train to Barcelona, then Malaga. At age 12, James says, "I've studied California trains since I was very young.  Caltrain trains are getting older and being replaced. The people who study them are trying to make our state's train travel more 'green' and that's a good thing." Vintage train trip in Britain JAMES SHARED this bit of train trivia: railways existed as early as 1550, in Germany. "They were pathways of wooden rails called wagonways,” he says. That marks the beginning of modern rail transport, which made it easier for horse-drawn wagons and carts to move along dirt roads. JAMES IS EAGER to hop a train or two in Europe, as we do every year. His paternal grandmother, Margaret, lives hear Edinburgh. James would love to take a direct, high-speed train from London's Kings Cross station to central Edinburgh and visit her and his many cousins in nearby villages. "I'd be there in Scotland in 4.5 hours," says James, "and we'd reach a speed of 125 mph. That would be so great!" Europe by train tips All aboard in Paris, for the TGV train to Bordeaux. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers enjoy trains both modern and vintage. They recently enjoyed a pair of memorable, different train trips  on their recent visit to New Zealand. Trains  allow prime viewing of spectacular scenery. James and his auntie and uncle believe that train travel is the most efficient way to explore Europe.  "By the time you get to the airport a few hours before your flight, and wait for the plane, and experience delays, you could be on your way to another country if you'd chosen train," says James. For "Uncle KK," a lifelong love of trains "combines my love of adventure and respect for ingenuity. What a wonderful way to explore the Earth."   New Zealand's varied train trips One of our chief reasons for our train infatuation is that we spend precious time together enjoying the changing landscape. We've traveled pleasantly and efficiently by BritRail, Eurail and rail in South America, Japan and China.  Best of all, we leave the driving to the engineer. More information on train travel: eurail.com ; britrail.com ; www.caltrain.com ;  www.dunedinrailways.co.nz wpyr.com (Alaska/Skagway Yukon Pass trip) The beautiful and graceful gannets of New Zealand are our next feature as we explore nature's wonders worldwide. UP NEXT: We continue our love affair with the world and its fascinating plants and creatures. Come with us to a magical gannet sanctuary in New Zealand, then on to ocean dwellers at Honolulu's Sea  Life Park, then the country's oldest national park, Yellowstone. More beauty awaits in Madeira and we explore the history of the lei. Remember to explore, learn and live. Catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, performance, nature & family: www.whereiscookie.com

A spectacular gannet sanctuary in New Zealand offers a rare opportunity to view these graceful, enduring birds close-up, here with their young chicks near the end of their breeding season. EXPLORING BELOVED BIRD'S BREEDING GROUND IN SANCTUARY NORTH  OF AUCKLAND   A sea of gannet parents and their young stretch out toward the southern end of the Tasman Sea, awaiting migration.   STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELL ER COMING FACE TO  face  with hundreds of gannets is a thrill of a lifetime. We have the good fortune to know gannet-loving friends in Auckland, New Zealand. Their home is an hour's drive from the beautiful Muriwai gannet breeding site. So Barbie and Tom graciously organized an outing when they learned of our interest in this fleet, handsome and able-bodied bird.   At Muriwai, Tom Wellington and Barbie Davidson, right, hosted Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers to a splendid day of gannet viewing. At Muriwai, Tom Wellington and Barbie Davidson, right, hosted Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers to a splendid day of gannet viewing. WE FOUR DROVE  to Muriwai, a popular coastal community on Auckland's west coast, to watch the graceful birds, famous for their endurance capabilities and long flights.  These stalwart birds can fly 300 miles at 60 miles per hour. Their excellent vision allows them to spot fish from 100 feet or more. So it's no surprise that paleontologists have unearthed the fossilized remains of an extinct gannet species that lived in what is now Portugal during the Miocene epoch, some 15 million years ago. POETS CONSIDER  the northern gannet to be symbolic of the perfect marriage between wind and sea. They can live 15 years, and besides being graceful, strong and long lived, they are "somewhat monogamous," experts claim. That means the parents separate when their chicks leave the nest -- presumably amicably. They usually bond again the following year, perhaps just needing a change of venue.  A young girl is one of the fascinated to uristsand locals who admire Muriwai's gannets. NEARLY AS LARGE as an albatross, the northern gannet has a heavy, sharp bill, pointed tail and long, slender wings. We were thrilled to watch dozens of adults with their young.    Catching them in February before they leave in March, w e were thrilled to watch dozens of adults with their young and "teen-agers." The mature gannet is snowy white with black wingtips and a downy crown washed with gold. The young ones have fuzz, froth and fluff, and the juveniles have speckles and greyish feathers. A close-up of a mature gannet with lovely blue and gold.   ALTHOUGH gannets can be seen occasionally from most places along the coasts of New Zealand's main islands, most Kiwi gannetries are situated off the North Island, where our friends live. The Muriwai colony inhabits two vertical-sided islands, and the viewing spot is a pleasant stroll from the parking area. We were lucky to observe both adults and juveniles, and relieved that dogs aren't allowed because they would disturb the nests on the sandy banks. About 1,200 pairs of gannets nest in Muriwai from August to March each year, caring for their single young in nests just centimeters apart. Gannets normally lay only one chalky-blue egg, using their webbed feet to warm the eggs. Of three, New Zealand's largest mainland gannetry is at Cape Kidnappers with around 5,000 breeding pairs. Farewell Spit and Muriwai are the country's other two. Several stages of gannets can be seen in this photo, from the fuzzy young, to mid-sized juveniles to fully grown adults.  Several stages of gannets can be seen in this photo, from the fuzzy young, to mid-sized juveniles to fully grown adults.  YOUNG GANNETS forsake their nests at about three-and-a-half months. Then, like many human Kiwis, these birds head across the Tasman Sea for Australia's east coast. Their arduous maiden flight can take from six to 15 days from Muriwai. There are other gannet colonies in the world. England, Scotland and Wales hosts several -- at Troup Head, St Kilda in Scotland, and on Grassholm in Wales. Bempton Cliffs is home to the only mainland breeding colony of gannets in England. Northern Hemisphere birds arrive at the colony from January and leave in August and September. They migrate from the coast of Africa, another remarkable gannet journey. These tiny endangered Humboldt penguins are among the stars at Sea Life Park in Honolulu, among the tropical delights there. UP NEXT: While we're in a birding frame of mind, come with us to Sea Life Park in Honolulu, where the rare, endangered Humboldt penguin is making a comeback thanks to researchers and diligent care.  The tiny, tropical bird is among other attractive residents, including dolphins and sharks. We explore the well tended exhibits and take time to feed the budgies, too, at this popular wildlife park, animal sanctuary and aquarium. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, performance, family and more. Please share the link and consider a free subscription: www.whereiscookie.com

