Apple this week, as usual, made a slew of announcements about new things coming to iPhones in the fall with the operating system upgrade to iOS27.

Here’s a short version: a new Siri AI app will be introduced that promises to turn the digital assistant into a chattier, more responsive AI tool that knows more about you, based on information in your e-mail, text messages and search histories. This in turn will make Siri more useful, per Apple. It will also work across the entire Mac platform, from iPhones to iPads and Mac computers.

• Fine print: the Siri AI app will only work on the iPhone 17 Pro (not the base model!) and iPhone Air, and new phones coming in the fall. If you have an iPhone 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, etc., you’re out of luck, although the revamped Siri itself will work outside of the app on the 16 and 17 models.

• There will be a daily usage limit to using the Siri AI app, and if you want more, you’ll need a subscription to Apple’s iCloud +, but Apple hasn’t said at what level. Monthly charges start at 99 cents, and go up to $9.99 monthly for two terabytes of storage.

• The Siri AI app is based on Google Gemini, in an Apple wrapper.

• Apple promises visual AI information. For instance, if you have a photo of Carnegie Hall on your screen, you could ask for directions there and the history of the facility.

• Apple says we’ll see faster performance with iOS 27, apps opening quicker, AirDrop transfers moving speedier (when they work) and the like.

• Lance Ulanoff at Tech Radar has a good overview, as does David Pogue here on Substack.

  

For readers of this newsletter, the updates to the Camera App will probably be of most interest.

• Using AI edit tools, you can take a photo of your kids standing on the left side of the image, and move them with one click to the right or middle. Apple calls this Spatial Reframing.

• You can extend a vertical photo by dragging into a horizontal.

• The “clean up” tool that lets you erase unwanted objects from the photo has been upgraded, Apple says, to now let you erase larger objects.

I’m a little queasy about these features going mainstream, as they’re really not photography, which is our vision of what we see in the world.

On the one hand, yes, with Photoshop, we could do all these things already, but it would take hours, and a monthly charge of around $20 to pull off.

On the reframing, how do we learn how to be better photographers by just fixing everything in post?

I’m less queasy about the Extend tool. I’ve taken too many vertical photos which would have looked better as horizontal, and frankly, I’ve been cropping many a horizontal photo to vertical for years.

On the improved Clean Up tool, it’s like using any tool we’ve been reaching for in Photoshop for years, just made easier and quicker.

Readers, how do you feel about these new tools?

Apple says the Siri AI app will let you use your voice to take a Selfie, add a photo to an album and rotate a photo that is off-kilter.

Apple has been promising this feature for years—to have Siri pull YOUR vacation photos in a voice search. My experience has been than when I ask for MY photos of say, Barcelona, I get someone else’s! I sure hope this new feature really works, finally.

Apple also says these new features will be available in iOS27.

• Search will return “more pleasing” photos of people and pets in Photos. (Can’t wait to see that work.)

• Save a video frame as a photo

• More accurate photo orientation

• Smoother camera switching when zooming in video

I hope everything announced works as advertised, but it doesn’t usually. Meanwhile, iOS27 is expected to be released to the general public in mid-September, with a beta available next month to consumers. (If you want to download it, it’s best to try on an older phone, if possible, since there’s no going back.) Even though Siri AI will only be available on the 17 Pro and Air, the iOS upgrade goes back to the iPhone 11 and up.

YouTuber Tyler Stalman has an excellent interview with Apple Camera execs, who walk through the new features.

PSA: Scottish Photographer loses Gear in Key Clone Theft

Here’s another awful story about a photographer losing his gear, this time in Glasgow.

As the Glasgow Times put it: “Cunning thieves suspected of cloning a car key have left a Glasgow photographer devastated after stealing thousands of pounds’ worth of equipment from his locked car.”

The man lost a whole bunch of gear while he was sleeping, and I feel bad for him, but ahem, folks—don’t leave your stuff in a locked car! Anyone can easily get into a car, by smashing and grabbing, or, as you can read about here, by cloning a car key.

What’s the Best Photo You Ever Took?

I was asked this question on a podcast this week and got stumped. I’ve taken so many. Ugh. I’m going through the library now—will let you know what I come up with. What’s yours?

This weekend on Photowalks: Manhattan Beach

We visit my favorite SoCal beach town this weekend on Photowalks, the town I live in, Manhattan Beach. It gets smaller crowds than Santa Monica or some of the Orange County beach cities, you can walk everywhere and we’ve got the most photogenic pier in California. That’s not opinion, it’s just fact.

The show debuts on Scripps News Sunday at 10 a.m. ET, and will replay on YouTube as well. Check out the preview below.

Next Stop: Alaska!

We’re headed off to the next great Photowalks trip this weekend, to the Last Frontier and 49th state, starting in Juneau, then to Fairbanks and Denali National Park.

We’ve got ice fields visits, helicopter glacier tours, whale watching, totem pole viewing, gold panning and more on the itinerary. Can’t wait! Thank you Kristi and Jerry!

Summer Solstice is Friday, where the darkest hours will be few. Sunset tonight is scheduled for 12:38 a.m. with sunrise just a few hours later at 3:03. By Friday, will the sun set at all?

We can always sleep when we get home.

