Sightseeing at 35,000 Feet

One of my favorite things to do when flying, on a clear day anyway, is looking out the window and trying to figure out where we are.  Occasionally, I even get to indulge in some sightseeing while in the air, either with cloud formations (I admit to being a weather geek), unique views of coastlines or other physical formations, or city skylines seen from a bird's-eye view.  For those that enjoy photography, the clearer air above 10,000 feet can produce especially vivid color contrasts, as long as the plane's windows don't get in the way too much (reflections through or smudges in the window can be problematic).  After the jump, I'll share a photo essay of some cool sightseeing opportunities that have presented themselves while chilling at 35,000 feet.

Next time when you're flying, keep your camera handy and pass away the time by putting together your own photo album!  Hey, it's cheaper than paying for the WiFi or shopping in the Sky Mall catalog...

First up:  fall foliage in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina, enroute to Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Philadelphia, the Delaware River, and suburban New Jersey, as we begin to descend into Newark Liberty Airport.

The New York City skyline on final approach to Newark.  If only we could have approached from the north or east, so the industrial wasteland of this part of New Jersey didn't get in the way.

The sun setting through the clouds on final approach to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

The southern Seattle suburbs, Puget Sound, and Olympic Mountains shortly after take-off from Sea-Tac.

Mount Baker, as we climb east of Seattle.

The Cascade Mountains east of Seattle.

Some of the best photos in the air come courtesy of the weather.  Cloud formations can make interesting backdrops, especially against things like cityscapes or coastlines.  First up - a thunderstorm over the semi-arid landscape of Wyoming.

The coastline of Honduras, partially obscured by clouds, with thunderstorms in the distance.

A large thunderstorm popping its head into the deep blue stratosphere over Tennessee.

And my personal favorite - the Southern California marine layer beginning to overspread San Diego in the early evening.