The Travel Awards Issue 2026

THE TRAVEL ISSUE

WANDER THE WEST

SEATTLE, SEA TO SUMMIT 167 PLACES TO GO NOW MALIBU IDEA HOUSE

WALLA WALLA FORT COLLINS SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO

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WIDEN YOUR HORIZON

I N SP I R E D BY N AT U R E .

D E S I GN E D FO R L I V I N G. B U I LT TO E N D U R E .

Experience Western redefined at WesternAO.com Western Window Systems is now

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Feasting with chef Renee Erickson and friends on a beautifully brooding day at Captain Whidbey on Whidbey Island, Washington.

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Editor’s Note On traveling and telling.

Best of the West

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As the National Dude Ranchers' Association turns 100 years old, we explore the evolution of the quintessential dude ranch vacation, from its origins to the legacy properties and new cowboy chic resorts you can enjoy today.

Home & Garden

11 Checklist

What to do in your garden this fall wherever you are in the West.

to you, Mrs. 14 Here’s Robinson High up in Beverly Hills is The Virginia Robinson Gardens, a spectacular botanical wonderland that channels the golden era of Hollywood and sets the high bar for preserving personal gardens for the delight of the public.

26 Malibu Idea House

THOMAS J. STORY

Perched above Zuma Beach, Sunset’s 2026 Idea House is a warm, modern retreat where Camille Styles brings her vision of relaxed, intentional living to the Malibu coast. Five years in the making, its dramatic transformation embodies the Sunset lifestyle at its best: design-forward, connected to nature, and made for easy indooroutdoor living.

Travel & Escapes

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2026 Travel Awards In this year’s installment of our annual Sunset Travel Awards, we celebrate the

CONTENTS THE TRAVEL ISSUE 2026

destinations, hotels, restaurants, experiences, and ideas redefining travel across the West. Selected from a record field of more than 700 entries, this year’s winners prove that the region’s spirit of discovery is more inventive, ambitious, and irresistible than ever.

70 Made in the Weather

Seattle and the surrounding area have long enchanted us. We journey through the city, into the islands, the forest and mountains, to explore how generations of makers, dreamers, and independent thinkers are continually reinventing the Northwest while preserving the values that make Seattle unmistakably itself.

84 Insider Guides

Local tastemakers share their favorite places to eat, drink, and explore in Walla Walla, Washington, San José del Cabo, and Fort Collins, Colorado.

Voices of the West

96 Cut from the Coast

Outerknown cofounder John Moore reflects on the enduring influence of surf culture, the responsibility that comes with making things, and how a distinctly Western mix of freedom, creativity, and environmental consciousness continues to shape his work.

ON THE COVER

Travel editor Krista Simmons at Artist Point in Whatcom County, Washington.

Photograph by TH O MAS J. STO RY

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Tell About It

CHAIRMAN & PUBLISHER

Michael A. Reinstein EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hugh Garvey

—Hugh Garvey, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SunsetMagazine

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@sunsetmag

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

@Sunset

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DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Sarah Yang

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Brian Walker PHOTO EDITOR

Christine Bobbish STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Thomas J. Story

TRAVEL EDITOR

Krista Simmons SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

Kristin Guy

CONTRIBUTING HOME & DESIGN EDITOR

Christine Lennon

DIGITAL PRODUCER/NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Nicole Clausing

SENIOR DIRECTOR, PRODUCTION

Jamie Elliott

Sales & Marketing HEAD OF CUSTOM EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

Tracy Seng

VP, PARTNERSHIPS

Kathleen Craven HEAD OF TRAVEL

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SENIOR DIRECTOR OF AD OPERATIONS

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ACCOUNT MANAGER

Megan Giordano MARKETING INTERN

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THOMAS J. STORY

It doesn’t always have to be sunny. I have to remind myself of that when I’m on location for a photo shoot, the cloud cover won’t lift, and we aren’t blessed with a “magic hour”—that fleeting stretch just after sunrise or before sunset when the light arrives at a low, soft angle, the world turns glowy, and everything and everyone looks about as A glass-plate negative image of Nooksack Falls, photographed with a vintage 4x5 camera. good as they ever will.

The sun seemed determined not to come out when we were in and around Seattle for a story in this issue. And while we never got a textbook magic hour, with the sky washed in pink, orange, and lavender, we found plenty of other magic hours. We simply had to pay attention in a different way. We embraced the gray and came home with a moodier, more dramatic story. We stopped looking for the sun and found beauty in the shadows: in the moss carpeting the trees around Lake Quinault, and in the fine droplets of water that caught what little light was in the sky and turned the forest floor a deeper, richer emerald. We let the rain bead on our clothes, bundled up, stayed outside, and found refuge in cozy bars and restaurants. Then, one evening back in the city, we watched the sun angle low across the bay and, lo and behold, there it was: the narrowest band of lavender, pink, and orange suspended between indigo water and a charcoal sky.

Our staff photographer, Thomas J. Story—a magic-hour addict if ever there was one—even brought along a 4x5 camera to make glass-plate negatives, using a process photographers employed when Sunset was founded in 1898. The resulting monochromatic images have a tonal richness and haunting depth. They may be the most committedly anti–magic-hour photographs imaginable.

In her poem “Sometimes,” the great American poet Mary Oliver writes: “Instructions for living a life: / Pay attention. / Be astonished. / Tell about it.” I take the poem to be about the ever-shifting wonders and mysteries of being alive, but it also makes me think about travel. The first two instructions are what travel asks of us. The third is what we try to do in these pages. That spirit of attention runs throughout this issue. It is there in The Virginia Robinson Gardens, a private vision preserved as a public botanical wonderland high above Beverly Hills. It is in our 2026 Travel Awards, whose record field of more than 700 entries reveals just how inventive and ambitious travel in the West has become. And it’s in Sunset’s 2026 Malibu Idea House, where Camille Styles has created a home shaped by the landscape, the climate, and a more relaxed, intentional way of living. None of those stories depends on a cloudless sky. They depend on looking closely enough to see what is already there—and then telling someone else about it.

A pL_aCe fOr conN0isSeUr_S of tabl_e, N≠ature, and sOul

"Valleys & Vineyards" and all associated logos are Official Marks of Destination BC Corp.

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BEST

OF T H E

WEST The Dude Ranch Rides On

Why trail rides, rustic lodging, campfire cooking, and other country pursuits add up to the ultimate luxury getaway for our times.

SCOTT T. BAXTER

Story by H U G H GARVE Y and KRI STA S I M M O N S

Horseback in the Sonoran Desert.

Riding the fence line near Goose Creek, Colorado.

The De Cabooter family at Trapper Creek Ranch, Wyoming.

Elliot Cabin at Eatons' Ranch in Wyoming.

Originally marketed to Easterners looking for a break from modern living, the dude ranch just might be the most powerful and appealing Western getaway we can think of right now. In the 1880s, two brothers from

Pittsburgh opened a ranch in North Dakota that catered to “dudes” (a variation on duds, it was slang for the Eastern urban dandies who played cowboy at these resorts). In the early 20th century, hundreds of dude

ranches dotted the West. As Sunset wrote in a guide to the category in 1955: “Everything you do at a dude ranch can be considered an excuse for being there, to appreciate the richness of a country that is slow

across the valley and back again, the occasional stamp and whinny from the corral.” That blissfully bucolic

feeling remains, but now in addition to the standard formula of horses, hearty food, and wide-open spaces, you can practice yoga, eat Michelin-level food, and stay in luxurious rooms equal to those of a five-star resort, albeit with some knotty pine and a wool throw. This year marks the Dude Ranchers’ Association’s

100th anniversary, and to commemorate it, the association has published 100 Years of Dude Ranching, a

beautifully photographed book that chronicles the evolution of this wonderful corner of Western hospitality.

The association is also one of the best ways to find a ranch to match your region and taste, with a booking tool that allows you to browse some 90 ranches from Arizona to Wyoming and beyond. duderanch.org

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100 Years of Dude Ranching, photographs by Scott T. Baxter, history by Lynn Downey, foreword by Bob Boze Bell (ranchpreservation foundation.org, $79.95).

SCOTT T. BAXTER

paced and quiet—so still you notice the thud of an ax, the call of quail, the screen door slam that carries

Lone Mountain Ranch

Sunset and Dude Ranches Saddling up for over a century.

Lodge Life Whether you’re leaning toward luxe lodging or outdoor adventure, here are seven of our favorite dude ranches. › Alisal Ranch In Santa Bar-

of Paws Up created something

California classic—10,500 oak-

Montana acres: treehouses and

polished and recently refreshed studded acres, 50 miles of riding trails, and just enough resort comfort to make cowboy life feel civilized.

From the cover to longstanding ads extolling the virtues of the cowboy life, for over a century Sunset has celebrated the ranch vacation.

entirely different on these 37,000 contemporary wood cabins

paired with a full-service restaurant, all set deep in untouched wilderness. It’s an adults-only

› Lone Mountain Ranch

retreat where luxury and land-

Ranch pairs Montana log-cabin

place to disappear and unwind

fly-fishing, Nordic trails, and

known for.

› Rancho de los Caballeros

a dude ranch playing dress-up.

Near Big Sky, Lone Mountain

scape merge completely, a

charm with horseback rides,

under the big skies Montana is

easy access to Yellowstone.

› Reid Creek Lodge This isn’t

The newly updated Wickenburg,

The horses you ride are the same

the full desert-ranch fantasy:

head of cattle across 300,000

views, golf, and old-school

Douglas, Wyoming. Art Nicholas’s

› Tumbling River Ranch

collection anchors the main

Arizona, grande dame delivers

ones cowboys use to move 5,000

saddle time, wide-open Sonoran

acres of working land outside

Western hospitality.

museum-quality Western art

High in Colorado’s Pike National Forest, Tumbling River Ranch

keeps things intimate, alpine,

and family-forward, with cabins,

horses, fishing, and mountain air just about an hour from Denver.

› Brush Creek Ranch This

30,000-acre working cattle

ranch near Saratoga, Wyoming, TOP RIGHT: LONE MOUNTAIN RANCH

› The Green O The founders

bara wine country, Alisal is the

combines wellness offerings—

including yoga in a historic log

schoolhouse and luxe spa treatments—with world-class horseback riding and genuine land stewardship. In the warmer

months, try your hand at barrel racing and cattle driving or

in the winter book the private

Green Mountain ski area for a truly bucket-list-worthy trip.

lodge, where refined meals

welcome you and the family

back from a day of hiking, fishing on the private lake, or skeet shooting.

› Turpin Meadow Ranch Nestled on the banks of the

Buffalo Fork River, this heritage

ranch delivers stunning Tetons views while hosting activities

year-round, from Nordic skiing,

skijoring and snowshoe expeditions in winter to fishing and horseback riding in warmer months. It’s a place where

ranching traditions and community gatherings keep the

West alive in its most authentic form.

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HOME & GARDEN Your Autumn Garden Checklist

Late summer gardens are bursting with color and flavor. From sun-warmed fruits to fragrant herbs, it’s a time to savor the harvest, tuck in new roots, and set your beds up for a thriving fall.

Story by KRI STI N G UY Photographs by TH O MAS J. STO RY TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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As wildfire concerns, drought, and maintenance costs reshape Western gardens, gravel is becoming the region’s defining groundcover. Fall’s cooler temperatures make it the perfect time to plant California natives and create a landscape that’s resilient, water-wise, and beautifully textured.

and designing with natural decay in mind rather than

constant cleanup. This soft-

er approach reduces maintenance while allowing the garden to evolve with the season, honoring texture, imperfection, and time.

Extend garden rooms

into the colder months by layering fire bowls, gravel a living pantry of calming blends as temperatures begin to cool.

Divide fall bulbs and overachiever perennials by lifting and splitting iris, daylilies, agapanthus,

yarrow, penstemon, ornamental grasses, and bee balm to refresh crowded plantings. This seasonal

reset encourages stronger blooms next year while

keeping established beds healthy, balanced, and better able to handle

Western climate swings.

PLANT

planting the lower layers

pathways woven between

Consider fermentation

Fall is prime time to start

with comfrey, society gar-

groundcovers are gaining

autumn produce like

groundnut. These hard-

smart, soil-cooling alter-

help improve soil health,

weeds on pathways and in

a gravel garden. Cooler temperatures help

drought-tolerant Western

natives like California lilac, foothill penstemon, California fuchsia, and blue

grama grass settle in be-

fore spring. Layer in gravel

mulch now for a low-water landscape that feels

equal parts wild, textural, and effortlessly modern.

