Above it all

The breakwater at Marina Del Rey where Ballona Creek enters the sea

I've never gotten over the child-like wonder I felt the first time I flew in an airplane and saw the life-size houses, cars, and buildings of real life through the plane window, getting smaller and smaller, like toys, as we rose higher and higher into the air.

The Malibu coast

If I can, I will always try to get a window seat when I fly - although for some twenty-odd years as a parent, I had to cede that over to my son.

Harbor Island and the docks in Seattle

On my recent trip to Seattle, the weather was fantastic and I was able to see some magnificent views of the California coast as we lifted off, and of Seattle as we landed.

Here, we're looking right down into the Seattle Mariners' Safeco Field and the Seahawks' new stadium.

Click all photos to "embiggen."