Alaska will be the 34th state we’ve filmed Photowalks episodes in, so only 16 more to go to complete the list. Looking at you North Dakota (I’ll be there in August) Nebraska, Minnesota (August!) Iowa, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Wisconsin (October) West Virginia, North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Kansas.

Thank you everyone for the kind birthday wishes, which I extended from last week in Evansville, Indiana to this week. No birthday is complete without an ice cream cake from Cold Stone Creamery, a tradition that goes back at least 15 years and being with great friends and family.

Thanks as always for viewing, reading and listening!

Jeff

This week on Photowalks we’re visiting the great Southern California beach town, Manhattan Beach: How does a small community of 35,000 people sound, where you can walk everywhere, the beach is right down the street, and every day is summer?

The show debuts Sunday at 10 a.m. ET on Scripps News, with replays on YouTube.

This is another in our series for paid subscribers on behind the scenes production of the Photowalks series.

This week, we’ve got the 2026 “Walkies” edition, a guide to our favorite walks, as experienced on Photowalks.

The genesis for this is reading way too many travel “Top 10 (fill in the blank)” listicles. When I came across one on the best walks in the USA, inspiration hit. Well, we get around–we’ve been to over 140 locations for Photowalks. Certainly we’ve got some ideas on the most walkable cities.

What we produced is known in the trade as a “clip show.” I mine the Photowalks library to put highlights from past shows together into one, weaved together into a narrative. I write a script, put it into the teleprompter, record myself addressing the camera, and then do the edit.

Let me back up a minute for those who are interested.

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Photowalks TV Crowned the Top Walking Destinations Across the United States, Highlighting San Francisco’s Unmatched Coastal Scenery and Neighborhood Charm

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Photowalks TV with Jefferson Graham has officially announced the winners of the 2026 Walkie Awards, naming San Francisco the premier destination for the “Best Views on Foot” in America. After filming in more than 135 locations nationwide, the travel and photography series selected the City by the Bay for its dramatic topography, distinct neighborhood personalities, and visual payoffs that reward pedestrians around every corner.

“San Francisco is still the most beautiful city in the United States,” said Jefferson Graham, host of Photowalks TV. “The views are incredible, the neighborhoods all have their own personality, and almost every walk comes with some kind of payoff at the top of a hill or just around the next corner. In a relatively short stretch, the whole atmosphere changes. One minute you’re in one world, and a few blocks later, you’re somewhere completely different.”

The award highlights a spectacular urban route that begins in the cafes of the historic Italian neighborhood of North Beach, crosses into North America’s oldest Chinatown, and climbs up Nob Hill past the Fairmont Hotel for sweeping views of the Bay and Alcatraz. The award-winning experience guides walkers downhill toward Fisherman’s Wharf and finishes along the waterfront at Crissy Field with iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

While San Francisco claimed the crown for its unmatched visual rewards, the 2026 Walkie Awards also recognized four other premier metropolitan walking cities for their distinct pedestrian environments:

• New York City (”Easiest Navigation”): Celebrated for its legendary, predictable Manhattan grid system. The award highlights how numbered streets, short blocks, and easy access to world-class public spaces like Central Park—and the subway system for backup—invite effortless, continuous exploration.

• Boston (”Best Historic Walk”): Honored for the iconic 2.5-mile red brick Freedom Trail. The path is praised for providing the two things every great walk needs: a clear route and a constant sense of discovery, taking walkers directly past historic landmarks like the Old North Church without ever needing a map.

• Chicago (”Best Architectural Walk”): Awarded for its warm-weather pedestrian experience that showcases incredible scale and urban drama. The route highlights a 13-block stretch starting at Millennium Park (home to “The Bean”), moving up Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile, and transitioning beautifully into the Chicago Riverwalk.

• Savannah (”Best City Plan”): Recognized for its human-scale layout originally established in 1733. Built around its famous historic public squares, the city’s short blocks and interconnected shady corridors prevent walkers from feeling intimidated, drawing them naturally from Bull Street all the way to the famous fountain at Forsyth Park.

The 2026 Walkie Awards prove that the ultimate travel experiences don’t require a car—just a good pair of walking shoes and a camera to capture the journey.

For the complete list of winning city and small-town walks, alongside mobile photography tips for your next journey, visit the official companion blog at photowalkstv.com

About Photowalks TV: Hosted by veteran photojournalist Jefferson Graham, Photowalks TV takes viewers on virtual smartphone photo walks through beautiful destinations across the globe, offering expert travel advice and quick tips to capture brilliant vacation photos.

Media Contact:

photowalkstv@gmail.com

After filming Photowalks in more than 135 locations, I have covered a lot of ground—through big cities, beach towns, historic districts, downtowns and neighborhoods that look great on camera and feel even better on foot.

The best walks have a few things in common. They are easy to navigate, the streets naturally pull you forward, there is always something new to see, and the experience feels made for wandering.

Here are my 2026 “Walkie Awards” for the best walks in America, plus a few bonus destinations that deserve a place on your travel list.

1. San Francisco, California

Best walk for views

San Francisco remains one of the most beautiful cities in the United States, and almost every walk offers a payoff at the top of a hill or around the next corner.