Experiment with food forest understories by

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of an edible landscape

plantings. These living

lic, walking onions, and

momentum as climate-

working understory plants

natives that suppress

suppress weeds, and bring

areas beyond the immedi-

a regenerative approach to gardening beyond the vegetable bed.

Lean into the living mulch

movement instead of bark by swapping traditional

wood mulch for creeping thyme, native yarrow, kurapia, or clover

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

ate ember-resistant zone.

HARVE ST Tend a backyard tea garden by selecting lemon

verbena, tulsi, pineapple

by transforming early

cabbage, carrots, and

radishes into lacto-fermented preserves that

move beyond traditional pickles. Extend the season’s storage harvest while building flavor,

nutrition, and longevity

into the months ahead.

MAINTAIN

sage, chamomile, and

Embrace wabi-sabi gar-

herbal infusions. This cozy

heads standing, celebrat-

yerba buena for seasonal ritual turns the garden into

dening by leaving seed-

ing weathered materials,

seating courts, evergreen structure, and sheltered

outdoor reading nooks that invite lingering even as

temperatures drop. These outdoor wellness spaces keep the garden active

year-round, turning winter into a season of quiet

gathering and pause.

PROTECT Support smoke and heat

recovery for plants with kelp sprays, deep watering after smoke events, shade cloth strategies, and careful

post-heatwave pruning

timing. These responsive

care practices help West-

ern gardens rebound from climate stress while protecting long-term plant health and resilience.

Shape living windbreaks

by planting climate-adap-

tive layers of toyon, coffeeberry, desert willow, man-

zanita, and native grasses to buffer wind and soften exposure. These resilient

plantings create protective edges that stabilize microclimates while adding

structure, habitat, and

year-round beauty to the Western garden.

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MRS. ROBINSON’S

Enchanted Garden At The Virginia Robinson Gardens, one of Beverly Hills' earliest estates preserves a lush and ultimately intimate vision of Southern California elegance.

Story by ALI SO N MARTI N O Photographs by TH O MAS J. STO RY

This page: Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) and leopard plant (Farfugium japonicum) in the Palm Forest. Opposite: The Fern Garden within the Palm Forest (a tribute to Harry Robinson and his love for ferns).

The Lion Terrace, built between 1934 and 1935, found within The Italian Terrace Garden.

It’s impossible not to be

swept away by the beauty of The Virginia Robinson Gardens. Situated just north of Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, it is one of the most stunning properties in this rarefied neighborhood—and an exquisite example of a private garden lovingly preserved so the public can experience its botanical riches.

The 6.2-acre property, revered among garden insiders, includes a classically styled mansion and a neoclassical pool and pool pavilion, but its heart and soul are seven lushly planted gardens threaded with terraced walkways, tucked-away courtyards,

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This page: Aerial view of the Great Lawn, Pool, and Pool Pavilion. Opposite (clockwise from upper left): The Italian Terrace Garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean; Virginia Robinson sitting on the Back Terrazzo Terrace, August 1959; Jacaranda tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia) in the front garden of the residence at 1008 Elden Way; Potted mint (Mentha) ornamented with Trailing Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) on the Kitchen Terrace, at the rear of the residence.

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and intimate patios. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a true horticulturist’s delight.

While neither as extensive nor as famous as Descanso Gardens or the Huntington, The Virginia Robinson Gardens is distinguished by its intimacy and integrity. It still reads as the cultivated private world of a wealthy Los Angeles hostess. Its sequence of Italian terraces, rose gardens, tropical plantings, palm forest, house and pool pavilion preserves the social and domestic character of elite early Southern California life exceptionally well.

The property was acquired and transformed into the wonderland it is today by Harry and Virginia Robinson, with Virginia taking the lead in its evolution. Harry’s father, Joseph Winchester Robinson, founded what would become J.W. Robinson Co., Los Angeles’s most prestigious and fashionable department store. Nearly eight years after their marriage in 1903, the couple stumbled upon the then-empty lot while searching for the Los Angeles Country Club. As Virginia later recalled, “Just like that, my husband said, ‘This is where we’re go-

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ing to live.’ By 10 a.m. the next morning, Thursday, January 12, we had already bought it.”

The Robinson residence was among the first houses built in Beverly Hills and remains a time capsule of the city’s early life. When Virginia and Harry moved into their new home, the area was still dotted with trees and vacant lots. To put it in historical context, this was some eight years before Douglas Fairbanks moved into the neighborhood.

The house occupied the highest point on what is now a cul-de-sac on Elden Way. The Beverly Hills Hotel opened below it the following year, in 1912.

Beverly Hills had been developed by Burton Green of the Rodeo Land and Water Company, and the Robinson house was designed by Virginia’s father, Nathaniel Dryden. It was completed in seven months, with the couple spending the final two months of construction at the Los Angeles Country Club.

When the Robinsons acquired the property, it held little more than a small Mexican elderberry and a field of barley. But Virginia had such a deep fascination with nature that she eventually sur-

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TOP RIGHT: COURTESY OF THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS

rounded the estate with hundreds of additional trees and plants from around the world. Harry and Virginia collected exotic plants, ferns and palms and sometimes even traveled with a botanist.

Virginia initially wanted a “typical California garden” and planted olive, pomegranate and persimmon trees. But after some of the early plantings began to wither, she started collecting more tropical species and creating a series of patio gardens along the property’s terraced hillsides. Over the years, she transformed the sparse slope into an inviting tropical and subtropical paradise.

The gardens eventually came to encompass a remarkable international collection: silk floss trees from South America, blue gums from Tasmania, Italian cypresses, Jamaican earpod trees, citrus, persimmons, eucalyptus, camellias, roses and numerous species of palms.

In the Italian Terrace Garden, begun by Virginia in 1934, visitors will find citrus, persimmons, Italian cypresses, a coral tree, camellias, lavender, Southern magnolias, olive trees, ginkgoes and deodar cedars, among many other Mediterranean plantings. The garden is also known as the Mediterranean Garden because of the breadth of its collection.

The Palm Garden, on the northeast slope on the

other side of the house, contains the property’s largest collection of a single palm species: more than 1,000 Australian king palms. It is also home to a banyan, sometimes called the “walking tree,” along with silk floss trees, Jamaican earpod trees and a Moreton Bay fig. Beneath them grow clivia, bamboo, ferns, bananas and birds of paradise. Harry, for his part, was known for his rare fern collection.

Despite their deep resources and grand vision, the Robinsons faced challenges any gardener can sympathize with. Charles Gibbs Adams, the influential landscape architect whose work included projects at USC and Hearst Castle, is believed to have advised Virginia on the Palm Garden around 1925. His involvement apparently followed several unsuccessful attempts to combine Mediterranean and tropical plants on the northeast slope.

Runoff from the new tennis court, combined with the eastern exposure, cool morning sun and lateafternoon shade, conspired against the Mediterranean planting scheme. Virginia also planted eucalyptus throughout the property, but roses remained among her greatest loves. She maintained both a cutting garden off the Palm Garden and a formal display rose garden beside the tennis courts.

Behind the house lies an expansive lawn, a mosa-

This page: The Loggia on the northeast side of the house, Virginia’s most enchanting backdrop for a dinner party.

Opposite (clockwise from upper left): The garden’s resident chicken Charlotte at the “Poulet Palace” coop located in the Kitchen Garden; The Greenhouse, a gift to Mrs. Robinson from Les Baxter in the 1960s; Bougainvillea found on the northern wall of the Tennis Court; The Front Terrazzo Terrace lined with Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) and European Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis), and the front entrance of 1008 Elden Way.

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This page: The path within The Palm Forest, built c.

1935. Opposite (clockwise from upper left): Virginia Robinson and unidentified guests pre-Bachelors Ball cocktails in the Library at Elden Way in the 1960s; Cherub statue perched overlooking the Italian Terrace Garden; The Cutting Rose Garden in the Palm Forest; The pool and Pool Pavilion.

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ic-tiled neoclassical pool and a Renaissance-style pavilion where Virginia played cards and entertained guests. She was known not only for her extravagant taste but also for her high-profile social gatherings and guest lists. Dryden appears to have anticipated his daughter’s appetite for entertaining when designing the house.

After its completion, the estate was frequently visited by movie stars, philanthropists and foreign dignitaries. Virginia became a formidable hostess in her own right and was widely known as the First Lady of Beverly Hills. Over the decades, a household staff that at times included eleven live-in servants attended to Virginia and her celebrated guests. Her carefully planned dinner parties drew figures such

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as Mary Pickford, Ethel Barrymore, Mae West, Ginger Rogers, Charlie Chaplin, George Cukor, Marlene Dietrich, Agnes Moorehead, Lillian Disney and Fred Astaire, who occasionally played tennis in the backyard.

Built in 1924, the Pool Pavilion was expanded five years later with a billiard room, spiral staircase and small upstairs card room for Virginia’s frequent bridge games. “I guess everybody in Beverly Hills has been here,” she once said of her estate. Virginia became one of the most sought-after figures in Los Angeles society. The lawn and pool areas frequently flickered with candlelight, and every detail—from the flowers to the china and crystal—was coordinated by her majordomo to complement Virginia’s clothing, which was invariably designed by a leading couturier, from James Galanos to Jacques Griffe.

For her most lavish parties, Virginia planned far in advance. She sometimes ordered custom gowns from Griffe nearly a year ahead, coordinating their colors with the flowers, linens, china and crystal selected for events such as the Hollywood Bowl Patroness Party, the August Moon Party, the estate’s 50th and 60th anniversaries and her famous New Year’s celebrations. To say Virginia was the center of the party would be an understatement. She was the party. She entertained so frequently and elegantly that local society editors labeled her “the Grande Dame of Southern California.” Although most of Virginia’s parties were purely social, she also hosted numerous charity benefits. Among her favorite organizations were the California Institute of Technology and the Hollywood Bowl, though animals and horticulture remained her lifelong passions.

In 1974, four decades after Harry’s death, Virginia bequeathed her Beverly Hills estate and gardens to Los Angeles County for preservation as a public botanical garden. She died on August 5, 1977, just 46 days before her 100th birthday. Visitors have been able to tour this singular and still little-known Southern California estate since 1982. Access remains unusually intimate: The grounds can be experienced only on docent-led tours offered throughout the week. I have taken the tour several times, and each time Virginia seems to come alive through the trees, flowers and garden rooms she left behind.

What a marvelous—and generous—legacy.

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF THE VIRGINIA ROBINSON GARDENS

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REDEFINE

YourRitual Since 1967, Chateau Ste. Michelle has approached wine differently, pairing visionary winemaking with wines that invite you to explore flavor, on your terms.

Because your traditions are yours to define—one ritual at a time.

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PLACE IN THE SUN Sunset Idea House Malibu Perched above Zuma Beach, Camille Styles’ home is a warm, modern retreat designed for salty air, open doors, easy entertaining, and life lived at a gentler pace.

Story by CH RI STI N E LE N N O N Photographs by TH O MAS J. STO RY

Sunset Idea House Malibu

Camille Styles

is a first-generation influencer and former event planner from Texas who has spun her well-edited life and good taste into a multi-platform blog, magazine, and shopping resource for thousands of aspirational fans since 2009. Looking for recipes for entertaining? Styles has them. Need a perfect beach hat, organization tips, a great travel outfit, or self-care advice?

She’s got those, too. Styles is so cool and collected, and lives with such intention, that she made a protracted, six-year renovation of a Malibu beach house—which also happens to be Sunset’s 2026 Idea House—look easy, and feel like it was all part of a master plan.

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“Originally, when we bought the property, we thought we would turn it into this dream vacation home. But then things changed, and we decided to make it our fulltime residence,” she says. “The timing worked out in a beautiful way. Now we get to make Malibu our home.”

While Styles is originally from Fort Worth, and she called Austin home for two decades, she and her husband Adam Moore have felt drawn to the coastal lifestyle for as

long as she can remember.

“Malibu was our soul place,” she explains.

“We loved the farm stands, the access to nature, the weather, and the surf culture. My husband and I are both entrepreneurs and owned our own businesses, and we were always over-busy, and over-stressed. We wanted to live at a slower, unhurried pace.

And people really value that here.”

A search for a second home with easy ocean access led them to a small neighbor-

Nearly every room in Camille Styles’ Malibu home is oriented toward the ocean to take advantage of the views and onshore breeze. The dramatic tongue-and-groove Humboldt Sawmill redwood siding stained with Benjamin Moore black exterior wood stain is fire-resistant, as is the substantial Humboldt Sawmill trellis, and the metal roof.

Camille Styles, husband Adam, children Phoebe and Henry, and the family dog sit under the trellis in the outdoor dining room.