In a picturesque setting near the Pacific, tourists enjoy a dolphin show at popular Sea Life Park. The rare Humboldt penguin is happy at Sea Life Park, here taking a cooling swim.  OAHU'S BEST KEPT SECRET AWAITS AT SEA LIFE PARK WITH WONDERS OF NATURE STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IT'S 25 MINUTES AWAY from Honolulu, a pleasant ride from the bustle and hustle of Waikiki. But it's another world, a world of wonder, peace and a chance to interact with nature and its beautiful creatures. Daily shark feeding is one of the draws. Honolulu's Sea Life Park celebrates Hawaii's love of the sea and the ocean's magnificent residents. Among its exotic and entertaining residents are dolphins and sea lions, and even some endangered species such as the tiny, rare Humboldt penguin. Bird feeding delights these kids and children of all ages. Waikiki Trolley stops at the park, making it easy and relaxing to get from Honolulu and back. THIS WONDROUS,   family friendly place also showcases a fascinating and busy aviary where tourists can feed dozens of hungry parakeets, literally at arm's length. Animal encounters, including the park's award-winning dolphin show, are part of the enticement.  If you're planning to dine there, you'll enjoy sampling the food of a Hawaiian legend, Pink's Hot Dogs. The well known eatery makes its home at the park and offers tasty island fare, including curries and fresh fruit.  The popular park also offers one of the island's best ranked luaus, complete with authentic entertainment.    EDUCATION IS an important part of the park's mission. Families are invited to purchase annual, money-saving passes allowing for reasonable entry fees and multiple visits. We like to take a break from driving, and enjoy the beautiful drive up the hill from Honolulu, so we book the famous Waikiki Trolley's hop-on and hop-off bus. You'll want the Blue Line for this adventure, and don't worry if the trolley is green. The pleasant shuttle is open-air and allows spectacular views of Diamond Head, residential areas and the spectacular coast line on the drive up.   Bringing the roasted pig from the umu, these two handsome entertainers smile for the cameras.   OUR FRIENDLY DRIVER  stopped at several viewing points along the way, giving us an interesting preview of what we were about to behold at the park: a marine mammal preserve, bird sanctuary and aquarium.    Start practicing your Hawaiian now if you'd like to pronounce the locale correctly:  the area is called Waimānalo.  It is located in a lush, mountainous area near Makapuʻu Point, north of Hanauma Bay. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers pause for a selfie on the road to Sea Life Park.  Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers pause for a selfie on the road to Sea Life Park.  Once there, prepare  to be delighted with the variety of exhibits, shows and user-friendly activities from bird  and shark feeding, to dolphin shows -- one of the best we've seen and we're dolphin show regulars.   THE PARK's LUAU is another of the park's attractions. Some folks come for the afternoon activities then stay for the luau, ranked among the islands' best. Of the dozens on the islands,  it's the only one that offers games and participation activities. While awaiting the traditional luau feast, people enjoy lei making, fish net throwing and ukulele lessons. The buffet is considered "tops" for its colorful variety of island delicacies and of course the traditional umu-roasted pig -- the word means earth oven and a luau wouldn't be a luau without this delicious main course offering. Bird loving Cookie smiles at a budgie, one of many parakeets at Sea Life Park. While you're digesting and listening to live Hawaiian music, you can watch nimble climbers scale coconut trees. Sea Life Park guests are invited to a series of entertaining   events and presentations, including feeding of the Humboldt penguins. IF YOU want to partake of the luau, you'll need to drive your car or take a taxi or Uber, because the trolley doesn't operate at night.  But if you're making a day trip of it, the Waikiki Trolley is a perfect choice.  It's a delightful trip and operates on a convenient hourly schedule. You can time your visit to stay a couple hours or more, and be outside the entrance at the appropriate time. Entrance fees go to supporting the endeavor, and are lower than most marine playgrounds offering similar activities and critter attractions.  Adults 13 and older pay $39.99; junior admission, for those 3 to 12 years old, is $24.99. If you're feeling flush, you can also book a dolphin encounter -- we did this for our family party of six on the Big Island at Hilton Waikoloa Village and it was a thrill for all.  To touch and observe them and swim with them, in a highly supervised encounter, is $179.99 per  person. The park is 20 acres and boasts 2,000 animals. Well worth a day trip and terrific for families. More information to enhance your visit:  waikikitrolley.com sealifeparkhawaii.com   Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone National Park, during a spring shower with a rainbow (double, actually) off to the right. Spring wildflowers bloom in foreground. UP NEXT:  Come along with us on a a trip through Yellowstone National Park. The season is officially underway and the park is more beautiful than ever.  If you haven't reserved a space yet, you may have trouble.  But we have a few ideas up our sleeve for reserving short-notice rooms, and perhaps staying outside the park.  The park welcomed 3.5 million visitors in 2022, and almost a half-million international nature lovers in May of 2023. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a lively spin on nature, travel, family, performance and more: www.whereiscookie.com

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers are all smiles at the iconic Roosevelt Arch in Yellowstone. NATION'S OLDEST PARK GREETS INTERNATIONAL CROWDS Tips on reserving a room to enjoy the park in a busy season Bison graze peacefully in the park, awaiting thousands of views. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A TRIP THROUGH  Yellowstone National Park, no matter how brief, yields pleasures and surprises with each visit. Wintertime is a wondrous time in the park, although only two of the hotels are open then. Still, worth considering. In my decades on the planet, I've never missed an annual gambol through this eye-popping treasure, established in by President Theodore Roosevelt. Yellowstone was established 151 years ago by this conservationist president,  who is honored in a famous arch near Mammoth. THE WONDERS OF  "our" park unfold in glorious hues -- summer or winter -- and despite the crowds, it's a trip we never tire of taking. Yellowstone is enormous -- 3,472 square miles. At first study, it seems a daunting undertaking to try to see it all. There are dozens of "main attractions" and hundreds of lesser known treasures. There is much to see and do, depending on your energy and interest. The majesty of Grand Teton National Park is  displayed in its dramatic jagged peaks. Yellowstone turned 150 last year  It's best to plan at least four days in Yellowstone. If you have less time, you can see highlights in two or three days. If you travel the park top to bottom, you'll be in three states. While the park is mostly in Wyoming, it spreads into Montana and Idaho. You'll be keeping company with tourists from all over the world, and hundreds of animal species, including the famous bison and bears. Wolves in the northern Lamar Valley are making a comeback and elk and antelope roam, too, along with thousands of birds. You'll traverse lush forests, hot springs and gushing geysers, including the famous Old Faithful, the park's most crowded spot. It's possible to see wildlife from the road, here bison grazing near the river. Figure a full week if you want to include Grand Teton National Park to the south. Well worth a visit if you've time for two stunning parks. Their wonders are different in many ways. YELLOWSTONE HAS  nine lodges with more than 2,000 rooms. Bookings are made early and many people reserve rooms a year ahead. That's possible because on the fifth of each month, rooms go on sale for that same month in the following year, making it possible to book ahead nearly 13 months. The park's lodges are open from late spring through fall, but only two are open in the winter. A cow elk meanders close to the Roosevelt Arch. Yellowstone's wildflowers abound after heavy rains this year. STAYING INSIDE Yellowstone is   more convenient for sightseeing, but hotel rooms are more expensive and often unavailable.  