Begin in North Beach, the city’s historic Italian neighborhood, then cross Broadway into Chinatown. From there, climb toward Nob Hill and the Fairmont San Francisco, where the views can stretch toward the bay and Alcatraz.

Continue downhill to Fisherman’s Wharf. Those with energy to spare can keep walking to Crissy Field for a spectacular Golden Gate Bridge finish.

Suggested route: North Beach → Chinatown → Nob Hill → Fisherman’s Wharf → Crissy Field

2. New York City, New York

Easiest city to navigate on foot

No American city is easier to understand on foot than Manhattan. Once you know that street numbers rise as you head uptown and fall as you head downtown, the grid does most of the work.

The joy of walking New York is that the mood can change completely in just 10 blocks. When you need a break from the urban energy, step into Central Park, where the skyline views from both the East and West sides remind you that you are still in the middle of Manhattan.

Suggested approach: Pick a neighborhood, walk 10 to 20 blocks, then use the New York City Subway when your feet need a rest.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

Best historic walk

Boston’s Freedom Trail is one of the best urban walks anywhere. The 2.5-mile red-brick path connects 16 historic sites and gives visitors a clear route with a constant sense of discovery.

Along the way, you will pass the final resting places of Paul Revere and John Hancock, then reach the Old North Church, built in 1723 and famous for the lantern signal tied to Paul Revere’s ride. The route continues toward the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Monument.

Suggested route: Boston Common → Granary Burying Ground → Paul Revere House → Old North Church → USS Constitution → Bunker Hill Monument

4. Chicago, Illinois

Best architectural walk

Chicago is a spectacular walking city in spring, summer and fall. Begin at Millennium Park and photograph Cloud Gate, better known as “The Bean.”

Head north along Michigan Avenue into the Magnificent Mile, a 13-block stretch filled with architecture, storefronts and city energy. Then turn toward the Chicago Riverwalk, where the city opens up and slows down just enough to appreciate the scale of the buildings.

Suggested route: Millennium Park → Michigan Avenue → Magnificent Mile → Chicago Riverwalk

5. Savannah, Georgia

Best city plan

Savannah feels as though it was designed specifically for walkers. The historic center grew around public squares, and 22 of the original 24 remain today.

Start on Bull Street and move through one shaded square after another toward Forsyth Park and its famous fountain. On a second day, visit Bonaventure Cemetery, a beautiful walking destination filled with dramatic trees and memorials.

Suggested route: Johnson Square → Wright Square → Chippewa Square → Forsyth Park

6. Santa Barbara, California

Best small-city downtown

Santa Barbara proves that a city does not need skyscrapers to offer a great urban walk. The heart of town is State Street, lined with shops, restaurants and side streets worth exploring.

The Spanish-style architecture gives the city its signature look, while the mountains rise in one direction and the ocean waits in the other. The side streets reveal quieter courtyards, older homes and details that often make better travel photos than the main avenue.

But here’s the thing: State Street is now car free for much of its blocks. Does it get more walkable than that?

Suggested route: State Street → side streets and courtyards → waterfront

7. Cincinnati, Ohio

Best surprise

Cincinnati is one of the great walking surprises in America.

Begin at Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market, then walk through Over-the-Rhine to Washington Park and Cincinnati Music Hall. Continue downtown to Fountain Square and the Tyler Davidson Fountain, then head toward the Ohio River.

Those with extra energy can cross the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge into Kentucky.

Suggested route: Findlay Market → Washington Park → Cincinnati Music Hall → Fountain Square → Roebling Bridge

8. New Orleans, Louisiana

Best atmosphere

The French Quarter is not a place where the best experience comes from checking off landmarks. It rewards wandering.

Every block seems to reveal wrought-iron balconies, old buildings, courtyards, street musicians, side alleys and cafes. Begin walking without overplanning, follow the sounds and scenes that interest you, and eventually make your way to Jackson Square.

Suggested route: Wander the French Quarter → follow the music → finish at Jackson Square

9. Washington, D.C.

Best monument walk

Start at the U.S. Capitol and head west along the National Mall. Smithsonian museums line both sides, while one landmark after another unfolds ahead.

The walk toward the Lincoln Memorial is roughly two miles, but allow several hours because of the museums, memorials, reflecting pools and photo opportunities along the way. Eleven Smithsonian museums and galleries are located on or near the Mall.

Suggested route: U.S. Capitol → Smithsonian museums → Washington Monument → World War II Memorial → Lincoln Memorial

10. Venice Beach, California

Best people-watching walk

The Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk is one of Southern California’s great walks because the entire route is the attraction.

The promenade delivers performers, vendors, murals, skaters, beach culture and some of the best people watching anywhere. Major stops include Muscle Beach Venice, the Venice Beach Skatepark, the beach bike path and the Venice Art Walls.

Suggested route: Venice Pier → Ocean Front Walk → Skatepark → Muscle Beach → Venice Art Walls

Five Great Small-Town Walks

11. Park City, Utah

Best town for trails

Most visitors know Park City for skiing, but the town also has hundreds of miles of trails.

Walk up and down Historic Main Street, then move a few blocks away to the Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail, a wide and mostly flat path. Continue toward McPolin Farm, one of Utah’s most photographed barns.