Room to Breathe

Previous page: From the outside in, cladding from Humboldt Sawmill defines the exterior with naturally durable, effortlessly beautiful redwood. A trellis bridges indoor and outdoor living across the kitchen. Opposite page: Throughout the house, smart design makes daily life feel more serene. In the primary bedroom, an Avocado luxury plush pillow-top mattress, handcrafted in Los Angeles with certified organic materials, offers a place to recharge beside doors that open directly to the garden. Nearby, California Closets transformed the primary dressing room with its warm Quiet Grove Luxe Woodgrain finish, custom lighting, tailored storage, and a central vanity that brings a sense of calm to Camille’s morning routine. Outdoors, the sunken fire-pit lounge creates an inviting place to gather after sunset.

Together, the spaces capture the Idea House ethos: thoughtful, beautiful, and designed to be lived in.

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hood perched above Zuma Beach, where modest (by local standards) houses built into the hillside offered views of the Pacific and a tight-knit community feeling.

“We found a 1950s beach property that we knew needed a lot of work, and a lot of love,” she says.

“But the house was immersed in natural beauty and had real potential. Over the last six years, it’s gone through many permutations.

In the beginning, things moved very slowly because of permitting delays. The first couple of years it felt like there was no end in sight.

It was so hard to get through, and my patience muscle was definitely strengthened.”

Sited on a 25,000-plus-squarefoot lot with mature palm trees, a guest house, and a vintage kidneyshaped pool, the house served as a blank slate for Styles’ organicmodern vision. And she joined forces with architect Doug Burdge, a past Sunset Idea House partner, to bring it to life. Burdge has been designing houses in the community since 1987, and he is as familiar with the building codes, restrictions, environmental concerns, and fire-safety practices as anyone in the community.

“It’s my world to think of everything that has to go into making a house safe,” says Burdge. The vaulted ceilings in the bedrooms were Burdge’s suggestion, since attics are a fire hazard, and older homes have to be redesigned with that in mind. “Of course there’s gravel space around the house as a xeriscape zone. The decking was made with treated wood, and you have to use better venting under it so embers can’t get trapped there.

And the trellis was built with heavy timber, because the burn rate is less.”

Burdge and Styles collaborated on the design, creating a 1,000-squarefoot great room addition with a large, open kitchen, a sitting area, and a wall of glass doors that opened onto an extensive deck and water views, and undertaking a gut renovation of the existing three-bedroom house.

The exterior siding, redwood planks from Humboldt Sawmill stained dark, and a corrugated metal roof were choices that emerged after Styles had a couple of years to deliberate on design choices and fire-conscious materials.

“I’d always lived in all-white houses, but the beach house now feels more layered,” she says. “The timeline gave us the opportunity to let the original ideas for the house marinate. It gave us time to inform our inspiration. The biggest area we evolved in was the color palette. Then

later in the process we decided to stain the exterior siding black, with some Japandi influences. We had many years to select the furniture, so when it was time to order I was really ready.”

Other brand partners include Kallista for brass faucets, Emtek for door hardware, California Closets, Avocado mattresses, Benjamin Moore paint, Caesarstone countertops, Feeney railings, Schneider Electric, and Duravit bathroom fixtures and furniture. Inner Gardens assisted with interior plants.

The timeline for the home’s completion proved to be fortuitous for a big family move. They sold their Austin house and moved to California in May, giving them a few weeks to settle in before the start of the school year. While they weren’t even considering

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Material Difference

This page: Benjamin Moore’s Woodluxe Semi-Solid Exterior Wood Stain in Black gives the exterior façade its moody depth while allowing the natural grain of California-grown Humboldt Sawmill redwood siding to remain visible. A wall made with Eldorado Stone’s Bella Country Rubble adds warmth, irregular texture, and timeworn character. Camille’s Casa Zuma housewares add another handmade layer to the interior. On the guest-house stairs, Feeney’s custom DesignRail system pairs slender aluminum framing with horizontal CableRail infill, creating a crisp, nearly transparent barrier that preserves views of the redwood and garden. Opposite: In the primary bathroom, Caesarstone surfaces form substantial floating vanities with integrated basins, providing a pale, mineral counterpoint to warm wood cabinetry and earthy tile. The California Closets vanity is elegantly centered, giving an inviting peek into the walk-in his-and-hers dressing room beyond. Kallista’s ONE Collection faucets in Unlacquered Brass add a soft golden glow to the kitchen and bathrooms, with pared-back forms and a living finish designed to develop character over time. In Phoebe’s room, an Avocado mattress offers the family cat a cozy organic resting spot.

Sunset Idea House Malibu

The Finishing Touches

This page: In the kitchen, lamps from Casa Zuma illuminate the great room from the sustainable energy management program by Schneider Electric that optimizes efficiency and comfort of the home.

The kitchen island, hearth, and outdoor kitchen beyond are topped with Caesarstone Aluminous, creating a unified connection between indoors and outdoors. Opposite: In the primary bath, Duravit’s sculptural Soleil by Starck freestanding tub turns a daily soak into an indoor-outdoor ritual framed by the Eldorado Stone wall and olive trees. Duravit bath furniture threads through every bathroom for a quietly cohesive, never overdone aesthetic. Even the door hardware was treated like jewelry for the house: Emtek’s Lariat levers and No. 6 rosettes in Medium Bronze give swing doors a tailored finish, while streamlined pocket-door locks in Oil Rubbed Bronze bring the same considered sensibility to smaller passages. The grain of the Humboldt Sawmill siding stained in Benjamin Moore black Woodluxe Semi-Solid Exterior Wood Stain shows itself beautifully in the full sun.

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proximity to schools when they were looking strictly for a vacation property, they’re lucky that their daughter will be entering the local high school as a freshman, and their son middle school, which are both a fiveminute walk from the house.

And Styles now has the perfect laboratory to test her new homewares brand, Casa Zuma, which she launched a handful of years ago and is inspired by the thoughtful, elevated casual local lifestyle.

“I was always drawn to handmade, beautiful objects that reflect my lifestyle and my priorities. So three years ago, I started Casa Zuma, slowly growing a brand of collected and designed handmade objects from around the world,” she says. “I can curate the house as a showroom, and a testing ground, like a litmus test. A piece has to prove itself in our house first. How do those towels look hanging next to the outdoor shower? It’s a test.”

The pendant lights over the kitchen island, and many of the tabletop items, are from Casa Zuma. Styles has an outdoor furniture collaboration made in Bali through Haute Home. With a built-in fire pit, a concrete conversation area, and full woodfired pizza oven near the kitchen, the flow between the interior and exterior spaces feels seamless and designed for frequent, easy entertaining. While Styles was the driving force behind the design, she credits her hard-working (and patient) team of builders and designers with bringing it to life. “The builders at RS Wood were so incredible. The quality of their work and the attention to detail is so high. And Michael Fiore, the landscape designer, was a true partner. He shared our vision for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle and brought so much expertise to the project.”

Call it kismet, or shrewd strategic thinking, but the “intentional life” ethos Styles has been writing about on her content platforms, and the “future self” exercises she believes in, made this dream of hers come true. It just took a little longer than she’d hoped. “I just kept telling myself that good things take time and I had to hold on to that vision,” she says. “We had to trust that the timing would work out. And it did.”

Avocado has donated more than $12 million to environmental nonprofits since 2017, while creating products that are better for you and better for the planet. avocadogreenmattress.com

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore was founded in 1883 and remains one of the world’s leading premium paint, color and coatings brands, continually pushing the boundaries of innovation while championing sustainability. With more than 3,500 transformative colors, design tools, and expertise for consumers and professionals alike.

Benjamin Moore products are available from more than 8,500 paint, decorating and hardware retailers throughout the United States, Canada and the world. benjaminmoore.com

Caesarstone

Caesarstone innovates premium surfaces for residential applications, including Caesarstone Porcelain and Caesarstone ICON™. As a trusted design partner in the U.S. and over 50 countries worldwide, Caesarstone is renowned for beautiful, durable, sustainable surfaces designed to last a lifetime. caesarstoneus.com

California Closets

Surfaces with Soul

In the great room, Caesarstone’s Aluminous surface gives the streamlined hearth a softly mineral presence, while Benjamin Moore’s Woodluxe Semi-Solid Stain in Arbor White washes the vaulted wood ceiling with light without concealing its natural grain. The same Aluminous surface continues outdoors across the kitchen and bar, creating a durable, understated backdrop for wood-fired pizza, long lunches, and evenings under the olive trees. Used in two distinctly different settings, the materials help connect the home’s calm interiors to its relaxed outdoor living spaces.

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Brand Partners Avocado Green Brands

Avocado crafts luxury organic mattresses with a commitment to health, sustainability, and transparency. Handcrafted in our Los Angeles factory, every mattress is certified to rigorous standards, including GOTS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class I, MADE SAFE®, EWG Verified®, and GREENGUARD Gold. As a proud member of 1% for the Planet,

For nearly 50 years, California Closets has been making more room for what matters. Founded in 1978, California Closets has built a reputation as the industry leader and design authority in custom organizational solutions for rooms and spaces throughout the home. Professional design consultants and installers are dedicated to delivering a highly personalized experience from consultation to installation. californiaclosets.com.

Duravit

Duravit believes in creating sustainable bathroom spaces where high quality and timeless design combine to create a sense of well-being while enhancing the Duravit experience through our products, service, and commitment to sustainability. With the design and quality of Duravit products, even the most ordinary, everyday moments become aesthetic and artistic. duravit.com/en-us

Sunset Idea House Malibu

Eldorado Stone

Westlake Royal Building Products’ Eldorado Stone brand delivers handcrafted architectural stone veneer designed to capture the authentic texture and character of natural stone. Ideal for both interior and exterior applications, the manufactured stone veneer offers timeless curb appeal, design versatility, and lasting durability, helping create inviting spaces with old-world charm and modern performance. westlakeroyal buildingproducts.com/stone/ eldorado-stone

Emtek

For over 40 years, Emtek has offered customizable door and cabinet hardware assembled to order in Los Angeles, giving homeowners vast freedom of choice to create whatever hardware combinations they can imagine. With the widest range of categories, styles and finish options in the industry, you can make each moment an opportunity to express your

taste and invite others to experience your home as only you can imagine it. emtek.com

Feeney

Feeney brings elevated architectural detail to refined indoor and outdoor spaces through premium railing solutions designed for modern living. Known for clean lines, enduring performance, and exceptional versatility, Feeney products complement sophisticated residential design without overpowering the surrounding architecture.

Feeney helps designers create polished, purposeful spaces where craftsmanship, materiality, and views remain the focus. feeneyinc.com

Humboldt Sawmill

Redwood is an iconic building material, known for its warm hues, unique characteristics, natural beauty, and long-lasting durability. Humboldt Sawmill Company sources redwood logs from 450,000 acres of company-owned, Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133)

certified timberlands. Humboldt Sawmill offers an array of finished redwood products including pattern stock and siding, decking and fencing, beams and timbers for outdoor living, hospitality, and projects where aesthetics and durability are prized. getredwood.com

Kallista

Informed by a century of engineering, the brand refines every design detail to innovate what has gone before. It unites enduring craftsmanship with the promise of exceptional performance—taking the best of all worlds to form new icons.

Kallista embodies American luxury kitchen and bath solutions designed with global appeal. kallista.com

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader that empowers home energy to be intelligently managed for greater efficiency and comfort.

Idea House Team Architect: Burdge Architects, Douglas W. Burdge, AIA Builder: RS Wood Construction, Inc. Interior Design + Styling: Camille Styles Landscape Design: Fiore Landscape Design, Michael Fiore, ASLA Interior Plants: Inner Gardens

House Details Lot Square Footage: 28,562 House Square Footage: 3,104 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4.5

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Image: Explore Lompoc

T H E O R I G I N A L R O A D T R I P. C O M

MONTEREY COUNTY

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A town that’s not for everybody. Only foodies, wine lovers, hikers, bikers,

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Two titles. One incredible town.

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WOR K BOOK

The New Western Workspace WORKING AL FRESCO HAS NEVER BEEN SO LUXURIOUS THANKS TO A ROOFTOP OFFICE OASIS AND TERRA OUTDOOR LIVING.

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Photographs by TH O MAS J. STO RY

At Sunset, we believe the best in Western living happens where inside meets outside, where work bleeds into leisure, where a good chair and the right light inspire transporting storytelling. So when the Sunset staff set out to outfit our new workspace, we called Terra Outdoor Living. When you work at a company that celebrates design and travel, you should feel like you're somewhere worth traveling to. Here's how we upgraded our workspace by bridging comfort and creativity with timeless and beautiful pieces from Terra Outdoor Living that are not only supremely comfortable but stand up to the weather in style.