We have stayed outside the park the last few visits -- it means a bit more driving, but lodging is cheaper outside the park and nearby towns have better restaurant selections and other attractions. A few ideas to try are West Yellowstone, right at the west entrance; Cody, Wyo., a pleasant drive to the east entrance; Gardiner, at the north entrance; Big Sky,  a beautiful 50-mile drive to West Yellowstone,  along the west fork of the Gallatin River; and several places in Idaho, including a lodge we discovered last year, Sawtelle Mountain Resort.  It's a family friendly place, considerably cheaper than the closer motels and rentals, and a beautiful drive into West Yellowstone.   More information to help you plan a park visit, even on short notice: nps.gov yellowstonenationalparklodges.com vrbo.com ;  bigskyresort.com expedia.com   sawtellemountainresort.com   A packed house in Fishtail enjoys "The Three Musketeers," a lively  touring production by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. The troupe tours two full, free shows from June into mid-September. UP NEXT:  Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is underway. This ambitious endeavor has been entertaining audiences in the Rocky Mountains for 51 years. This season's tour transits all of Montana and hits parts of Idaho, Wyoming and Washington states. On tap are two productions, "The Three Musketeers," adapted from the Dumas novel, and William Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure." The popular annual tradition is funded by grants and donations and is always met with a lively and grateful response. For the schedule, go to: ShakespeareInTheParks.org

Artist Mark di Suvero's "Beethoven's Quartet" is a stunning work. An art tour participant in the left of the photo gives a sense of the enormity of the monumental piece at Tippet Rise Art Center. ART CENTER SPREADS ITS WINGS, INVITES GUESTS TO EXPLORE LAND WITH BILLION YEAR HISTORY STORY By CHRISTENE  MEYERS Geologist John Weber earned his doctorate at Northwestern University and has made a name for himself studying plate tectonics around the world. Here, he explains shifts in the earth at Tippet Rise, over 3 billion years. PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER MONTANA'S STUNNING  Tippet Rise Art Center is a music, art and nature showpiece reflecting its founders' love of the arts and nature and their desire to welcome the public. This year, the enchanting center entertained a different group of visitors. The engaging complex invited guests to "Geo-Paleo Tours,'' exploring the ancient geological history of the sprawling 12,500-acre, working cattle ranch. A man made piece of art, Domo, is one of three  pieces at Tippet Rise created by Ensamble Studio of Spain. Here, Cookie is dwarfed by the massive 2016 sculpture. POISED AT the convergence of two contrasting regions -- the Beartooth Mountains and the Great Plains -- Tippet  Rise hosts world class players of classical and cutting edge composers. It is also home to a unique combination of geologic wonders, from fossilized marine life to ice-age gravel deposits. The art center celebrates multiple connections between nature, art, architecture, and music.   WE HOPPED  in two comfy vans with a small group of  a dozen-plus fellow "geo enthusiasts" to study some of the oldest rocks on planet Earth. The sea shells we find on our hikes along the West Fork of the Stillwater River prove the existence here of early marine life in what expert John Weber calls "upturned limestone palisade fins."  We joined other lucky guests who signed up early to tour the acreage, making a series of stops to meander past grazing cattle and explore the land. We gained insights into ancient geological and paleontological features, glimpsing into the past as we viewed rocks, valleys and ledges with ancient history scattered across the art center’s acreage. We learned that a mile-deep sheet of ice once covered the Beartooth Mountains we know and love today. Difficult to imagine, but true. Geology fascinates Karen May, who uses career experience to enhance the "hands on" tour at Tippet Rise.  While hiking and examining maps, graphs and  rock samples, we learned that the melting and slipping of the ice sheets created over time the valleys and streams we see today. The past came alive as we learned of the shifts, turns and eruptions which shaped the landscape we explore on foot, bikes and off-road vehicles. Through the enterprise of Tippet Rise founders Peter and Cathy Halstead, the art center undertook these geo tours to complement the concerts of classical music and exhibits of huge contemporary outdoor sculptures. Expert geologists take participants on a lively, energetic hike to explore Tippet Rise and its rocks, limestone cliffs and fossils. Hikers also learn of volcanic eruptions which shaped the land. Photographer Bruce Keller enjoys several hikes in Tippet Rise's 12,000 acres.   We drove past massive contemporary art pieces, learning that millions of years ago, gravel encrusted plateaus spread out on Tippet Rise. These remain on the ranch, eroded from the rising Beartooths. We walked this land on four hikes through the varied land, climbing and touching many intriguing formations. WEBER showed us fossils that might have gone unnoticed but for his sharp eye. Hard for this musician and writer to wrap the brain around billion year old rocks -- or to grasp that "younger ones'' in our area of the Beartooths are only 75 to 80 million years old, mere kids in the planet's geological evolution.  One tour participant, a geologist with her master's degree, studies Montana's landscape from her summer home in Bozeman, returning to Seattle in the winter.  She and others considered the nearly four-hour adventure "enlightening, mind boggling."  Another excited tour hiker, a musician and fan of the musical component of the art center, said the "Geology and Landscape" tour is a lovely complement to the art and music, and a much older component of what makes Tippet Rise unique. Spotlight on Center's art  A thin shaft of white is likely bone, preserved in the rock. A dozen geology buffs enjoy several hikes over a period of hours, moving from place to place in vans, to explore the Tippet Rise geological wonders, sculpted over the ages. "WE ARE SO lucky to have this in south-central Montana, and so close to Yellowstone Park," he said. My observant Keller also noted how the "geo tour" is another way the center's founders exhibit environmental consciousness. The Halsteads are "environmentally savvy," he observed, in the way they minimize impact on the land. Buildings are warmed and cooled by geothermal systems and lit by solar power. The place is beautifully designed so that even deep parking lots are camouflaged by the hillsides.  A well organized construction project has brought in trucks and other equipment to build a state of the art sound studio, latest project in the wings. THE GEO-PALEO tours reflect a partnership between Tippet Rise and the Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association (YBRA). Funding comes from Princeton Geological Association, dating back to a 1936 agreement made at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge, Montana. YBRA’s distinguished faculty includes Weber, who guided our tour, the last of the season. The concert season began Aug. 18. A March lottery determined lucky ticket holders for the short season of world class performers. The coveted concerts end Sept. 17. Check the website Wednesdays for rare but occasional tickets.  tippetrise.org   Elvin Dhimitri of Opera E Lirica in Rome, gives a brilliant concert of "The Four Seasons." UP NEXT: We're in Rome, seeing splendid buildings, fountains and artwork. A highlight of the week was a brilliant performance of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" featuring Italy's most famous violinist, Elvin Dhimitri. The concert rocketed to the top of Cookie's "Lifetime Top Concerts" -- tying for first place with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, with a host of other highlight concerts on a burgeoning list. Then we're off to Madeira, and whale watching off the coast of Oregon. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on life, nature, the arts, family and more.