Suggested route: Historic Main Street → Rail Trail → McPolin Farm

12. Santa Fe, New Mexico

Best compact history walk

Santa Fe combines history, art, food and architecture in one highly walkable loop.

Begin at the Santa Fe Plaza, then visit the Palace of the Governors, where Native American artists sell their work beneath the portal. Continue to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Loretto Chapel, known for its spiral staircase. Adobe architecture fills nearly every view.

Suggested route: Santa Fe Plaza → Palace of the Governors → Georgia O’Keeffe Museum → Loretto Chapel

13. Avalon, Catalina Island, California

Best car-free island walk

In Avalon, walking is not merely pleasant—it is the natural way to get around.

Walk from one side of the harbor to the other, climb the surrounding hills for elevated views, then return to the waterfront. Catalina Island feels far removed from Los Angeles despite being reached by a roughly one-hour ferry ride from the mainland.

Suggested route: Avalon Harbor → waterfront promenade → hillside viewpoints → return to the harbor

14. Cannon Beach, Oregon

Best little beach-town walk

Cannon Beach has nearly everything visitors want from a small coastal town: galleries, restaurants, candy shops, a long beach and a major natural landmark.

Walk through downtown, then head to the shore and Haystack Rock, the 235-foot sea stack that dominates the view. At low tide, the surrounding tide pools reveal marine life.

Suggested route: Downtown Cannon Beach → galleries and shops → Haystack Rock → beach walk

15. Newport, Rhode Island

Best New England streets and mansions

Newport offers three walks in one: a historic downtown, a working harbor and a mansion-lined coastal path.

Explore the side streets and harbor first, then walk the Newport Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public trail beside the Atlantic Ocean and Gilded Age estates. The route offers views of mansions including The Breakers, Marble House and Rough Point.

Suggested route: Historic downtown → harbor → Bellevue Avenue → Cliff Walk

Two Bonus Walks Worth Adding

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is one of the most photogenic historic towns in America. Walk the old streets, visit the Castillo de San Marcos, built from coquina stone, and see Flagler College, whose centerpiece was once Henry Flagler’s luxurious Ponce de León Hotel.

Victor, Driggs and Tetonia, Idaho

The communities of Teton Valley offer a quieter view of the Tetons than nearby Jackson Hole. Victor, Driggs and Tetonia are surrounded by trails, mountain scenery and the western side of the Teton Range. In Victor, stop at the Victor Emporium for a huckleberry milkshake.

Links to all locations mentioned

San Francisco

• North Beach

• Chinatown

• Nob Hill

• Fairmont San Francisco

• Fisherman’s Wharf

• Crissy Field

New York City

• Central Park

• New York City Subway

Boston

• Freedom Trail

• Old North Church

• USS Constitution

• Bunker Hill Monument

Chicago

• Millennium Park

• Cloud Gate / The Bean

• Magnificent Mile

• Chicago Riverwalk

Savannah

• Visit Savannah

• Bonaventure Cemetery

Santa Barbara

• Visit Santa Barbara

  • State Street Promenade Guide

  • State Street Initiatives (City of Santa Barbara)

Cincinnati

• Findlay Market

• Washington Park

• Cincinnati Music Hall

• Fountain Square

New Orleans

• French Quarter

• Jackson Square

Washington, D.C.

• U.S. Capitol

• National Mall

• Smithsonian Museums

• Washington Monument

• World War II Memorial

• Lincoln Memorial

Venice Beach

• Venice Beach Ocean Front Walk

• Venice Art Walls

Park City

• Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail

Santa Fe

• Santa Fe Plaza

• Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

• Loretto Chapel

Avalon, Catalina Island

• Catalina Island Ferry Information

Cannon Beach

• Cannon Beach

• Haystack Rock

Newport

• The Breakers

• Marble House

St. Augustine

• St. Augustine

• Castillo de San Marcos

• Flagler College

Teton Valley, Idaho

• Discover Teton Valley

• City of Victor

• Visit Victor Guide

• Discover Teton Valley – Driggs Area

• Tetonia Library & Community Information

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — June 2026 — Photowalks TV, the popular travel and photography series hosted by veteran photojournalist Jefferson Graham, has officially announced the winners of its annual “Walkies Awards.” The milestone episode narrows down a massive list of more than 135 filming locations across the United States to crown the top 15 most scenic, navigable, and culturally vibrant pedestrian routes in the country.

Divided into two distinct categories—major metropolitan wonders and iconic small-town loops—the special episode serves as an ultimate visual roadmap for travelers, history buffs, and smartphone photographers alike.

“After covering tens of thousands of steps across big cities and tiny beach towns, you quickly learn what makes a world-class walk,” says series host Jefferson Graham, a former USA TODAY columnist. “It’s about easy navigation where you aren’t glued to your phone every 30 seconds, a natural architectural pull, and a constant sense of visual discovery around every single corner.”

The 2026 Walkies Award Highlights:

Top Metropolitan Wins:

• San Francisco (Best Views): Celebrated for its distinct neighborhood transformations, from the outdoor cafe culture of North Beach to the historic gates of North America’s oldest Chinatown.

• New York City (Easiest Navigation): Crowned for the effortless rhythm of the Manhattan grid and the stark, beautiful transition from urban streets to Central Park.