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The foundation for great ideas. We love the Ojai collection for its subtly Asian-inspired aesthetic and elegantly curved lines. Two lounge chairs, a sofa, and a coffee table from the collection hold their own against the bougainvillea rioting above. We wanted the backdrop to do some of the work, and Terra's Indonesian teak did exactly what good furniture should do in a setting like this: its warm earth tones allowed the space to breathe.

The sage and charcoal accent pillows echo the surrounding greenery and patinated copper.

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A movable meeting (or lounging) moment. The lightweight and super-durable Tiburon collection is reconfigurable for the moment. With a weatherproof baked-on finish and lightweight aluminum structure, they can take the heat and be easily maintained. Deep Sunbrella cushions allow for long brainstorming sessions, while a durable basketweave rug in carbon ties it all together and softens the surface underfoot.

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Seating as sculpture. The aluminum Diablo rocking chair in charcoal is one of the most comfortable seats we've ever tried, and it's incredible for helping you focus.

The sturdy Italian-made polyolefin rope casts dramatic shadows, with the aesthetic landing somewhere between industrial and artisan. The market umbrella in carbon casts cooling shadows under the California sun.

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Not every editorial meeting happens on a sofa. The Diablo Extension Dining Table in charcoal aluminum, topped with tempered glass, is light enough to reposition between takes. It becomes a standing desk, a layout table, a lunch counter, a shoot surface. The Diablo Rope Dining Chairs in Dune add an organic and tactile element that reminds us that our mission is not only to celebrate the most epic moments in the West but also to help our audience elevate the everyday.

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8/10/26 8:57 AM

DRAW THE LINE AGAINST WILDFIRE.

From TIME. © 2025 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Simulated smoke shown for illustrative purposes.

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WOR K BOOK

A Home Built for the New West

AT THIS BUCOLIC NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RETREAT, TIMBERTECH WAS SELECTED FOR ITS FORM, FUNCTIONALITY, AND FIRE RESISTANCE. By the time the owners of this hillside wine country home began planning its exterior remodel, the project had become much more than a cosmetic refresh. The original wood decking, railing, siding, trim, and fascia had suffered years of water infiltration, termite damage, and dry rot.

In this fire-prone part of the West, the home needed a new kind of exterior—one designed for beauty, daily living, and resilience.

The result is a stunning example of a house adapted to the realities of life in the West. Here, where outdoor living is part of the architecture of everyday life, the remodel transformed a vulnerable exterior into a more durable, more expansive, and more comfortable place to gather.

A key move was the redesigned deck, which pushed the outdoor entertaining area outward, created more usable square footage, and opened up the view along the home. For that space, the homeowners chose TimberTech® decking and railing, with fire resistance and quality leading the decision. The choice aligned with a larger home-hardening strategy, but it did not require sacrificing the warmth and character people want from a Western outdoor room.

TimberTech’s Advanced PVC decking delivers a realistic wood look without the cycle of sanding, staining, sealing, and replacement required by traditional wood. For homeowners already dealing with dry rot and failing exterior materials, that low-maintenance performance was not incidental; it was part of the point. The deck needed to look elevated, hold up beautifully, and support how the family actually lives.

The contractor also encouraged the owners to test TimberTech samples outside in real conditions, leaving them in the sun for several days to see how light and heat affected each option. The Vintage Collection® stood out for its refined finish, slip-resistant benefits, and Cool Touch® Technology, which can help make outdoor surfaces more comfortable during sunny Western days.

Just as important, TimberTech’s Vintage Collection carries fire-resistance credentials that can support a broader resilience plan, including an Ignition Resistant designation, WUI compliance, and a Class A Flame Spread Rating. Paired with non-combustible aluminum railing from TimberTech and other exterior upgrades, those features help show where outdoor design is headed.

The home’s transformation also included non-combustible Hardie® siding from James Hardie™, part of a downto-the-studs exterior remodel that gave the house an increased sense of solidity and calm.

What emerged is not a bunker, but a beautiful home made more livable. It is open to the view, ready for gathering, and built with clear-eyed respect for the realities of the Western landscape. Resilience does not have to diminish beauty. In a project like this, it deepens it.

S P O N S O R E D

B Y

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S P O N S O R E D

U LT I M AT E

MADISON LABERGE

Escapes

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The West rewards those who wander. These are the iconic desert getaways worth leaving home for now.

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S P O N S O R E D

Make Yourself at Home in an Oasis Made for Getting Away

In Greater Palm Springs, the getaway begins the moment you step into a space that feels entirely your own. Maybe it’s a midcentury modern retreat with clean lines, sun-drenched glass, and a pool that shimmers from morning to golden hour. Maybe it’s a Spanish Revival hideaway tucked behind swaying palms, with terracotta warmth, cool tiled floors, and evenings gathered beneath the glow of string lights. Or maybe it’s simply the home that fits your style, your pace, and the way you want to spend your days.

Pool days stretch longer. Warm afternoons drift into golden evenings that linger just a little more. Time slows. Plans soften. Routine quietly slips away. The day becomes whatever you want it to be, whether that means floating in the water, gathering around the table with friends, or slipping into the quiet comfort of a space that already feels like yours.

In Greater Palm Springs, every stay becomes more than a getaway. It becomes your own private oasis—a place to escape the ordinary, for days at a time.

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VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS

Where following your whim comes naturally.

Mornings start easy with coffee by the pool and mountain views beyond the palms. From there, the day takes on a life of its own. Maybe it’s a chaise, a good book, and a little extra sun.

Maybe it’s a scenic hike, a round of golf, local art, or just one more swim before lunch. Here, each moment invites you to explore freely and uncover new adventures at every turn.

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ESCAPE YOUR

ORDINARY

Follow your whim in an oasis of the extraordinary.

EscapeYourOrdinaryGPS.com

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S P O N S O R E D

For nearly a century, the Arizona Biltmore has welcomed travelers seeking relaxation, recreation, and unforgettable desert experiences. More than a legendary resort, it is a destination where remarkable architecture, vibrant experiences, and effortless luxury come together beneath the Arizona sun. As autumn arrives, the Sonoran Desert enters one of its most beautiful seasons, inviting guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the destination at its finest.

Spend your days unwinding beside one of seven heated pools or indulging in restorative wellness rituals at the award-winning Tierra Luna Spa. Inspired by the rhythms of the desert, each experience is thoughtfully designed to restore mind, body, and spirit.

Savor the season across six distinctive dining and cocktail destinations, from leisurely brunches and poolside lunches to sunset cocktails and unforgettable dinners beneath Arizona’s golden skies.

No visit is complete without experiencing a few Arizona Biltmore traditions. Sip the Original Tequila Sunrise at Wright Bar, where the now world-famous cocktail was first created, then explore the resort’s storied past on a complimentary Happy Hour History Tour. Borrow a bicycle to discover the resort’s 39 lush acres before venturing into the neighboring Biltmore Estates. As evening falls, settle in with a handcrafted cocktail while Arizona’s spectacular autumn sunsets paint the desert horizon in brilliant shades of crimson, gold, and violet.

Throughout the resort, nearly 100 years of architectural heritage blend seamlessly with contemporary comforts, gracious hospitality, and thoughtful amenities. Historic spaces stand alongside modern luxuries, creating an atmosphere that feels both timeless and refreshingly current.

This fall, discover a legendary resort reimagined for today’s traveler, where every detail reflects a legacy of excellence and every stay becomes part of the Arizona Biltmore story. arizonabiltmore.com

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FROM TOP: MICHAEL BAXTER; MADISON LABERGE; JILL RICHARDS

Discover Fall at Arizona’s Most Iconic Desert Resort

8/10/26 4:10 PM

A Destination of Distinction. A Legacy of Luxury.

For nearly a century, the Arizona Biltmore has welcomed presidents, Hollywood legends and discerning travelers seeking something truly exceptional. Set across 39 acres of lush gardens and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture, this iconic desert retreat continues to define luxury in the American Southwest. Discover seven distinctive pools, six acclaimed dining destinations and transformative wellness at Tierra Luna Spa & Sol Garden, where bespoke spa therapies, restorative rituals and thoughtfully curated fitness experiences invite complete renewal. Retreat to the exclusive Citrus Club Lounge, where handcrafted cocktails, premium wines and elevated culinary presentations are served throughout the day in an atmosphere of refined comfort.

This fall, explore an enduring legacy where modern luxury meets celebrated architecture in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. www.ArizonaBiltmore.com

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Idea Kitchen WHERE GREAT INGREDIENTS AND TECHNIQUE MEET

Nicole Dragon is a private chef who splits her time between San Diego and New Jersey. Follow her on Instagram @thefooddragon. Follow Nichols Farms @nichols.farms

The Toast With the Most Nicole Dragon’s Ricotta Toast with Hot Honey Pistachios.

For a video of Nicole preparing this dish, visit Sunset’s Instagram @sunsetmag

I N G R E D I E NTS 2 slices sourdough bread Olive oil, for drizzling 1/2 cup ricotta 2 tsp. honey Flaky salt 1 tsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped 1 peach, thinly sliced Nichols Farms Hot Honey Pistachios, chopped 1.

D rizzle sourdough bread lightly with olive oil and toast until golden and crisp.

2. I n a bowl, combine the ricotta, honey, thyme, and a pinch of flakey salt. Using a whisk, whip until smooth, creamy, and light.

3. Spread the whipped ricotta generously over the toasted sourdough.

4. Layer sliced peaches over the top.

5. F inish with chopped Nichols Farms Hot Honey Pistachios, an extra pinch of flaky salt and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.

6. Serve immediately while the toast is still warm and crisp.

In partnership with Nichols Farms

DRAGON: CHELSEA KENNY, ROSEBUD PHOTOGRAPHY; TOAST: NICOLE DRAGON

There’s something about a thick slice of toasted sourdough with whipped ricotta that feels like the definition of simple luxury. This toast is one of those recipes that looks beautiful, tastes elevated, but takes almost no time to pull together. I can happily eat this standing at the kitchen counter as a snack, serve it at a brunch spread, or pair it with a spritz during aperitivo. Safe to say, you’ll be happily snacking with this one.

One thing that matters deeply to me as a chef is ingredient sourcing. I’m using Nichols Farms pistachios, which come from a sustainable family farm. I love knowing where my ingredients are coming from and supporting producers who truly care about quality. The Hot Honey pistachios make this dish. A little chef trick I love is pulling a flavor from the dish into the garnish to create a cohesive bite. The honey flavor in the whipped ricotta is repeated with the pistachios and ties everything together perfectly.

The result is this sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy bite with just enough subtle heat to keep things interesting. The peaches bring freshness and juiciness, the whipped ricotta is light and herbaceous, and the pistachios add the texture every good dish needs. —Nicole Dragon

T R AV E L & E S C A P E S 2026

The Sunset Travel Awards From the coast to the mountains to the desert and beyond, the West is where travelers can live life to the fullest. Here are the most transporting experiences in this beautiful place we call home.

This year we received so many excellent entries worthy of inclusion in the winner’s circle that we couldn’t fit them all into the magazine.

We’ve included a link to the additional winners here. Scan the QR code to see the additional honorees. Congratulations to one and all!

VISIT RENO TAHOE

Where to Stay.........50 Where to Go.........61 What to Do.........64 Where to Eat & Drink.........67 How to Get There.........69

The Full Winners List

Reno Tahoe

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

49

Hotel San Cristóbal

give us a fresh reminder of why the West remains one of the most exciting places on earth to explore. This year, we saw a record wave of entries

from hotels, restaurants, destinations, outfitters, parks,

spas, wineries, museums,

tour operators, and travel

innovators across the region,

each one making a compel-

ling case for why the West con-

tinues to lead the way in adven-

ture, design, food, hospitality, and pure sense of place. The competition was

fierce, which makes this year’s winners all

the more remarkable. From bucket-list re-

sorts and road-trip-worthy motels to thrilling outdoor experiences, destination res-

taurants, and small-town surprises, these

honorees are the best of the best. Consider this your essential guide to where to go

next—and visit sunset.com/traveldirectory

for our searchable database to start planning your next great Western escape.

50

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

Stay WHERE TO

Coastal Escapes Conrad Punta de Mita

Quiet, luxurious, and understated, this romantic property is as prime for proposals as it is a solo spa weekender. Watch the sunset with a margarita in hand (and toes in the sand) at Mezquite bar or book in

for a traditional temazcal sweat lodge with local practitioners. The property is close to all the trappings of town, but considering how good the fresh fish tacos

GRANT PIFER

Every year, the Sunset Travel Awards

and local specialty of grilled zarandeado fish are, we wouldn’t blame you for staying in.

Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas

This is Baja luxury at its apex. Whether you’re playing in the sand with their seemingly

endless collection of both adult and kidfriendly beach toys, splashing around in

the warm waters, treating yourself to a bag

of freshly fried churros from the coffee shop or heading to one of the posh nearby clubs and restaurants within the Costa Palmas development via water taxi, this is one of

those resorts you never want to leave once you check in.

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo

Marked by dramatic cliffs, lush coastline, and epic surf, Costalegre is a destination known for barefoot luxury. Combining world-class

service with genuine local flavor, it’s a resort that feels quiet yet “happening” all at once.

Whether you’re going for street tacos at its

ultra-hip stand or splashing out with some

of the area’s freshest seafood at their beachfront restaurant, it’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again.

Hotel San Cristóbal

Set on pristine Punta Lobos beach with the

Sierra de la Laguna Mountains as a backdrop,

Hotel San Cristóbal in Todos Santos combines

La Bahia Hotel & Spa

Design is local-first: bespoke furniture from

La Valise Mazunte

minimalist design with Mexican hospitality.

Guadalajara, custom ceramic light fixtures,

and bedspreads by a mother and son team outside Oaxaca. Guests can help free baby sea turtles and discover permaculture at

Cosecha, an al fresco restaurant built with sustainable materials.

Kaimana Beach Hotel FROM TOP: THOMAS J. STORY; LA VALISE MAZUNTE BY NAMRON HOSPITALITY

Swap Waikiki’s mega-resort circus for direct beach access on the Gold Coast, genuine

aloha from staff and locals, and pricing that

won’t wreck your budget. Located on quieter Sans Souci Beach, it’s where surfers (book

your lessons through the on-site Kai Sallas

Surf Shop), families, and travelers who actually want to feel the island come together.

Sip a macadamia nut latte at the cafe by

day, then settle in for pau hana happy hour

with slack-key guitar live as the sun sets over Diamond Head.

La Bahia Hotel & Spa

Santa Cruz’s first luxury oceanfront hotel

just opened on Main Beach with a restored

Spanish-Mediterranean belltower that crowns the property. The rooftop spa features an

ocean-view sauna and outdoor treatment

rooms above the sand, while the four culinary

venues, including an innovative London-style

marries minimalist design with pure sensory

with unobstructed views of Monterey Bay.

pools, and open-air showers are nestled in

lobby bar, serve locally sourced ingredients

La Valise Mazunte

Designed by legendary architects Alberto

Kalach and Ignacio Urquiza, this seven-room clifftop sanctuary in a quiet Oaxaca village

immersion. Infinity pools, private plunge

jungle canopy. Guests participate in temazcal ceremonies with local healers, witness baby sea turtles released into the Pacific, and

experience sound healing sessions synced to the ocean’s rhythm.

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Paradero

ing Italian linens, fireplaces, and unobstructed Pacific views this is peak Malibu. Lounge at the Carbon Beach Club and indulge in fresh seafood towers and rosé alongside

locally sourced cuisine. In the wake of the

Palisades fires, the hotel welcomes travelers back to one of California’s most resilient

coastal communities with warmth and luxury.

Timber Cove Resort

Timber Cove sits on a dramatic bluff above the Pacific with views to infinity. The hotel is nestled among 25 acres of quintessential

Northern California coastline where redwoods meet the sea. Fire pits, two miles of trails,

and vinyl records in each room make it feel genuinely removed from the world.

NEST Baja

Accommodating just twenty-four guests where desert meets sea, this escape on

the East Cape is the definition of bespoke.

Handcrafted ceramics and carved wooden details by Baja artisans grace rooms in a

natural palette of sand, sage, and tidal blue, all with ocean-facing terraces and private

plunge pools. Surfing, whale watching, and desert dune rides anchor a stay that feels just as intentional as it does indulgent.

Paradero

Embodying Todos Santos chic, the 35 minimalist suites offer outdoor showers facing

the landscape and hammocks strung for long

Post Ranch Inn

afternoons. The restaurant Tenoch draws

from an on-site organic farm and nearby

agricultural plots. Adults-only, intentional, no TVs—it’s all about immersion in place.

Rosewood Mandarina

On the Riviera Nayarit, Rosewood Mandarina stands in a class all its own. The 134 all-suite accommodations stretch from mountain to beach to valley, each with a private plunge

pool. At La Cocina, local Nayarit women make fresh tortillas while at Barra Peñasco offers mezcal tastings against a backdrop of fig

Rosewood Miramar Beach

Set on one of California’s most coveted

stretches of coastline, Rosewood Miramar

Beach captures the effortless elegance of

the American Riviera. Oceanfront accommodations, exceptional dining, and easy access to the beaches, vineyards, and mountains

Post Ranch Inn

counters with birds of prey and lessons in rap-

Ranch Inn is 39 rooms of organic architecture

restaurant with walls of glass and garden-

tecting threatened species like the California

Malibu Beach Inn

Perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific, Post

tor conservation. And Sierra Mar, the cliffside

built around the redwoods, with 90 acres pro-

centric cuisine, is a destination unto itself.

condor. The falconry program with Master Falconer Antonio Balestreri offers hands-on en-

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Perched on Carbon Beach next to the iconic

Malibu Pier, with 47 beachfront rooms boast-

of Santa Barbara create a luxurious retreat

that’s refined and unmistakably Californian.

Shutters on the Beach

The iconic Santa Monica oceanfront hotel

channels casual Cape Cod vibes through a

California lens, and it’s all the more transporting thanks to a stylish and inviting redesigned

FROM TOP: PARADERO TODOS SANTOS; KODIAK GREENWOOD

trees and coastal views.

Regent Santa Monica Beach

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026 trance to this property is as dramatic as the Pacific views themselves. During a stay, the spa invites guests into Baja’s natural heal-

ing culture, while impossibly romantic can-

dlelit oceanfront dining at El Farallon and

Don Manuel’s is understandably where proposals and celebrations unfold. Fresh gua-

camole arrives daily at your door with Coronitas, a gesture you’ll wish you could bring back to end a day’s work back at home.

Las Rosadas

With just seven accommodations spread across hundreds of acres of coastline,

Las Rosadas offers a rare sense of seclusion on one of Mexico’s most beautiful

stretches of Pacific shoreline. Thoughtful

hospitality, exceptional cuisine, and experiences that celebrate the culture and

traditions of Jalisco create a stay that is both luxurious and connected to place.

Zadún, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Set between desert dunes and the Sea

of Cortez, Zadún Los Cabos offers a deeply

immersive vision of Baja luxury. Exceptional lobby, aka the Living Room, from design firm

Jamie O’Brien surf lessons, and mai tai happy

luminaries such as Robert Rauschenberg.

permaculture stand for delicious fresh

Nickey Kehoe, complete with new artwork from

The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel

tropical produce and genuine aloha.

region’s landscapes, traditions, and marine

environment make every stay feel both restorative and distinctly rooted in place.

The Gilded Iguana has been Nosara’s original

Villa Santa Cruz

Regent Santa Monica Beach

from Playa Guiones, one of the world’s most

Santos is a chic bohemian retreat with ocean-

luxury to Santa Monica. Spacious accommo-

surf hotel since 1988. Just a five-minute walk

consistent breaks, the hotel has a full-service surf club. The restaurant and bar remain the town’s beating heart, connecting guests to

locals and the community it’s helped shape.

The Milo, Hotel by the Sea

European villa charm filtered through the

The family-owned Villa Santa Cruz in Todos

front safari tents and fire pits. It’s graced the

cover of Sunset for good reason: the La Pasto-

ra surf break is steps away for morning waves

and coffee, rooftop hot tubs frame stargazing, and the property’s farm and gardens make for exquisite breakfasts.

W Punta de Mita

Cabinet stocked with books and binoculars,

was built into the lush Nayarit jungle rather

and communal spaces meant to slow you down and reconnect. It’s walking distance

to everything, yet feels like a genuine retreat from the typical Santa Barbara scene.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Perched above the Pacific on 78 acres of

coastline, Bacara captures the easy elegance that has long defined the Santa Barbara life-

style. Beautifully refreshed accommodations, a standout spa, and oceanfront dining make this a resort that invites guests to slow down, settle in, and savor the California coast.

The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay An iconic resort spanning 1,300 acres on Oahu’s North Shore, with suites framing

the ocean and a cove to snorkel with turtles,

Just steps from the pier, this brings a breezy

dations, a coastal Mediterranean Michael Mina restaurant, and a serene oceanfront atmosphere raise the bar on this iconic beach.

Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Few hotels capture the spirit of the California coast quite like this retro-cool oceanfront

lens of modern coastal design. Sun-drenched courtyards, a Tiny Library, and a Discovery

FROM TOP: TANVEER BADAL; LAS ROSADAS

hour. Don’t forget to visit Kuilima Farm’s

wellness programming, thoughtful design,

and experiences that connect guests to the

What makes this property special is that it

than on top of it. Vibrant Huichol art extends from the lobby all the way to the beach, which boasts barreling

classic on Cowell’s Beach with its surf vibes, sweeping Monterey Bay views, easy access

to the Boardwalk and Wharf, plus a renewed commitment to sustainability and locally sourced dining.

world-class surf breaks.

Between modern

Mexican dining at chef Daniela Soto-Innes

Rubra that draws from the hotel’s garden to

tequila tasting at Casa Dragones’ palapa bar,

it’s the kind of stay you

really don’t ever want— or need—to leave.

Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal Accessed through the

Dos Mares tunnel, the en-

Las Rosadas

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Edgewood Tahoe Resort

When it comes to lakeside luxury, Edgewood

Tahoe is a mainstay that stands out, offering lakefront access with stunning Sierra views,

exceptional championship golf, and critically acclaimed fine dining.

Gravity Haus Breckenridge

This ski-in/ski-out adventure destination

boasts a mountain-side Japanese-inspired onsen and a Supertramp for practicing air

awareness between runs. Swap stories over family-style meals at Cabin Juice, soak in

the rooftop pool with mountain views, and

bring your pup along. Ideal for active travelers who want substance alongside comfort.

Hotel Jackson

This locally-owned Jackson Hole property

brings a thoughtful touch to the mountains,

with design inspired by the region’s ranching heritage and a rooftop bar that commands epic views. Celebrity Chef Malyna Si leads

the Lebanese restaurant Figs, which reflects the heritage of the hotel’s owners. Coming

this summer: a wood-fired steakhouse grill, elevated suites, and an expansive spa.

Hotel Ketchum

Hotel Ketchum captures the laid-back spirit of Idaho’s mountain towns with contemporary design, a welcoming atmosphere, and easy access to the adventures that define Sun Valley. An inviting basecamp with a

Field & Stream Bozeman

strong sense of community and place.

Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole

Hotel Yellowstone puts you within minutes of world-class skiing at Snow King Resort

and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, with direct access to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. Guest rooms frame snow-

capped Teton views, while a spa, restaurant, and thoughtful design honoring Western

traditions provide the perfect base for tackling the Tetons and beyond.

Field & Stream Bozeman

Beyond just being the gateway to Yellowstone, Bozeman has become a city worth visiting

brates all the destination has to offer integrat-

Montage Big Sky

ing outdoor culture into its (admittedly ultra-

Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Mountain Getaways

hidden, now reachable with nonstop flights

Montage Big Sky

overlook jungle and pristine beach, Chef

Big Sky’s luxury landscape, bringing five-star

local ingredients, and the 28,000-square-foot

ski town. Spa Montage is an 11,000-square-

healing with hydrotherapy.

lap pool, heated plunge pools, and stone-

Siari sits on Nayarit’s Emerald Coast—once

plaid) fabric with a rooftop bar with mountain views and easy access to world-class fishing, skiing, horseback riding, and more.

Montage Big Sky is a recent addition to

Historic Hotels

David Castro Hussong’s kitchens celebrate

design and culinary muscle to Montana’s

Arizona Biltmore

Há Yeka Wellness Center merges Huichol

foot grotto-inspired sanctuary with an indoor

from major U.S. cities. Cliffside infinity pools

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walled treatment rooms.

Few resorts are as woven into the history of the American West as the Arizona Biltmore.

Nearly a century after opening, its distinctive

FROM TOP: DAVID MITCHELL; MONTAGE BIG SKY

in its own right. This new adventure hotel cele-

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026 architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright influences,

Hotel del Coronado

storied Wright Bar, and enduring sense of glamour continue to make it one of the

Southwest’s most iconic places to stay.

Hotel del Coronado

Fresh off a multimillion dollar, multi-year

upgrade, Hotel del Coronado is one of Ameri-

ca’s most iconic properties—a Victorian masterpiece on a pristine beach that has hosted celebrities while remaining accessible and beloved by locals. Its architectural signifi-

cance and timeless elegance make it perpetually award-worthy.

