Adventure Northwest Video Magazine, Volume 1: Great Northwest Getaways

Under the guise of being a travel video, this video version of Adventure Northwest magazine, hosted by Cary Ordway, is little more than a series of commercials for either resorts or travel services. Opening with a look at Kah-nee-ta Resort in central Oregon, where visitors can rent teepees as accommodations, the program next journeys through Puget Sound to visit the San Juan Islands. You don't see much of the islands, however, since the purpose of the segment is the Spirit of Alaska cruise ship one sails on. This is followed by a ride on Canada's Rocky Mountaineer (a commercial train), then a visit to the Paradise Valley RV Resort which sure has a lot of Flair motor homes (if you know what I mean, and I think you do), and then a trip to Elkin Creek Guest Ranch where you can play cattle driver ala City Slickers (what we see, of course, is the ranch, not the guests on a cattle drive). Finally, "flyaway host" Richard Montague shows viewers the city of Nashville, the main attraction of which appears to be The Hermitage Hotel. In short, a lot of commercial content and very little actual sightseeing is the modus operandi for this new "travel" magazine. Not recommended. (See PADDLE TO SEATTLE for availability.)