• Boston (Best Historic Walk): Awarded to the iconic 2.5-mile red brick path of the Freedom Trail, eliminating the need for navigation apps by guiding walkers directly over the final resting places of American revolutionists.

• Chicago (Best Architectural Walk): Honored for the dramatic scale of the Magnificent Mile and the pedestrian-focused respite of the Chicago Riverwalk.

• Savannah (Best City Plan): Recognized for its human-scale layout built around 22 historic public squares that open effortlessly into one another.

Top Small-Town Gems:

• Avalon, Catalina Island (Best Car-Free Walk): Highlights a vibrant, oceanfront paradise just 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles where the complete absence of visitor vehicles invites true wandering.

• Cannon Beach, Oregon (Perfect Beach Town): Celebrated for its unique Pacific Northwest mix of local art galleries and the towering presence of the 235-foot Haystack Rock.

• Park City, Utah (Best Trail Integration): Lauded for allowing walkers to step directly off a historic, mountain Main Street onto wide, flat backroads leading to the iconic McPolin Farm.

• Santa Fe, New Mexico (Most Walkable History): Honored for its compact, loop-based adobe architecture surrounding the historic central plaza.

Beyond the Pavement: Smartphone Editing Tips

The award-winning episode concludes with a comprehensive breakdown of five essential mobile smartphone editing techniques designed to rescue flat travel photos instantly. Graham demonstrates how to utilize native device levelers, master targeted shadow enhancement tools using the native Apple and Android apps, isolate skies with Google’s Snapseed selection tool, and utilize AI-driven cleanup tools for Apple and Android to instantly remove background clutter like distracting power lines and fire escapes.

About Photowalks

Photowalks is the weekly travel TV series that brings viewers to great places, brings them along on a virtual photowalks and offers tips for how to get great vacation photos with smartphones. The series is produced and hosted by former USA TODAY columnist Jefferson Graham, a longtime photojournalist. It streams with new episodes Sundays at 10 a.m. ET on Scripps News, with replays on YouTube and is also seen on Amazon Prime and Roku.

Where to Watch:

The complete “Walkies Awards” episode, alongside an extensive companion blog post at http://www.photowalkstv.com featuring map routes and full photography guides, is streaming at http://www.scrippsnews.com/photowalks and the official Photowalks TV YouTube Channel.

Media Contact:

Photowalkstv@gmail.com

It’s subjective, sure, but we’ve filmed in over 135 different locations for the show, so we were able to easily come up with some favorites. Best urban walk: that would be San Francisco. Best small town walk—you’ll have to tune in to find out.

Let me know if we neglected any of your favorites!

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Every June, Apple gives a state of the company report to thousands of developers, the folks who create apps for iPhones, iPads and Macs, in the hopes that they will make amazing things we’ll all want to use.

The event is called WWDC, for Worldwide Developer’s Conference (or “Dub Dub”) and this one will be more interesting than most in that it will be CEO Tim Cook’s swan song, as he passes the baton to new CEO John Ternus. The new CEO will presumably ride solo in September when Apple introduces the new iPhone at the annual post Labor Day event in Cupertino, since Cook has said he plans to retire on Sept. 1.

WWDC is always fun, as consumers get from it a good idea of what the next iPhone will be like, as Apple reveals many new software features that are coming—which will work on new models and recent older ones as well.

However, the only feature most folks really care is that all-new Siri, the personal digital assistant that Apple has been promising for two years, and claims we’ll really see it Monday!

You’ll recall that Apple had egg on its face at WWDC two years ago when it announced new AI features (“Apple Intelligence”) that would be coming, with the key feature being that new, more powerful and chattier Siri personal assistant it said would be coming with the iPhone 16. That was in 2024. We’re still waiting!

This time, Apple is expected to finally make good, but with a difference. It’s thrown in the towel on its own development, and has potentially solved its AI problem by outsourcing it to Google. Apple has announced that Siri will be running Google’s Gemini AI.

The main gist is that Siri will have a memory, like ChatGPT and Gemini, and will have rolling conversations, and also be able to decipher photos and generate images as well.

How it will act, what it will look like, how different it will seem from Google’s own Gemini app, those are the things we’ll find out when Apple reveals all Monday at 10 a.m. PT. You can watch the whole show at http://www.apple.com

What about photo editing?

For years, Apple has enticed us with promises of voice search for finding photos in the Camera Roll (“Siri, show me my photos of the Oregon Coast”) but it always comes up short, showing me someone else’s photos of the Oregon Coast. $#@!!!!

This year, some analysts are hyping ways Apple might finally solve the lost photos problem with AI.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the dean of Apple reporters, says the Camera App is going to take a page from the Samsung playbook and finally allow us to customize features, mixing and matching only the ones we actually want to use. For instance, how many of you have ever turned to the “Spatial” section in the Camera App and wondered why it was there? (It’s only for creating photos for the $3,000 Vision Pro headset that I’m betting not one of the newsletter readers own. It’s been a bomb.)

Nobody knows anything until Apple actually announces it, but there are suggestions that we might be able to use AI to fix photos in new ways that could be very helpful. This would allow you to stretch the boundaries of a photo after it’s shot. If you accidentally cut off the top of a building or the bottom of a landmark, the AI could naturally generate and fill in the missing scenery beyond your original framing.