Inn at the Presidio

Tucked into the Presidio’s 1,500 acres of forest

and trails, this restored officer’s quarters from 1904 feels like staying in history itself. Wake

to Golden Gate Bridge views, trade stories by the fire pit, then step out the back door onto the Ecology Trail or head to nearby Presidio Tunnel Tops, the park’s wildly popular new destination with food, trails, and the city’s largest playground.

Los Angeles Athletic Club

Part historic landmark, part boutique hotel, and part wellness club, the Los Angeles

Athletic Club offers a side of downtown Los

Angeles few visitors experience. Guests enjoy access to exceptional fitness and social

amenities while staying inside a living piece of city history that has welcomed athletes, entertainers, and cultural figures for more than a century.

The Broadmoor

For more than a century, The Broadmoor

has defined Colorado luxury, pairing grand surroundings with a level of service that

remains among the finest in the country.

From championship golf and exceptional

dining to mountain adventures and iconic attractions, it offers a uniquely expansive vision of the Western resort experience.

Grand Canyon Railway Hotel

The Westin St. Francis

Just steps from the depot, the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel makes an ideal base camp

for one of the West’s most memorable jour-

FROM TOP: THOMAS J. STORY; MICHELLE MIN

neys. Blending classic railroad-era charm

grain bowls sit alongside award-winning hand pies and excellent margaritas.

with modern comforts, it offers travelers

The Westin St. Francis

Canyon, Route 66, and the small-town

Union Square landmark still manages to

an easy and inviting gateway to the Grand

A San Francisco institution since 1904, this

mark was recently given a $26 million

overhaul by CH Projects, the restaurant

group behind Polite Provisions, Ironside

Fish & Oyster, and Raised by Wolves. Now it boasts seven restaurants and bars, a

vintage bowling alley, and a pool whose

character of Williams, Arizona.

feel like the center of the city’s social life.

The Legendary Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

rooms now blend Parisian elegance with

The Mining Exchange Hotel

greatest love stories.

hosted fortune-seeking entrepreneurs at the

Calistoga’s wellness anchor since 1952.

With Doc’s secret volcanic mud formula and

After a $45 million renovation, the historic modern comfort. It’s one of the West Coast’s

naturally heated mineral springs, the quirky,

The Lafayette Hotel & Club

open-air restaurant where nutrient dense

back to downtown San Diego. The 1946 land-

unfussy approach to health extends to the

The Lafayette Hotel brings Art Deco glamour

vibes are worth a visit on its own.

Originally built in 1902, this spot that once

turn of the century has had a radical top-tobottom glow up and now is where Colorado Springs heritage meets high-design.

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The Aster

The Aster in Hollywood’s

Vinyl District combines a

chic workspace, boutique

hotel, and social hideaway.

The 35-room hotel is an

urban utopia. The rooms are some of the biggest bang for the buck in Hollywood.

With a rooftop restaurant

and lounge with sweeping

views of the Hollywood Hills, it’s the ideal retreat for industry creatives.

The Global Ambassador

The Global Ambassador

brings a worldly perspective to the desert, pairing

sophisticated design,

Lotte Hotel Seattle

exceptional dining, and a

strong sense of place in the

heart of greater Phoenix. From its celebrated

The Aster

rooftop restaurant to its wellness-focused

amenities, the hotel delivers a polished and contemporary take on Arizona luxury.

The Hôtel Lili

The Hôtel Lili brings a refreshing sense of

personality to Beverly Hills, pairing Europeaninspired style with the intimate scale of a

boutique hotel. Set within a reimagined 1930s residence, it offers a more relaxed and con-

temporary take on luxury, with thoughtful design, a lively cocktail scene, and easy access to incredible shopping, dining, and culture.

The Ramble Hotel

As the hotel that helped put Denver’s RiNo

district on the hospitality map, The Ramble blends boutique luxury with the neighborhood’s creative energy. Anchored by the

acclaimed Death & Co bar and filled with

thoughtful artistic touches, it offers a stay

City Stays

Lotte Hotel Seattle

1 Hotel San Francisco

Korean hotel brand Lotte. With interiors

The Ritz-Carlton, Portland

whimsically elegant, the spa offers restorative

Carlton brings a distinctly Pacific Northwest

Lounge serves up Pacific Northwestern cui-

sweeping views of the city and mountains,

ty with style and redefines luxury through an

environment-first lens, with a stunning design

designed by Philippe Starck, the space is

suited to a lively night out or a quiet retreat.

Rising above downtown Portland, The Ritz-

treatments, and Charlotte Restaurant and

sensibility to urban luxury. Thoughtful design,

sine and sweeping views of Elliott Bay.

destination-worthy dining, and a serene

Harry’s Guest House

Populus Seattle

for exploring one of the West’s most creative

hood, Harry’s Guest House delivers the kind

beautifully restored Pioneer Square landmark,

that incorporates natural materials and a restaurant scene to match.

Tucked into Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighbor-

of stay that feels less like a hotel and more like being welcomed into a beautifully de-

signed home. Thoughtful interiors, a strong

sense of place, and its seamless connection to neighboring Harry’s Fine Foods create an intimate Seattle hideaway.

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The best new hotel in Seattle. Housed in a

wellness floor create an elevated home base cities.

Populus Seattle reflects the Pacific Northwest

Thompson Denver

strong environmental ethos. Carbon positive

is a buzzy home base for exploring the city.

where historic character, contemporary hos-

and Reynard Social, a rooftop bar with sea-

through thoughtful design, regional art, and a

Thompson Denver in the LoDo neighborhood

and rooted in its surroundings, it offers a stay

Home to Chez Maggy by Chef Ludo Lefebvre,

pitality, and sustainability go hand in hand.

sonal cocktails, the hotel also provides curat-

FROM TOP: LOTTE HOTEL SEATTLE; THOMAS J. STORY

This Embarcadero property does sustainabili-

A sleek and stylish hotel from luxury South

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026 ed wellness programs, while the adventure

The Ritz-Carlton, Portland

concierge tailors custom itineraries.

ARRIVE Albuquerque

ARRIVE pairs playful design, a vibrant social scene, and a prime location along historic

Route 66. From its iconic Zia-shaped pool to its celebration of local art and culture, the

hotel offers a stylish gateway to one of the Southwest’s most intriguing cities.

Nearby Nature The Wildbirch Hotel

Anchorage’s first upscale boutique hotel

in 20 years was well worth the wait. Denali

details and local art frame every room; now

the official Iditarod headquarters, it’s a gate-

way to downtown dining and Alaska’s boundless nature.

Lightwell Hotel & Spa

This restored 1904 landmark is Hood River’s

first full-service hotel in over a century and

now anchors downtown as the town’s unofficial living room. A spa with basalt-backed

need to head out to the parks.

soaking pool, the town’s only rooftop bar

Americana Motor Hotel

a historic piano once belonging to Hood

nostalgia travel is having its moment. This

this building has found its purpose again.

revamped with all the modern amenities in

overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and River’s first female hotelier remind guests that

Ofland Escalante

making it an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation and regional authenticity.

AutoCamp Sequoia

mid-century gem in Flagstaff has been

brand to a new level, combining the romance

mind, while still keeping it retro.

Salish Lodge & Spa

and Airstreams offering 360 degrees of red

majestic Snoqualmie Falls, offers a quintes-

hot tub, and spa-quality bathhouses with

breathtaking views. Guests enjoy rooms with

Salish Lodge & Spa, perched above the

rock views, a drive-in movie theater, pool,

sential Pacific Northwest retreat with its

private outdoor showers. Sure, you come for

fireplaces and soaking tubs, rejuvenating

Ofland Escalante

spa treatments, and explore lush hiking trails,

In our fast-paced, tech-connected world,

Along Utah’s Scenic Highway 12, Ofland Es-

calante is glamping done right: mod cabins

FROM TOP: THE RITZ-CARLTON, PORTLAND; KIM + NASH FINLEY FOR OFLAND ESCALANTE

the nature, but at this property you hardly

AutoCamp’s new Sequoia property takes the

of glamping with thoughtful design and proximity to the National Park. The Airstream-style

accommodations and curated programming offer you a true forest escape without ever having to “rough it.”

Luxury Lodging Four Seasons Resort Cabo Del Sol

The luxe Mexican village of your dreams:

against the vivid blue backdrop of the Sea of Cortez, you’ll find whitewashed modern hacienda-style rooms and private villas;

winding stone roads and paths; charming

boutiques; a serene spa; pools to fit families,

couples, and fitness fans; restaurants serving modern Peruvian-Japanese food (from chef

Richard Sandoval); and a rooftop beach club serving up beats against the setting sun.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Lush grounds, a perfect little beach, an expansive spa, a throwback general store, a lagoon stocked with local sea life, attentive service,

well-appointed rooms, and the best pool on

the island make this a top-tier Hawaiian stay.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

This magnificent 67-story luxury resort on the Strip, offers an exhilarating experience with

expansive gaming, eclectic world-class din-

ing, and marquee entertainment. Guests are drawn to its vibrant nightlife, luxury retail,

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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some of the most stylish places to swim, sip, and unwind in the Coachella Valley.

San Ysidro Ranch

San Ysidro Ranch sits in Montecito with the

kind of quiet luxury that only happens in one

of America’s most expensive zip codes. Somehow, the place feels lived-in, not precious with quirky details everywhere: wallpapered ceilings, impeccable gardens, complimentary

amenities that include freshly baked cookies and lavender lemonade. It’s no wonder it’s

historically the hideaway for Hollywood stars.

Sensei Lāna’i, A Four Seasons Resort Sensei Lāna’i is a bespoke wellness journey,

not a spa retreat, and the distinction matters.

Best in its class, the program wraps around your personal goals and starts well before

you even step foot on the island. Think mind-

set training, water massage, onsen-style private baths, VO2 max assessment, and practices like fascia release that you actually carry home and integrate into daily life.

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas

Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas is a non-gaming, non-smoking sanctuary on The Strip with floor-to-ceiling views, an award-winning

27,000-square-foot spa, and Peacock Alley’s

afternoon tea tradition to replace the casino noise. Imagine coming back from Vegas actually feeling refreshed.

Ranch Stays Brush Creek Ranch

Housed on 30,000 acres in Wyoming’s Platte

River Valley, this ultra-private collection of historic guest ranches built on the original 1884

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

homestead preserves its Western character

while delivering modern comfort. World-class fly fishing, a 600-acre private ski mountain,

immersive wellness offerings, making it a hub for dynamic luxury living.

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Your tropical vacation fantasies are realized

at this transporting Big Island resort, sited on

a cinematic palm tree-lined cove with luxurious hales perched over lava flows, a bar

made out of a shipwreck, and winding paths leading to cooling pools and spectacular restaurants. The pinnacle unforgettable Hawaiian resort experience to beat.

Montage Healdsburg

Perched among vineyards and oak-studded hillsides, Montage Healdsburg delivers a

polished Sonoma County experience. Estate

wines, exceptional dining, thoughtful wellness programming, and immersive connections

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to local artisans make it a compelling expres-

and a sustainable seed-to-table farm mean

sion of modern wine country hospitality.

four-season immersion in idyllic ranch living.

Nobu Ryokan Malibu

Alisal Ranch

Nobu Ryokan Malibu is Japanese minimalism

head up to this ranch just outside Solvang,

beneath skylights, garden rooms opening

pancakes you’ve ever had, followed by sere-

Chef Nobu’s restaurant is steps away, or call

interesting programming with its events and

Perched on Carbon Beach with 16 suites,

If you want a taste of the cowboy life in SoCal,

meeting California coast—teak soaking tubs

where trail rides end in the most delicious

onto zen gardens. Adult-only and intimate.

nades from a local wrangler. There’s always

down and they bring it to your room.

collaborations, and though only a few hours

Parker Palm Springs

from L.A., it might as well be a world apart.

For decades, the Parker Palm Springs has

Dawn Ranch

blending Hollywood history, bold design, and

nia, offers a dreamy getaway in the woods,

gardens just outside downtown, the storied

cess to the Russian River. Extensive program-

dining, vibrant cultural programming, and

foraging, and treatments at The Spa at Dawn

been the desert’s ultimate playground,

22-acre Dawn Ranch in Guerneville, Califor-

an unmistakable sense of fun. Set across lush

with its cozy cabins, glamping tents, and ac-

retreat continues to evolve with standout

ming includes scent-making classes, guided

HUGH GARVEY

French-Mediterranean poolside dining, and

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026 Ranch. The Lodge at Dawn Ranch, led by

Alisal Ranch

Chef Fernando Trocca, serves a vegetable-

forward menu with craft cocktails. Amenities like Fender guitars and Swarovski binoculars make for a delightful rustic luxe reset.