FABULOUS CONCERT, GREAT TOUR WITH 'GET YOUR GUIDE' -- A SPLENDID DAY Elvin Dhimitri turns a page on a score, backed by one of two second violinists, partly hidden at left, with his violist near mirror, and cellist, seated at right.  Each of six musicians participated in a stunning concert. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The second violinists enter the stage for an encore . MUSIC CHANGED my life when I was a three year old, watching spellbound as the great Jascha Heifetz play Paganini.  I was mesmerized. I wanted to play the violin. And did, although piano is my main instrument. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers arrive for the concert. Music continues to enhance and guide my life.  It has taken me to concert halls, jazz clubs, orchestra pits and dressing rooms.  It has opened doors, introduced me to fellow musicians and music lovers around the world.  Music has made friends on ships, trains   and even airplanes, when I played a keyboard long ago on the topside cocktail lounge of a glorious Boeing 747. The first-class cabin sang show tunes all the way from Los Angeles to New York. The soloist, Elvin Dhimitri, and Cookie after the concert. Both all smiles, a wonderful night following a terrific day tour with Get Your Guide. A RECENT NIGHT TO remember rocketed to the top of   my "most memorable" concert list.  It shines next to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's Radio City Music Hall farewell. The concert featured brilliant violinist Elvin Dhimitri, considered by many as one of Italy's finest living violinists. Bruce Keller secretly purchased a pair of tickets to Dhimitri's "Le Quattro Stagioni," better known to the English speaking world as "The Four Seasons," Vivaldi's masterpiece. The famous concertos composed in 1723, are the world's most popular pieces of Baroque music and broke ground with their lyrical depiction of the   changing seasons. "Keller and Cookie" peak out from behind a poster advertising the Vivaldi concert.  It will run through mid-December, so if you're in Rome, don't miss it. Opera E Lirica sponsors. The pieces are famous for their flourish and technical innovations. Dhimitri's dazzling technique brought the works to a mesmerized house on a hot late-August evening. His immaculately honed technique and unflappable stage presence transported the audience into a dream world. As a fellow concert goer said, "He played as if possessed by a holy spirit, a musical genius under a spell." A PERFECT RAPPORT with his gifted players was sustained in frequent eye contact. His ensemble includes two second violins, a violist, cellist and harpsichord so we had the pleasure of hearing six superbly talented musicians. THE DAY Tour walk with GetYourGuide was terrific -- amiable guide, knowledgeable and fun to point out new things about places we'd been before. THEN THE  EVENING  was charmed from beginning to end.  Keller and I took a taxi from our hotel to the venue, stopping for a glass of wine for me, a beer for Keller, at the Sala Verdi concert hall, inside the gracious Hotel Quirinale, a treasure of its own built in 1865 near the Piazza Venezia. It's in the heart of Roma, five minutes from the Colosseum and just a bit farther to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. WE HAD  hoped to hear the concert in Church of San Francesco Caravita but temperatures of near 100 degrees forced moving it to the cooler hotel concert hall, with its equally fine acoustics and plenty of history to entertain concert goers before the show began.   Violinist Jascha Heifetz performed at Fox Theatre in the early 1950s when Cookie was a little girl. We in the audience were from all over the globe: India, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, Australia, greeted by a lovely Eliana, who scanned our tickets and had an assistant guide us to our second-row seats.  I could feel the presence of my grandmother, a fine pianist and  accompanist, and my mother, who also played piano and was an accomplished violinist.  She and another old friend, Eloise Kirk, played fiddle in the Montana State University Orchestra in Bozeman. Each was  pregnant with their first child -- Eloise had her son John and my mother had me. A lifelong love of music began at birth -- or likely before -- for Cookie, whose musical mother and grandmother greatly influence her. THE EVENING was too brief. There were three sets of gracious applause-filled bows, followed by exits.  Then Dhimitri appeared again to cheers, and ushered his ensemble back on stage. After a generous encore  -- more Vivaldi, a precisely rendered section of "The Four Seasons" -- the musicians took a final bow and exited. A beautiful harpsichord was much photographed after the standing-ovation crowd. By good fortune, we were able to catch up to Dhimitri for a brief chat after his exhausting performance.  He was gracious and accommodating, put his violin case down to pose for photos and answer a couple questions. He believes in daily practice, like Heifetz, and off stage showed himself to be a gentleman of elegance, discipline and gracious demeanor. The audience would have enjoyed another 90 minutes, but the maestro and his five faithful and equally gifted players, are doing several shows a week through mid December. So the evening sadly ended. Tickets are reasonably priced for this masterful program, from 15 Euros to 50 Euros. If you're in Rome and have the Roma pass, ask for the "Roma Pass" discount. If you're in Europe, call +39 338 12 18 424. www.opera-lirica.com For a fun, reasonably priced tour in many cities worldwide: GetYourGuide.com   The rocky seashore of Madeira is only one of its charms. The beautiful Portuguese island has been popular with Europeans and sun-seekers from Britain for decades.  NEXT UP:  Madeira. It sounds lovely and it is. Long a favorite of visitors from the UK, this Portuguese island is now popular with tourists from all over the world. This gorgeous island is located in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,000 kilometers from the Portuguese mainland. The picturesque island is part of the Madeira Islands group. Besides the wine for which it is famous, it offers beach activities, beautiful hotels and restaurants, historic monuments, and fabulous botanical gardens.  Come along with us, remembering to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, the arts, nature, family and more.