This would be fantastic, as many of us miss those things all the time, especially in bright sunlight.

But if I had to choose, I’d want Siri to actually find my photos, as promised. I spend half my life searching for them, so I can take all the help I can get.

Here are 3 other features I’d love to see in a rejiggered Camera app.

• Fix Night Mode in a way that people actually understand. The concept is great—use the feature to take photos in the dark that now look better after you access it. But the tools are hidden in a sub-menu, they only come out at night (like Dracula), and you have to tweak the tool big time to get Night Mode shooting at the maximum open shutter. It’s too complicated. Apple is great at making complex things understandable for consumers—but this one has been a fail. Upgrade time!

• Audio meters visible in the video section of the Camera App, to show me that I really have audio when I plug in a mic, instead of having to do audio tests over and over again. I can’t be the only one who wants and needs this pro feature. The free Blackmagic Camera app has it, and because of that, it’s my go-to video app. The problem is that I can’t shoot stills with the Blackmagic app, so I have to go back and forth between the two.

• Manual controls for timelapse videos. I want to be able to set the intervals, not have Apple choose them for me. Apple’s camera app is automatic only, and it tweaks what you record by not allowing you to make a timelapse video any longer than 30 seconds. (Yup, the Blackmagic app lets you do it any way you want—shoot for an hour, two hours, three days—as long as you want to.)

• Readers, what new features or fixes would you like to see in the Camera app? Let me hear from you!

  

Coming up on Scripps News and YouTube Sunday: the latest episode of Photowalks and the 2026 Walkies Awards edition. This time we’re looking at the 15 best walks in the USA. Don’t forget to catch the show Sunday at 10 a.m. ET and see if we’ve included your favorite.

Meanwhile, if you’re reading this early Saturday morning, I’m just finishing up my two week tour of the Indiana and Kentucky backroads, with additional stops in Indianapolis, Evansville and Louisville. If it’s later in the day, I’m on a plane headed for home.

Speaking of the Bluegrass state, you gotta love Bardstown, the Hallmarkesque small town in the heart of the Bourbon Trail. Where else could you pay a visit to the Old Kentucky Home state park, meet a tour guide named Kit Mills and get an impromptu take on the state’s song? Thanks Kit!

(Celebrating 6/2 in Evansville was a huge kick too!)

Meanwhile, next stop: Juneau, Alaska!

As always, thanks for spending time with the newsletter, watching, reading and listening.

Jeff

After tackling the Route 66 road trip in 2025, I started looking for a sequel. And with the American Semiquincentennial set for 2026, America 250 was the obvious choice. It was topical and once I began playing with Google Maps, I realized how easy it was to put a logical trip together with a beginning, middle and end.

I signed up Best Western as a returning sponsor, and set up about setting up the trip, from Boston to DC, with stops in-between Providence and Newport, New Haven, NY, Philly and DC.

Here’s where the planning for productions like these takes precedence over the actual production. What will we see in each of these cities? Who can we interview? What’s the story? It’s got to be more than photo tips through the old cities.

How’d it go? Paid subscribers can read on.

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As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, there’s no better time to hit the road and experience the places where the nation’s story began.

For Photowalks, I traveled from Boston to Washington, D.C., following the footsteps of revolutionaries, presidents, merchants, immigrants, and ordinary citizens who helped shape the United States. At roughly 450 miles, this isn’t a massive cross-country trek like Route 66. In fact, it’s barely longer than the drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco. This despite traveling through 6 states and 1 territory.

But what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for in history.

This journey takes you from the revolutionary sparks of Boston and Providence, through the political and financial birthplaces of New York and Philadelphia, and finally to Washington, D.C., the purpose-built capital of a brand-new nation. Along the way you’ll walk colonial streets, visit buildings that have stood since the 1700s, dine in taverns frequented by George Washington and his contemporaries, and gain a deeper appreciation for how the United States came to be.

The best part? It’s incredibly easy to do.

The cities are compact, highly walkable, and connected by excellent roads, trains, and public transportation. Whether you’re a history buff, photographer, or simply looking for a meaningful travel experience, this road trip delivers.

Stop 1: Boston, Massachusetts

If you’re doing the trip chronologically, Boston is where it begins.

Start with the Freedom Trail, one of America’s greatest urban walks. Follow the red brick path through downtown Boston and visit sites connected to Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and the earliest days of the Revolution.

Plan at least a full day for the trail and another day for the North End, including the Paul Revere House and Old North Church.

Boston also rewards visitors with great seafood, classic Italian restaurants, waterfront views, and endless photo opportunities.

Recommended stay: at least 3 days

Stop 2: Providence and Newport, Rhode Island

Many travelers overlook Rhode Island, but they shouldn’t.

Providence’s historic Benefit Street may be one of the most beautiful preserved colonial streets in America. Lined with original homes dating back centuries, it offers a remarkable glimpse into early American life.

Don’t miss the John Brown House, whose owner played a key role in the Gaspee Affair, a pre-Boston Tea Party protest that many historians consider one of the earliest acts of rebellion against British rule.

Then head south to Newport.

Here you’ll find the famous Gilded Age mansions, spectacular coastal scenery, and the Cliff Walk. Newport provides a fascinating contrast to the colonial sites elsewhere on the trip, showing how America evolved from a collection of colonies into a wealthy industrial power.