Dude Ranchers’ Association Member Dude Ranches

For a century, the Dude Ranchers’ Association has helped travelers experience the land-

scapes, traditions, and hospitality that define the American West. From horseback riding and fly fishing to hearty meals and wideopen skies, its member ranches offer an authentic escape where adventure and connection come naturally.

NewTree Ranch

Set on 120 acres just outside Healdsburg, NewTree Ranch offers a distinctive wine

country escape where regenerative farming, wellness, and luxury hospitality intersect.

Thoughtfully designed experiences, beautiful natural surroundings, and a deep commitment to stewardship create the kind of

Brush Creek Ranch

restorative retreat that encourages guests

to slow down, reconnect, and settle into the rhythms of the land.

Rancho de los Caballeros

For nearly 80 years, Rancho de los Caballeros has offered an authentic taste of the Arizona

West, where days are spent riding horseback through saguaro-dotted desert, golfing

beneath mountain vistas, or unwinding at

the spa. Recent updates bring fresh energy to this beloved ranch while preserving the

relaxed hospitality and sense of place that have long made it a favorite escape.

Tumbling River Ranch

Perched at 9,200 feet in Pike National Forest

just 60 miles from Denver, this working family

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF ALISAL RANCH; COURTESY OF BRUSH CREEK RANCH

ranch has welcomed adventurers since 1946.

Fly fishing at nearby Boxwood Gulch yields massive trout (34-inchers are common), and days unfold with horseback rides to

ghost towns, white-water rafting, and yoga

by the river. It’s the rare unfussy all-inclusive where multigenerational families gather,

home-cooked meals anchor the day, and the ranch owners still live on-site.

Resorts & Retreats The Ranch Malibu

The Ranch Malibu spans 200 acres in the

Santa Monica Mountains with a simple for-

mula: 25 guests, multi-hour hikes, daily mas-

sage, and organic meals in a distraction-free

setting designed for measurable transformation. It’s not a spa experience. It’s a reset built on human connection and real results.

Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel

Inn the Ground

Sedona, Arizona, enchants adults with its

tive farm in Oregon wine country, this nine-

Ambiente, a pioneering landscape hotel in setting among red rock formations, its cubeshaped Atriums with panoramic views and

rooftop stargazing decks. This luxurious es-

cape combines hyper-local dining at Forty1,

regionally inspired treatments at Velvet Spa, and a commitment to sustainability.

CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa

Could there possibly be a better place for

a wellness retreat than a place named Care-

Built into a hillside above a working regeneraroom escape is where you wake to birdsong

and watch cattle graze while enjoying breakfast showcasing what’s grown on-site. Eight miles of trails ribbon through the property,

designed around permaculture water proj-

ects. The operation is built on deepening the

connection between farms, food, and people, extending to their acclaimed restaurant, Grounded Table, in nearby McMinnville.

free, Arizona? This best-in-class holistic well-

Dive Palm Springs

fitness programming, and nutritional guid-

tiled pool, Dive Palm Springs captures the

ness experience integrates spa treatments,

ance into a transformative, rejuvenating stay.

With just 13 rooms surrounding a sparkling carefree glamour of a vintage riviera escape

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2026 TRAVEL AWARDS realized hospitality vision where

Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve

design, food, and community actually connect.

The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is a

storied 85-room retreat blending vintage luxury with personalized

hospitality, featuring new private

villas, Mila Moursi’s first hotel spa,

and standout dining at Lilian’s and Bing’s Bar. Set on lush grounds just

outside San Diego, this century-old icon offers tailored experiences

and timeless charm in a truly residential setting.

Thompson Palm Springs

The expansive Thompson continues setting a new bar for hospitality

with its modernist complex of sleek rooms, a rooftop pool, modern

design, personalized hospitality, and a growing wellness program make this adults-only retreat an inviting place to slow down and settle into Palm Springs time.

Vermejo, a Ted Turner Reserve

Set across more than half a million acres on the Colorado–New Mexico border, Vermejo

offers one of the most extraordinary conservation-driven travel experiences in the West.

Guests can explore vast landscapes teeming with wildlife, enjoy refined lodging and outdoor adventures, and leave knowing their

stay helps support the stewardship of one of North America’s great private conservation success stories.

Hotel Marina Riviera

Big Bear has long been the de facto SoCal mountain escape but until recently there weren’t many design-forward

accommodations. This 1968 Viking-inspired lodge—reimagined by Casetta Group and

design studio Electric Bowery—merges alpine nostalgia with louche 1970s charm. Add

waterfront access, an all-day restaurant by beloved L.A. pizzeria De La Nonna, and a

restored mid-century bar, and you’ve got indulgent outdoorsy escape done right.

Nat Hab’s Alaska Bear Camp

Watch brown bears hunt salmon from your private fly-in camp on Chinitna Bay in Lake

Clark National Park, one of the world’s premier bear-viewing destinations. Handcrafted cabins overlook the beach where bears

forage for clams on the tide flats right in front of you. Genuine wilderness immersion, stripped of pretense.

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Middle Eastern restaurant, a HALL

Outlook Inn

With 31 rooms overlooking Fishing Bay in

Eastsound on Orcas Island, Outlook Inn feels

lived-in with wavy floorboards, local art, and

wine tasting experience, the breezy Italianate fantasia Bar Issi, and an extensive art collection. A chic addition to the scene.

genuine island hospitality. The Water’s Edge

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

happen at New Leaf Café downstairs, where

reopened in early 2024 with over 50 geother-

suites sit closest to the water, and mornings

After a major glow up, Murrieta Hot Springs

the whole island seems to gather.

mal pools at varying temperatures, plus a

Romer House Waikiki

inspired by the mineral-rich geothermal

Romer House is adults-only and intentional, with design nods to Waikiki’s mid-century.

What makes it feel different is that it’s truly tied to the people: a

speakeasy cocktail bar where you’ll find the

terra thermal mud loft. Spa treatments are water, and historic touches like original Spanish fountains anchor it all in a century-plus of SoCal healing history.

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

who’s who of

Hawaii hanging out, the fridge in the lobby

stocked with fresh local lei, the izakaya serving Japanese-Hawaiian

dishes made with aloha, and collaborations with local surfers like Mason Ho and Auntie Meggz

that weave them into the

daily rhythm of the place.

The Cottages at Little Saint

The Cottages at Little Saint slip behind

Hotel Valley Ho

units with wallpapered ceilings and hand-

midcentury Scottsdale resort embraces its

They’re inseparable from the complex below:

ern travelers expect: vibrant poppy rooms

live music venue, and an eight-acre regener-

py saunas and other treatments, and two

gates in downtown Healdsburg—four intimate

This extensively updated and beloved 1956

painted floors designed by Ken Fulk’s whimsy.

roots while delivering all the amenities mod-

a plant-based restaurant, curated wine shop,

and suites, the VH Spa offering chromothera-

ative farm supplying the kitchen. It’s a fully

pools with two vibes to suit any traveler.

THOMAS J. STORY

through a distinctly desert lens. Thoughtful

Go WHERE TO

Napa Valley

Wine Country Escapes

Napa Valley

Walla Walla, Washington

Healdsburg, California

quite like Napa Valley, with its world-class

acclaimed wine scenes with the charm of

Surrounded by the storied wine-growing

wine, exceptional food, wellness experiences,

Alexander Valleys, Healdsburg is the perfect

ning a romantic getaway, a restorative solo

the leafy historic plaza, 40 tasting rooms,

region’s remarkable range of experiences

and small town-vibes.

Santa Barbara Wine Country

regions of the Russian River, Dry Creek, and

and beautiful scenery. Whether you’re plan-

home base for exploring Sonoma. We love

retreat, or a weekend with friends, the

Michelin-starred restaurants, boutique hotels,

rewards one and all.

McMinnville

BOB McCLENAHAN

Few destinations embody the good life

With more than 300 wineries and an energet-

If you want a taste of the way wine country

ic new generation of vintners, Santa Barbara

is it. With a thriving wine scene, exceptional

exciting wine destinations. Winemaker-led

eye for sustainability, the McMinnville com-

and exceptional food experiences invite

is alive and well.

and craftsmanship go hand in hand.

used to be, this vibrant small town in Oregon

Wine Country remains one of the West’s most

restaurants, and craft makers each with an

tastings, vineyard tours, seasonal festivals,

munity proves that the indie Pacific Northwest

visitors to explore a region where innovation

Walla Walla pairs one of the West’s most

a walkable small town rich in culture and

history. Between cellar doors, visitors can explore galleries, catch a performance,

dine at standout restaurants, and discover a community where agriculture, creativity, and hospitality intersect.

Coastal Classics Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel is a fairy-tale coastal village where dramatic cliffs meet pristine beaches. The

town is wonderfully walkable, and feels like

a step back in time because the community has worked to preserve its bohemian character.

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La Paz, Mexico

the largest man-made small-craft harbor in

remains one of California’s best-kept secrets.

restaurants, shops, bike lanes, and kayaking.

Just a quick ferry ride from L.A., Catalina

North America. Play like a local and revel in its

The lack of cars downtown, the buffalo herds,

Monterey County

the world-class diving, and the perfectly preserved beach town aesthetic offer a

weekend escape that’s close but feels lightyears away from home.

Coronado Island

Each pocket of the region—from Big Sur to Pacific Grove to the Santa Lucia Highlands—of-

fers distinct coastal character, making for the ideal hub for a good old fashioned California

road trip. Don’t miss out on a trip to the world-

This San Diego peninsula boasts historic

class aquarium, worth a visit in its own right.

personality. The iconic Hotel del Coronado

Mountain Wonders

is in wandering the quiet neighborhoods

Breckenridge, Colorado

charm, and a relaxed and highly-bikeable sits as its crown jewel, but the real magic and undisturbed stretches of sand.

Laguna Beach

This Southern California gem has managed to stay artsy and authentic despite its

popularity, with dramatic coves, accessible beaches, and a thriving gallery scene.

The town’s village-like walkability and

commitment to public beach access make it a model for tourism with soul.

Marina del Rey

This charming maritime enclave on the coast in L.A. is home to some 5,000 boats, making it

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and outdoor activities. It’s truly the gold standard for modern mountain resorts.

Deer Valley Resort

This luxury mountain resort in the Wasatch

Mountains of Utah elevates hospitality with meticulously groomed slopes, exceptional service, and a commitment to preserving the skiing experience (no snowboards al-

lowed). From heated ski valets to gourmet

dining, it’s an unparalleled alpine destination

in terms of scope and experience for travelers seeking curated sophistication alongside outdoor adventure year round.

This charmingly hip mountain town balances

Classic West

alpine vibes, offering everything from skiing

Grand Canyon West

restaurants. Its elevation and access to the

Springs, Arizona, just a two-hour drive from

world-class mountain recreation with genuine and hiking to a creative heart of galleries and Rockies make it a standout Western destina-

tion that delivers both adventure and culture.

Canyons Village at Park City Mountain

Known for its champagne snow, this ski-in,

Located at Grand Canyon West outside Peach Las Vegas, this corner of the canyon is an exceptionally accessible destination. It

boasts magnificent landscapes, multiple

ways of accessing its grandeur, and a rich Indigenous history.

ski-out destination combines Olympic-cali-

Greater Palm Springs

that buzzes year-round with festivals, dining,

deliver. Even more top spas, resorts, world-

ber slopes with a vibrant village atmosphere

The desert playground that continues to

COURTESY OF GO LA PAZ

Catalina Island

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026 class modernist architecture, spectacular

Greater Palm Springs

hikes, music and culture festivals, breathtaking landscapes, and hot springs await for travelers looking for a one-stop vacation.

La Paz, Mexico

If you’re after a slower pace in Baja California Sur, the authentic charm of the capital city

of La Paz delivers with a stunning waterfront,

farm-to-table dining scene, and proximity to oceanic underwater adventures on the Sea

of Cortez that impressed Jacques Cousteau himself.

Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Tucked between the Sea of Cortez and the

rugged Sierra de la Giganta, Loreto offers the

kind of Baja experience that feels increasingly rare: unhurried, authentic, and connected to the natural world. Here days are spent

kayaking among islands, exploring desert trails, lingering over fresh seafood, and

watching the sun sink into one of the most beautiful landscapes in Mexico.

Nevada’s Highway 50

Dubbed the Loneliest Road, this route stretches across some of the most hauntingly beautiful and genuinely remote terrain in America.