The drama of Madeira is partly because it rises from sea level to 6,000 feet.  One can drive it in less than an hour, experiencing the beauty. EXOTIC ISLAND OFFERS VARIETY OF CLIMATE, TERRAIN, AND LURES STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A memorial to war reminds that Madeira prefers peace. BEGIN YOUR Madeira outing in Funchal with its gorgeous flora and fauna. Climb from sea level to 6,000 feet and peer down at the ocean below. Stop for a beer or glass of wine and watch the ocean. Make time for the war memorials and a stroll through lush botanical gardens. But don't miss a chance to drive up that splendid coastline, with views to stagger. Madeira retains its rustic charm in casual cafes and eateries, but offers elegant hotels, too. Bruce Keller and Christene Meyers high above the coastline in Madeira. IT'S EASY to fall in love with Madeira for its variety:  ragged forests, pretty beachfront, fine art, culture of many kinds including music and fine food. You'll also be struck by an awareness of the island's stormy past. MADEIRA  tried to remain neutral in the great world wars, but because of Portugal's proximity, and the island's strategic location, the people  have lived with a sense of fear,  and determination to preserve their safe haven. To secure international support for its authority in Africa, Portugal entered the war in 1914 on the side of Britain and the Allies. Our guide described an incident of more than 100 years ago which people still recount and pass on to their children. On December 1916 during World War I, a German U-boat entered Funchal harbor on Madeira; it torpedoed and sank, creating havoc for days. Today's population includes thousands of Gibraltarians whose ancestors were shipped to Madeira in 1940 when it was feared Gibraltar would be attacked. Time for a beer with a view of beautiful beaches.      BRITISH PEOPLE have long loved Madeira, stemming from Britain's occupation after the Napoleonic Wars, a friendly occupation ending in 1814 when the island was returned to Portugal. Brits and many others are attracted to the dramatic landscape created by volcanic eruptions from the Atlantic seafloor. The layers of lava eventually reached the sea surface and created the Madeira Archipelago -- beginning a mere 20 million years ago.  More recently -- about two million years ago -- the volcanic eruptions ended and seeds washed ashore. Birds followed and dined on the first plant growth, now beautiful, old-growth forests. We enjoy the island for those forests and dramatic mountains,  balmy climate, and flowers of every shade. A fine old hotel, Reid's, is a fun splurge for a couple days. Reid's Palace, a stately old hotel, reigns. The people of Madeira enjoy plants and are expert cooks. Many inviting, small restaurants serve specialty dishes. UNTIL RECENTLY , exploring the island was arduous but millions of dollars of infrastructure and road work have made its mountainous land and rugged coasts accessible. But Madeira has long been sought after for its fruit, flowers and temperate climate.  Its rough terrain didn't stop sailors of yore. Phoenician, Roman and North African explorers all reached the island, likely landing near the seaside town of Calheta on the southwest coast. There, we visited an impressive memorial bound to touch the heart of every viewer.  A stone wall reveals the outline of a soldier holding a child's hand with one hand and a gun in the other. Each of the figures is holding a rose and hundreds of small faces cover the remaining space. The memorial commemorates the "Overseas War," fought from 1961 to 1975. We were curious about this strange moniker.  The war has several  other names, too, all elaborate: Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on the trail of food, history, art and music in Madeira. the Portuguese Colonial War or the War of Liberation, or the Angolan, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambican War of Independence. Our guide described it as "clashes between the Portuguese armed forces and forces of the liberation movements of the colonies." It happened during Estado Novo, the Portuguese authoritarian regime of 1933 to1974. THE PEOPLE  seem happy to be free of the yoke of a dictatorship and are welcoming to tourists.  Flights to Madeira can be found for as cheap as $219 from Europe and $900 from the U.S. Ferries from the mainland are a great alternative, and one can take a car or bicycle on board and be across the sea in a few hours. "Keller and Cookie" wear leis presented to them by hosts at Hilton Waikoloa Village on The Big Island of Hawaii. UP NEXT :  Lore of the lei. When one visits Hawaii, it is customary to wear a lei at some point during the visit. You might even be greeted by your host with a lei, or find one in your hotel room.  It symbolizes love and welcome, and is a friendly way to express love, friendship, celebration, sympathy, honor or greeting. Hawaiians consider the lei the symbol of Hawaii and the aloha spirit. In ancient Hawaii, wearing a lei represented wealth, royalty and rank. More about that soon. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly at: www.whereiscookie.com

TONY WINNING FESTIVAL SURVIVES FIRES, LAYOFFS, TURMOIL, PANDEMIC,  FINANCIAL WOES    STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The audience begins to file in and take seats in preparation for "The Three Musketeers" at Allen Elizabethan Theater. The "pre show" Green Show is a tradition at Oregon Shakespeare, which has struggled since COVID and fires put a serious strain on the much loved fest. Oregon Shakespeare's outdoor venue, the Allen Elizabethan Theater, presents two plays: "Twelfth Night" and  another work. YOU CAN'T  keep a good thing down. The award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is proof of that time honored observation. As the embattled festival heads into autumn and its Oct. 15 closing, it's a perfect time to salute the labors of hundreds of staff and thousands of supporters who are rallying to save the Tony winning regional theater and southern Oregon gem. SINCE 1935,   the enterprising OSF has produced an impressive docket of hundreds of plays -- from Shakespearean tragedy to farce and contemporary comedy, musicals and drama. The festival has garnered international raves for turning out as many as eight or 10 polished productions running in repertory fashion. The elegant Ashland Springs Hotel is an oasis for this column's team and a loyal international clientele.  Traditionally, the festival begins in spring and continues into autumn. COVID clipped the festival's wings, shortening the season and number of works. But OSF is learning to fly again. The operation includes three theater spaces and other buildings, occupying a four-acre campus fronting one of Oregon's prettiest sanctuaries -- the peaceful, well loved Lithia Park. Nearby is the Plaza, a bustling and varied complex of shops and eateries in this charming southern Oregon town of 21,600. Front and center is Ashland Springs Hotel, the elegant grand dame in a town full of interesting eateries and welcoming B&Bs with a range of other accommodations for all budgets. Ashland Springs remains our favorite for its beauty, superb service, charming nature inspired artwork, comfort and proximity -- steps away from the festival. Ashland Hills is just a couple miles away from town center, and has proximity to hiking and nature. Both properties have fine restaurants. The house lights dim, the stage lights go up, a ray of hope for a continued future of a much loved institution, OSF. IN 2020, AS OSF  struggled with the pandemic and fire, radical lay-offs were instituted. 