And yes, stop for a Rhode Island specialty: a classic “Awful Awful” milkshake or frozen treat from Newport Creamery.

Recommended stay: 2 days, one each in Providence and Newport

Stop 3: New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven deserves more than just a quick stop.

History lovers can visit Yale University and the statue of Nathan Hale, America’s most famous Revolutionary War spy, remembered for his final words: “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

But let’s be honest.

Many visitors come for the pizza.

New Haven-style pizza has become legendary, and the rivalry between Sally’s Apizza and Frank Pepe’s is part of the experience. Whichever one you choose, you’re unlikely to leave disappointed. Consider this a bonus to the history tour, but one you’ll never forget. The pizza is that good.

Recommended stay: 1 day

Stop 4: New York City

Most America 250 itineraries skip New York, which is a mistake.

Boston may have ignited the Revolution and Philadelphia may have formalized it, but New York became the stage for many of the war’s most dramatic moments.

Start at Bowling Green, where George Washington’s troops famously tore down a statue of King George III after the Declaration of Independence was read aloud in 1776.

Visit Fraunces Tavern, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Manhattan and a place deeply connected to Washington’s story.

Of course, no visit is complete without seeing the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square, and Lower Manhattan.

The city offers endless photography opportunities, from skyline views to street scenes and iconic landmarks.

Recommended stay: 2–3 days

Stop 5: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If Boston is where the Revolution started, Philadelphia is where the nation was born.

This is the city where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence and where delegates debated and signed both the Declaration and the Constitution.

Begin at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

From there, walk to Carpenter’s Hall, the First Bank of the United States, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Betsy Ross House.

One of my favorite discoveries was how walkable Philadelphia is. Historic sites are clustered together, making it easy to explore on foot.

And don’t miss Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s great food halls. It’s a perfect place to photograph colorful food displays, historic signs, local specialties, and the people who make the market come alive.

Recommended stay: 2 days

Stop 6: Washington, D.C.

Washington is the grand finale.

The National Mall may be the most impressive urban walk in America.

Start at the Washington Monument and stroll toward the U.S. Capitol, passing Smithsonian museums, memorials, and some of the nation’s most recognizable landmarks.

Allow plenty of time for the National Museum of American History, Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, and the National Archives.

For photographers, sunrise and sunset are magical. The Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Jefferson Memorial, and Capitol Building all transform dramatically in early morning and evening light.

Be sure to spend an evening exploring the monuments after dark. The city takes on an entirely different personality once the lights come on.

For a side trip, head to Old Town Alexandria, where cobblestone streets and colonial architecture provide one final connection to America’s founding era.

Recommended stay: 3 days

Car or Train?

Both options work.

A car offers flexibility, easier luggage storage, and access to smaller towns and attractions. But parking, especially in New York City, Philly and Boston, can be expensive and frustrating.

The train is often cheaper and removes the headache of driving in major cities. Amtrak connects all the major destinations on this itinerary, and many travelers may find it the more relaxing option. And train travel is cheap.

How Much Time Do You Need?

One Week

• Boston

• Providence

• New York City

• Philadelphia (2 days)

• Washington, D.C. (2 days)

Two Weeks

• Boston (3 days)

• Providence (1 day)

• Newport (1 day)

• New Haven (1 day)

• New York City (2 days)

• Philadelphia (2 days)

• Washington, D.C. (3 days)

• Old Town Alexandria (1 day)

Three Weeks

The ideal pace.

You’ll have time to explore museums, take side trips, photograph during the best light, enjoy local restaurants, and truly absorb the history instead of racing through it.

LINKS:

Boston / Cambridge

The Freedom Trail
Boston National Historical Park / Freedom Trail sites
Old North Church
Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
Fan Pier / Seaport District
Harvard Visitor Center
Visit Cambridge

Providence / Newport

Benefit Street / Providence “Mile of History”
John Brown House Museum
RISD Museum
Rhode Island State House
Touro Synagogue National Historic Site
Newport Cliff Walk
The Breakers / Newport Mansions

New York City

Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Ellis Island — National Park Service
Federal Hall National Memorial
Fraunces Tavern Museum
Trinity Church Wall Street
Stone Street Historic District
Times Square

Philadelphia

Independence Hall
Liberty Bell
Independence National Historical Park
National Constitution Center
Carpenters’ Hall
Elfreth’s Alley
Reading Terminal Market
Visit Philadelphia Historic District

Washington, DC / Alexandria / Mount Vernon

National Mall and Memorial Parks
National Archives Museum
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
Smithsonian Museums
Old Town Alexandria
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

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I had 3 weeks to devote to the trip in the fall. You may only have a weekend. So I put together a highlight reel episode that also includes some concrete itinerary suggestions if you only have a weekend, two weekends, a week or two weeks.

Planning an America 250 trip before July 4th? Hopefully this episode will come in handy.

Thanks as always, and greetings from French Lick, Indiana, where I’m currently spending the night!

(Paid subscribers get the bonus edition tomorrow, with behind the scenes stories about the making of the episode. Consider supporting independent journalism if you can!)

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Jeff

I’m exploring the Indiana Backroads this week for a series of upcoming Photowalks episodes. (Thank you Best Western for supporting the trip!) And I have a few random thoughts.