400 staff and 80 per cent of the workforce were gone, but with determination, financial gifts and adjustment, the festival survived. Even pared down, the quality and diversity of founder Angus Bowmer's dream live on.  Bowmer, a clever Scotsman, created the fest in 1935, staging boxing matches to fund his theatrical vision. His early festivals offered variety and originality, making theater lovers of sports fans and vice versa. Today's shortened playbill still honors that concept through new work and classics with the trademark inventive OSF spin: gender-bending, colorblind "play's the thing" bravado. Ashland Springs Hotel is at the center of the city, a lovely oasis elegantly restored by an enterprising couple. It's our favorite. If you want to be closer to nature, Ashland Hills is a nice option. The festival has yet to recover from that near knock-out punch. Besides the layoffs and other emergency measures, a fundraiser was devised. "The Show Must Go On: Save Our Season" raised $2.5 million to complete the 2023 season. But insiders say the fest is not out of the woods yet.   Former artistic director Nataki Garrett, whose "Romeo and Juliet" won raves.     Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers in Lithia Park, Ashland, Oregon. TURMOIL AT THE TOP and revamped financial goals  result in what  OSF board chair Diane Yu calls "a more sustainable business model." The goal "is to foster strong relationships with local businesses, audiences, and donors, to strengthen our fragile infrastructure." Online productions and amped up educational outreach are also planned. Along with financial turmoil and recovery from both fires and pandemic, artistic director Nataki Garrett's resignation added to the fest's challenges.  She resigned after death threats and racial slurs and  Tim Bond was named to take over as new OSF artistic director Sept. 1.  Garrett is missed -- known as she was for her vision, dynamism and for putting a new, fresh spin on classical works while inviting fresh perspectives in new productions. Her "Romeo and Juliet" this year was an engaging, contemporary interpretation of the great love story. She wrote inciteful program notes. A young actor spreads her wings in the Green Show, a popular feature. IN ITS GLORY  days, up to 2019 -- before the woes of the pandemic -- the festival reached an attendance of an impressive 360,000. Each patron averaged three shows. We encourage readers to help keep the tradition alive, check out the website, catch the end of the 2023 season ("Rent," "Twelfth Night," "The Three Musketeers," and more). Check out OSF's unhinged "It's Christmas, Carol!" over the holidays and watch for the 2024 season. Consider a donation to sustain the troubled theater and continue founder Bowmer's vision.  Supporters worldwide hope the festival continues. www.osfashland.org   or 800 219-8161www.AshlandSpringsHotel.com or 885 795-4545 www.AshlandHillsHotel.com www.LUNACafeAshland.com www.LarksRestaurant.com Oregon Cabaret Theatre presents a lively season of shows, including "Kinky Boots" which added shows because of sell-out audiences at the popular venue. UP NEXT: We have a fun story for theater lovers as we step inside another Ashland institution, the town's lively cabaret. Fashioned from an old and stately church with a famous chandelier, it is a historic Oregon landmark.  So while we're in an Ashland frame of mind, don't overlook Oregon Cabaret Theatre where "Kinky Boots" is winning raves.  It's just across the street from Oregon Shakespeare Festival and well worth your time for an entertaining evening or afternoon. Then we're off to Florida's Kennedy Space Center, a week with the whales in Depoe Bay, Oregon, a visit to a stunning Portland, Oregon, grotto, and a ride on a trolley in Montana's state capital, Helena. Remember to explore, learn and live with us for a fresh weekly spin on nature, performance, family, travel and more.

Oregon Cabaret Theatre attracts sell-out crowds for a variety of performances. "Kinky Boots" drew raves for its recent run. Up next is a Poirot mystery, running through Nov. 5. POPULAR CABARET ENTERTAINS THEATER LOVERS IN RENOVATED CHURCH WITH GREAT SHOWS, CLASSY CHANDELIER STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Play goers at "Kinky Boots" enjoy appetizers, drinks and the company of friends between acts of "Kinky Boots." WHEN OREGON  Cabaret Theatre launched in 1986, its building already had a colorful history. The former Baptist church had been a pillar of the community for years, but had been fallen to ruin. In the late 1960s, after years of languishing, it was sold and "the Old Pink Church" went through several owners before it was purchased and saved by a visionary man. Craig Hudson began a meticulous renovation  to restore the structure to its 1911 appearance, including replication of many of the unique stained glass windows. His transformation included landscaped gardens, tiered seating and service areas. He even salvaged a magnificent crystal chandelier and other appointments from a 1927 movie palace in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. A smashing performance of "Kinky Boots" entertained sell-out crowds this summer at the cabaret. OUR FAMILY  began its long run with the cabaret the same year it opened and since 1986, we've seen at least production almost every year. Through the years, the repertoire has expanded from a single show to a five show season with 270 performances spanning February to New Year's Eve.  The cabaret has also created 15 original shows, and has staged many hit musicals, including "Sweeney Todd" and, recently, "Kinky Boots." Delightful food is part of the fun at the cabaret, where play goers can enjoy fine dining, too.  We saw the cabaret's production of that Tony Award-winning musical, and it didn't disappoint. The energetic production boasted the same high energy we'd enjoyed in the Broadway version, a touching tale of daring and determination. The Cabaret offered dazzling choreography, powerful acting and jazzy costuming with a first-rate cast. The show's infectious, appealing spirit was enhanced by lively musical numbers.   OREGON CABARET Theatre offers a historic, welcoming setting -- a beautiful small venue --  complemented by well staged productions and a tasty menu.  This appealing amalgam makes OCT a favorite for this reporter and thousands of other visitors to Ashland. Sets are clever, acting sharp, music tuneful and small space well used. Costumes, lighting, make-up all follow suit. The Cyndi Lauper musical, with a Harvey Fierstein book, drew raves at the cabaret this summer . Oregon Cabaret Theatre is an institution in Ashland, just up a stroll up from Main Street. Sure, this picturesque town is most famous for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. But don't overlook one of the country's most successful dinner theaters, Oregon Cabaret Theatre.   The Cabaret presents an interesting display of each show with a miniature set  and costume designs.   BELOVED ACTOR , dancer and the Cabaret's founding member and artistic director for years, Jim Giancarlo, passed away in 2014. He is deeply missed, but artistic director and accomplished actor Valerie Rachelle took over with spirit and enterprise.  She has artfully preserved the vision of Giancarlo  promising "Our stage may be small, but the scope of our stories is large." She was a spectacular Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" and knows her way around both sides of the footlights. She maintains the spirit and seating of the intimate house, giving viewers a bird's eye view of the action. We've seen dozens of top-drawer shows from all over the house.  We've sat on the ground floor, the balcony, and the bar, all good seats because of the clever tiering and seat and table arrangements. Sight lines are fine everywhere, thanks to Rachelle's keen understanding of the importance of audience connection.     FOR PROXIMITY to the cabaret, you can't beat the lodging of Ashland Springs Hotel, just a few steps across the avenue and down to Ashland's Main Street, restored by an enterprising couple much as the Cabaret was renovated and returned to a glorious structure. Front row seats give viewers proximity to the action on stage, but the seating is such that there are no bad views from the house. Hudson's  restoration of the one-time church has delighted thousands since the transformation.  It still reminds of its 1911 appearance, and the stained glass windows are kept sparklingly clean. The theater's unique appointments -- including that vintage crystal chandelier -- are part of the appeal, and the menu includes delectable appetizers, entrees and the famous Dick Hay pie, a decadent chocolate, ice cream and peanut butter dessert named after an OSF designer. If you missed "Kinky Boots," you can enjoy the Poirot mystery and popular Christmas show which round out the season. oregoncabaret.com ; ashlandspringshotel.com Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers outside the Cabaret, with  their favorite Ashland Springs Hotel behind them.   Christene "Cookie" Meyers is featured beneath a magnificent Deborah Butterfield Horse, on display at Honolulu Art Museum. Butterfield spends part of her time in Montana and keeps a studio in Hawaii.  UP NEXT: Honolulu is a favorite city of sun seekers and couples looking for a blend of beach fun and nightlife.  It also boasts an extraordinary art museum and we look at its impressive collection of more than 50,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years of culture in the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Europe. After Honolulu Art Museum, we're cavorting with the whales in Depoe Bay, Oregon, then blasting off to Kennedy Space Center. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on nature, travel, the arts, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com

Honolulu Museum of Art's extensive collection includes significant holdings in Asian art, American and European painting and decorative arts. The Asian collection is among the Pacific's finest. HONOLULU ART MUSEUM OFFERS 50,000 WORKS SPANNING 5,000 YEARS, A WISE  COLLECTOR'S GIFT THAT GREW "Lobster,"  a work by Hawaiian artist Noah Harders, is among eye-catching pieces on view at the magnificent Honolulu Museum of Art in Hawaii. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A MUSEUM  should draw the viewer in, stimulate the mind, recharge the brain and conjure thoughts of  life in other cultures. The splendid Honolulu Museum of Art does all that and more. From the Bronze Age to contemporary times, including dozens of countries and cultures, this fascinating museum opens the eye to a world of change and creativity. Founder Anna Rice Cooke had a vision.  Born into a prominent missionary family in Oahu, she grew up in a home that nurtured an appreciation for the arts. The design of the building incorporates architectural touches from many cultures, reflecting Hawaii's mix of influences.   As a young woman in the 1880s, she began the collection that would become Hawaii's first visual arts museum, reflecting the islands' intriguing cultural mélange. THE MUSEUM is a treasure trove of stunning art from around the globe. Cooke's philanthropy encouraged other donors.  As she might have  hoped, her gift encouraged other donors. The museum's African art, for example, includes 230 unusual objects which began with a gift of textiles from Mrs. Charles R. Hyde in 1931. Since then, the African collection has grown to include sculpture, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries.  Other pieces include a terra cotta kneeling figure from the 5th Century BC culture of present-day Nigeria to a centuries later piece created in the 1800s, a beautiful carved wood female fertility figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An installation by British artist Rebecca Louise Law provides an enchanting walkway for Bruce Keller. ANOTHER  stand-out piece in this wide-ranging museum is a stunning "wearable art" work, "Lobster," of found organic materials. Artist Noah Harders says he "reimagines" flora, fauna and found objects through his passion and "crazy progression in finding myself."  His Hawaiian ancestry and study at Chicago's famous Art Institute complement one another in his bold organic inspirations. The piece on this page uses flowers, leaves, molted crustacean shells, and fishbones, an intriguing work of art. THE MUSEUM promotes beauty, harmony, learning, self-awareness, and connection with nature, with its continent-spanning holdings in Asian art, American and European painting and decorative arts. Add to that 19th- and 20th-century art, an extensive collection of works on paper, Asian textiles, and revolving installations such as a lyrical display of leaves and blossoms by Rebecca Louise Law of Britain. ALL THIS beauty stems from the generosity and curiosity of Cooke and her daughter Alice Spalding, who by the 1920s were cataloguing and researching  dozens of art pieces.  They obtained a charter for the museum from the Territory of Hawaii in 1922 and the family donated their Beretania Street land and $25,000 for the museum's 500 works. Their home was torn down to make way for the building whose unique design is the creation of New York architect Resort collection showcases remarkable work A Deborah Butterfield horse frames Christene "Cookie" Meyers in one of the museum's corridors. Both women -- the internationally known sculptor and writer -- have Montana roots and Cookie has photographed Butterfield's magnificent horses in various settings around the world.  Bertram Goodhue. He used natural light and Hawaii's temperate climate as his inspiration. When Goodhue died before the project was completed, his colleague Hardie Phillip finished the job. Over the years, the museum’s architectural style grew, incorporating Hawaiian, Chinese, and Spanish influences. This appealing blend has been imitated in many buildings throughout the state. Mrs. Cooke's desire was “That our children of many nationalities and races, born far from the centers of art, may receive an intimation of their own cultural legacy." She wanted people of all persuasions "to wake to the ideals embodied in the arts of their neighbors."  The Honolulu Museum of Art's extensive collection begins in the yard. It began when the Cooke family's collection outgrew its home more  than a century ago. Its collection is highly regarded internationally.   Museum family's home is treasure In a lovely statement delivered at the museum's dedication on April 8, of 1927, she expressed her hope "that Hawaiians, Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Northern Europeans, South Europeans, and all other people living here... would perceive a foundation on which a new culture, enriched by all the old strains may be built in these islands.” The museum also offers workshops, school tours and many other outreach programs to involve and educate the community.   MORE INFO  or to book tickets:  honolulumuseum.org We recommend a fun way to get there, the "hop on and off" Waikiki Trolley: waikikitrolley.com Whale watching is a passion worldwide for Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers. Next up, a whale watch with resident whales in Depoe Bay, Oregon.  UP NEXT:  Whales are a passion for both of us -- writer and photographer of this weekly endeavor -- and one of our most exciting whale watching adventures was in Depoe Bay, Oregon, where resident humpback whales spend a few months frolicking and enjoying the beautiful warm waters. We went out four days with one of the country's best guides, and report back next week. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live -- respecting nature -- and checking out our blogs on travel, nature, the arts, family and more at:   www.whereiscookie.com