• The Indiana Backroads is a great way to step back in time. I can’t tell you how many horse and buggies I passed near the town of Shipshewana, which happens to have the third largest Amish community in the U.S., after Pennsylvania and Ohio. At the Walmart, as pictured above, they even have a place to park your horse and buggy while you shop.

• You’ve heard of Midwest Nice? Every time I pulled over to take photos, someone else would stop to ask if I was OK and needed help.

• I met up with two really nice locals in Northern Indiana who spent the entire day showing me around. Thank you Lou and Sarah.

• Before roads were paved with gravel, they were packed with bricks, and out here there are still many brick-lined roads. The shot below is from the little town of Valparaiso, which is right on the Lincoln Highway, in front of the Brick Street Pizza shop.

• Old downtowns out here are thriving and look like they did in the 1950s. Locals respect their heritage. Most notably Goshen, which even has a cool, huge used record store in a former auto garage.

  

• Other downtowns look like they’ve seen way better days. I drove through one this week, and counted only a handful of businesses still open. The first shop to greet visitors when you enter town in Kendallville is a “Family Video” store which closed in 2020, and has been available for rent since.

The stores that are open are more diverse than I’m accustomed to seeing. I saw shops devoted to balloons, pretzels, popcorn, jewelers, hardware, kids haircuts, tuxedo rentals and of course cafes and bakeries—like the downtowns of yore.

• It’s not hard to find a great grilled cheese sandwich.

• The grass is green. Really green. But the corn fields won’t grow until the fourth of July.

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Thanks as always for joining me on the ride. More to come!

Today we’re all about Route 66 California.

If you’ve been living under a rock, you might have missed that the “Mother Road” is turning 100 this year, in November. America’s first highway, it provided a place for folks to take their Model Ts and explore the country, with roadside diners, motels and kitsch awaiting them.

The road began in Chicago and went all the way to Los Angeles, as made famous by Nat King Cole in the classic song “Route 66,” through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Winona and Kingman, AZ, then in California, San Bernardino and Barstow before ending at the Santa Monica Pier.

So close your eyes for a moment. You just heard two key California stops, but if you imagine Route 66, your image is not Californian. I’m guessing it’s the open road, out in the desert, more likely Arizona or New Mexico.

That’s where most of the great photo opps are, and they’re easy to follow. The 315 miles of California is a zig zag, and with the exception of the end shot in Santa Monica, much of it has seen better days. In this episode, I tried to explain just what Route 66 California is all about.

You might know that it starts in Needles, historically one of the warmest spots in the U.S., continues through the desert town of Amboy, passes through Barstow, and Victorville, continues to the Wig Wam motel of San Bernardino, and possibly goes all through L.A., ending at the Santa Monica Pier.

Not exactly.

When we first made the giant trip in spring of 2025, we did Needles, Amboy, Newberry Springs and Victorville, skipped the Inland Empire communities of San Bernardino, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga and figured we’d pick them up later.

Because the California route only factored in 4 minutes of the original closing video (combined with Arizona), I just ran shots of Needles and Amboy, pulled some online photos of the Wig Wam in San Bernardino, and drove the rental car to the Pier after we got home to nab the traditional shot in front of the “End of the Trail” sign.

Cut to a year later, and now, everyone’s celebrating Route 66, and I had never gotten around to the Inland Empire visit. Plus, I still was having a hard time figuring out just what Route 66 California was. Because in many of the images, you’ll see much of Los Angeles, including the TCL Chinese Theater and Hollywood Bowl thrown in (not true) so I set out to show exactly what you might see if you were drive it from one end to the other, in a full length 22 minute episode.

How’d it go? Paid subscribers can read on.

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As you know, the “Mother Road” turns 100 this year, and it’s hard to miss so many media outlets celebrating the centennial. So here we go again.

We did the Photowalks Route 66 trip in 2025, and by the time we crossed the Arizona border to California, we were pretty …

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My basic mantra on Photowalks has long been that people should leave their big cameras at home—the iPhone (or Galaxy or Pixel) are perfect for travel and family photography.

However, where they still far short is in the area of sports.

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About a year ago our Route 66 episodes came out, some 12 months before everyone else, and to make sure people weren’t bored watching 8 separate episodes from 8 states, we merged a bunch of states into one. Illinois got its own episode, then Missouri and Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas and Arizona was grouped with California.

I came to realize this was probably unfair to Texas and California, especially because we kept reusing the soundbite belonging to the proprietor of the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock in other Route 66 videos.

So many always asked me to name the one highlight from Route 66, and that was impossible to answer. There were so many of them. But for me, as a filmmaker—this one was it. It was the hands down best interview of the 2,448 mile, 8 state trip.

So as I looked at my YouTube analytics, and saw that the Route 66 videos were still getting views every day, I realized it was time to recut Texas, expand it, and let it grow from four minutes to a full 22 minutes.

Texas is the most recent—I also recut and expanded California 66 and will post that one next week.

In this series for paid subscribers to the newsletter, I offer behind the scenes commentary about how these episodes come about, the shots we used that worked and didn’t work, the apps we used, the fails and what we learned from them.

Paid subscribers can read all about it, directly below.

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