Depoe Bay's small, beautiful harbor leads the way to an exciting time with resident whales.  Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers enjoyed four days with the whales of Depoe Bay. They're called "residents'' because  they stay several months during migration. UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH RESIDENT WHALES IN THE BAY WITH A LOVELY INN TO RELAX AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Carrie Newell's passion for whales is apparent in her enthusiastic introduction to whale watching in Depoe Bay. FIRST, THERE is the irresistible lure of  the whales. It's not to be ignored, and one brilliant and dedicated woman makes sure you understand that. She's Carrie Newell, distinguished marine biologist who has spent her impressive 35-year career researching the whales in this quiet and peaceful cove on the Oregon coast.  Depoe Bay is a marine biologist's dream. So it's no surprise that it has attracted the likes of Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of famed oceanographer and naturalist, the late Jacques Cousteau.  The younger Cousteau and colleagues have visited Newell and benefited from her expertise and research, joining her on multiple expeditions. BETWEEN outings with our whale watching expert, we relaxed and hiked at Inn at Arch Rock. It's a perfect place to unwind between whale watches and fine dining, which is abundant in Depoe Bay.  This magical corner on the Oregon coast is the world's smallest natural navigable harbor. It covers six acres, with a 50-foot wide, 100-foot long rockbound, dog-legged channel connecting to the Pacific Ocean. Carrie Newel, center, returns with happy whale watchers. A grey whale spout is a stinky exhale which Carrie's dog Koda is trained to smell, react and track to visitors' delight.  CARRIE'S WHALE watching is enhanced by her remarkable dog, Koda, whom she trained from an early age to spot and respond to whales. They're named and called "residents" because they hang around several months -- May to November -- feeding and enjoying the warmer waters while others move on north to Alaska.   Koda was trained from her early puppy days to smell the blow of whales and recognize that as a sign to bark. It is a clever way to alert whale watchers to a nearby whale. Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers, and behind them, Carrie Newell, on the trail of the grey whales in Depoe Bay. Carrie coached Koda to get excited about whales when the dog was a pup. The instruction included taking Koda along with a small boatload of whale watchers, downwind of a gray whale. Once Carrie spotted the critters with her "eagle eye" for whales, she  encouraged the dog to smell the blow. It's an aroma like bad gas or hard-boiled eggs, a sulphury blast to the nostrils. The dog learned that the blow meant the whale was near.  Koda heard and smelled the blow and alerted passengers. Soon, all could see the whale and watch for another blow. Koda's watch continued with Carrie's encouraging “Whale, whale, whale.” The dog connects the dots and responds, all without treats, just praise. "Koda's pay is lotsa love!” says Newell. BACK ON LAND, Carrie's museum is a trip in itself, a wondrous exhibit of sea treasures, lovingly collected and curated by Carrie herself.  Her lifelong love of all things ocean-connected is evident in the array of shells, nautical photos. artwork and other memorabilia -- an   amazing amount of information, displayed in a compact, efficient and eye-catching way.  RETURNING TO  the inn, you'll find yourself on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, relaxing in one of 19 comfy units. They range from quaint and cozy rooms for two, to grand and spacious two-bedroom suites for up to six guests. Each room is individually appointed and all but one have spectacular ocean views. Trails to the ocean and a private beach are a stone's throw away. We saw whales from the balcony, and reveled in that during our too brief three-night and four-day stay. Inn at Arch Rock offers stunning views of the ocean, and often whale spouts and flukes. It's a lovely retreat. THE HOSTS are Nate and Polly Neet,  a genial couple devoted to service and the pleasure of guests. The Neets are proud, hard-working innkeepers, with a love of hospitality and a dedication to the place they've nurtured and improved with meticulous but natural looking landscaping and other loving touches. They are fonts of knowledge about the area they love, and suggested we hook up with Carrie's unique and thrilling enterprise. We did that on the first afternoon and loved it so much we made return visits each day of our stay. A bountiful breakfast is part of the room fee, and the Neets' genteel hospitality combines with a genuine affection for people and their bird's eye knowledge of the area's attractions. They'll help with restaurants, hikes, shopping or whatever's your pleasure. Their appreciative clientele spans the globe. Carrie Newell and her expertly trained colleagues navigate boats in and out of the narrow, rocky switchback. The  dramatic harbor is one of the world's smallest. OUR SECOND -floor room was spacious, modern and smartly appointed with whaling and sea life decor. Add those spectacular views of the whales from the balcony, and a pair of binoculars to enhance sightings and you're a happy visitor. A lavish breakfast of fruit, eggs, muffins, biscuits, bacon and yogurt awaits. You'll enjoy the inn's own coffee label. At day's end, comfy beds point the way to sweet dreams of whales, an enterprising marine biologist and that endearing retriever.  MORE INFO:    Carrie Newell's spectacular Whale Research EcoExcursions:  www.oregonwhales.com Nate and Polly Neet and their welcoming inn :  www.innatarchrock.com     Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers blast off for Kennedy Space Center, where they enjoy the exhibits and take fascinating tours of the internationally known center of space research and enterprise. UP NEXT: We're blasting off for Kennedy Center. Reaping the "labors" of the ambitious U.S. space endeavor,  we offer a two-part look at Orlando, Florida, and its wonders. The booming area attracts visitors 12 months of the year with Epcot, Universal Studios and Disney World. We explore internationally known Kennedy Space Center, take a delectable food tour, and a foray into the swamps on the trail of alligators and we take a look at a top-ranked zoo. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh spin on travel, nature, family, performance, the arts and more.