On your journey you’ll encounter more stars

than people. Whether you’re a UFO enthusiast, a public art aficionado, or just one who loves the open road, this trip delivers.

Urban Escapes Beverly Hills, California

With world-class shopping and dining, beautiful parks and gardens, and cultural institutions of the highest level, this is one of the

most inviting and accessible communities in

the West. The California dream is in full effect in this city that epitomizes luxury and the good life.

San Francisco

Beverly Hills, California

Beautiful San Francisco and its immediately recognizable Golden Gate Bridge remains FROM TOP: VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS; BEVERLY HILLS CONFERENCE & VISITORS BUREAU; DEER VALLEY RESORT

one of the most iconic destinations in the

West. With an influx of innovation in tech, food, hotels, and design, it’s back on the map as a destination well-worthy of celebration.

Reno Tahoe

This cool and iconoclastic community caters to creatives and adventure seekers alike with its dynamic arts scene and status as the

gateway to Burning Man. With diverse lodging options from grand resort casino hotels to

charming boutique properties, visitors can

enjoy easy access to outdoor activities at Lake Tahoe, just 30 minutes away, where opportunities for hiking, biking, and skiing at premier resorts like Mt. Rose and Northstar abound.

Deer Valley Resort

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Do WHAT TO

On the Water

The Hilt Estate

Kauai Sea Tours

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Na Pali coast on power rafts or luxury

catamarans. There’s snorkeling and whale

watching for when you’re feeling adventurous, and a catamaran with a cocktail bar for when you’re ready for a sundowner.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company Known as the Galapagos of North America, be on every eco adventurer’s list. Paddling

through the sea caves of the islands offers

an intimate encounter with one of America’s

most pristine marine environments, complete with sea lions, harbor seals, and sea caves only accessible by water.

Food & Wine Experiences Frank Family Vineyards

A storied heritage name in Napa’s prestigious wine country, Frank brings a personal, unpre-

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FROM TOP: KAUAI SEA TOURS; THOMAS J. STORY

the Channel Islands National Park should

TRAVEL AWARDS 2026

Marietta Tasting Room

Kauai Sea Tours tentious approach with family-friendly tastings and a genuine commitment to quality over flash. Their cabernet bottlings are the

stuff of legend and well worth saving in your cellar, but it’s the warm, hospitable tasting experience that’ll age for a lifetime.

Marietta Tasting Room FROM TOP: BRYAN MELTZ; SANTA BARBARA ADVENTURE COMPANY

This impeccably designed tasting room from

Santa Barbara Adventure Company

award-winning Marietta Cellars brings a dose of modern European flair to Healdsburg Plaza.

Napa Valley Wine Train

and tasting room commands sweeping views

culinary and mixology classes where visitors

powered by a clean-energy locomotive, the

lingering over Chef Julie Simon’s seasonal

ate dishes reflective of the region of Nayarit.

The iconic way to explore Napa Valley. Now

train shuttles guests through the picturesque valley on a rail line that dates back to 1864.

A sustainable culinary and wine experience?

All aboard!

Presqu’ile Winery

Located on a hilltop in Santa Maria Valley,

Presqu’ile produces its own acclaimed Pinot

Noir and Chardonnay while serving as a boutique grape supplier to other Santa Barbara

winemakers. The sustainably farmed vineyard

of vineyards and ocean below to enjoy while

farm-to-table lunches featuring housemade cheeses and local produce.

Cachasol

There’s a lot of agave-based spirits on the

market these days, but this working tequila

and raicilla distillery is unique in that it’s set on a lush, off-the-beaten-path agave farm near the ultra-hip surf town of Sayulita.

Their vibrant farm-to-glass tours include

open-fire dinners at sunset and immersive

forage herbs in the garden and learn to cre-

Temecula Wine Country

Southern California’s wine country continues

to come into its own, pairing nearly 50 wineries with rolling vineyard views, relaxed hospi-

tality, and a climate well suited to world-class grapes. Easy to reach from Los Angeles, San

Diego, and Palm Springs, Temecula makes a

compelling case for trading a long-haul wine trip for a weekend much closer to home.

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2026 TRAVEL AWARDS Spa Montage Los Cabos

at the ecosystem above. Thoughtful adaptive programming and bat-

tery-powered ascenders make this remarkable adventure accessible

to climbers of a wide range of ages and abilities.

Wood River Extreme Skijoring Cowboy culture is definitely having

a moment, and skijoring is a natural extension of that. This unique Idaho

experience combines cross-country skiing with the speed and power of horses pulling skiers across snow-

covered terrain, creating an adrenaline rush unlike any other winter

sport. It’s the ultimate frontier tradition to participate in during the winter.

Classic Western Experiences Route 66 Remixed

STEELPORT Knife Factory

Inn at 500 Rodeo Experience

Few experiences capture the spirit of the

West quite like a rodeo, and this Boise-based

getaway makes it easy for newcomers to dive in. Pairing tickets and behind-the-scenes

access at the legendary Snake River Stampede or Caldwell Night Rodeo with stylish

lodging and memorable dining, it offers an inviting introduction to one of the region’s most enduring traditions.

Santa Ynez Valley

With rolling hills dotted with vines, a density

of Michelin-recognized restaurants, charming towns, and a laid-back vibe with just the right amount of city influence, this remains one of our favorite nearby L.A. escapes.

Behind-the-Scenes Access

The Hilt Estate

Wellness Wonder

Hills, The Barn at The Hilt Estate is one of wine

Spa Montage Los Cabos

where architecture, interiors, and landscape

by grounding it firmly in the traditions and

Albuquerque with some 20 installations and

gathering spaces, sweeping estate views,

mezcal-infused massages and indigenous

culture, color, and creativity. Partners include

and JONATA wines make it a place that en-

looking Santa María Bay, every detail reflects

artists.

Route 66 Remixed

With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 upon

Spa Montage Los Cabos elevates wellness

us, now is the time to explore its 18 miles in

work in harmony. Thoughtfully designed

natural beauty of Baja California Sur. From

activations that enrich the experience with

and the opportunity to explore both The Hilt

botanical treatments to serene pools over-

iconic Meow Wolf, Refract Studio, and local

courages lingering over every glass.

a deep sense of place.

STEELPORT Knife Factory

country’s most striking tasting destinations,

West Wine Tours

It doesn’t get much more classic California than exploring wine country in a restored

vintage VW bus. Trading stuffy shuttles for

intimate tastings at hidden, ultra-hip producers, founder Lauren Kershner curates an experience punctuated by a locally-sourced lunch and customizable tours that are welcome to all—dogs included.

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Outdoor Adventure Tree Climbing at Silver Falls

Most visitors experience Oregon’s Willamette Valley forests from the trail. Tree Climbing at

Silver Falls offers a completely different perspective, lifting guests high into the canopy of towering old-growth trees for a rare look

Part factory tour, part culinary destination,

the STEELPORT Factory offers a rare opportunity to see heirloom-quality kitchen knives crafted by hand in the heart of Portland.

Through demonstrations, workshops, chef events, and a commitment to Oregon

materials and American craftsmanship, it celebrates Portland’s maker spirit.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: MONTAGE LOS CABOS; STEELPORT KNIFE CO.; CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ARTS & CULTURE

Set amid the rolling vineyards of the Sta. Rita

Acre Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

FROM TOP: MONIKA FRIAS & ANA HINOJ; LINDSEY BOLLING PHOTOGRAPHY

WHERE TO

Eat & Drink Destination Dining

dining room that makes every meal

an occasion.

Alteño

This Denver restaurant channels the

Fleurette

in a menu built around live-fire cook-

the spirit of the French and Italian

flavors of Mexico’s Jaliscan Highlands ing and deeply personal family reci-

MÄS

pes. Chef Johnny Curiel’s latest restaurant pairs soulful food with polished service and a richly atmospheric

At Fleurette, chef Travis Swikard brings Rivieras to La Jolla, pairing Mediterranean-inspired cooking with the pro-

duce and seafood of California. It’s the kind of restaurant where handmade

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has quietly become one of the West’s most remarkable dining experiences. With just

a dozen seats, chef Josh Dorcak transforms exceptional ingredients from Southern

Oregon and beyond into deeply personal dishes that blur the line between meal, conversation, and artistic expression.

Nightbird

Nightbird celebrates the culinary philosophy

of Chef Kim Alter, whose daily farmers’ market hunts breathe life into rotating seasonal

menus and whole-animal cookery that shines brightly among the bounty of world-class

fine-dining establishments in San Francisco.

Tucked in Hayes Valley behind a carved-owl door, the intimate space feels like stepping

into Alter’s own home, where every detail from the service to the artful plating matches the caliber of the cooking.

Acre Restaurant & Cocktail Bar

It’s hard to imagine something more dreamy than Acre. Surrounded by palm-tree lined treehouses bookable for guests, the

restaurant serves a menu highlighting local Baja ingredients, including plenty grown on the property’s farm, as well as a whimsical design that honors Mexican coastal architecture and craftsmanship.

Madrina Cocina Mexicana

Madrina Cocina Mexicana tells a story of family, perseverance, and community

through deeply personal recipes rooted in

northern Mexico and shaped by generations of hard work in Oregon. From handmade

The Lobby Bar & Emporium

blue corn tortillas to a wine list celebrating Latina winemakers, every

pasta, thoughtful cock-

detail reflects founder Lucy De Leon’s

tails, and a beautifully

commitment to honoring heritage

designed dining room

while helping write the next chapter

come together to cre-

of the region’s food culture.

ate a transportive coastal escape.

Fitoor San Jose

Hamdi

having its moment, and Fitoor is at

Contemporary Indian cuisine is finally

Led by husband-and-

the center of it all. With innovative

wife duo Chef Berk Gul-

techniques and a stunning interior

dal and co-owner Ka-

that doubles as an event space, the

trina Schult, who bring

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

from Eleven Madison

Park, SingleThread, and

skill represent the next generation of Bay Area dining.

The French Laundry, this Seattle spot reimag-

steakhouse indulgence, and live-fire cooking.

New Classics

generational family recipes like charcoal-

robata grills, the experience balances preci-

A.O.C.

ines Turkish and Anatolian cuisine. Think

grilled kebaps made using a traditional Turkish zırh knife or cocktails made with heirloom tomato-infused vodka and Turkish yogurt.

From pristine sushi to wagyu cooked over

sion and showmanship in a stylish setting

perfectly suited to Old Town’s evolving culinary landscape.

Kauboi

MÄS

Scottsdale, blending Japanese technique,

than tasting menus, MÄS in Ashland, Oregon

Kauboi brings a fresh sense of energy to

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In a region better known for Shakespeare

Few restaurants have shaped Los Angeles

dining quite like A.O.C., where Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne helped define the city’s

love affair with seasonal ingredients, share-

able plates, and thoughtfully sourced wines.

More than two decades after opening, its

FROM TOP: DAVENPORT HOTELS; GAMMA NINE

restaurant’s ambition and technical

world-class pedigree

leafy patio, vibrant market-driven cooking,

and exceptional beverage program remain among the most compelling reasons to dine in West Hollywood.

Mizuna

For 25 years, Mizuna has been one of Denver’s defining dining destinations, pairing

classic hospitality with a kitchen that never

stops evolving. Chef Frank Bonanno’s French-

HOW TO

Get There

influenced cooking balances beloved signa-

tures with dishes inspired by his latest travels, proving that even after a quarter century, great restaurants can still surprise.

Pizzeria Delfina

Turn a corner in San Francisco, and you’ll in-

evitably run into a pizza joint serving excellent pies. Given the history of the Italian American community in the City, it’s no surprise. But

among the most influential is undoubtedly

Pizzeria Delfina, whose casual elegance and consistency have made it one of the Bay

Area’s most beloved Cali-Italian restaurants.

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana

A pilgrimage destination for pizza devotees, Tony’s offers up every style under the sun—

from classic Neapolitan to New York-style— all executed with championship-level skill.

The restaurant’s reverence for pizza tradition combined with technical mastery makes it a must-visit for food lovers.

Dialed Up Drinks

AdventureSmith Explorations Alaska Railroad

Call Me Pearl

This cocktail lounge near Denver’s LoDo

neighborhood continues to excel at narra-

tive-driven craft cocktails, gracious hospitality, and seasonal menus in a room that channels the Gilded Age.

Oxbow Public Market

Part marketplace, part community gathering place, Oxbow Public Market brings together

many of Napa Valley’s best flavors under one

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ADVENTURESMITH EXPLORATIONS/ AARON GAINES; GLENN ARONWITS; BARK AIR

roof, from artisan food producers and local

farmers to acclaimed chefs and winemakers.

Whether you’re grabbing a bagel, sampling oysters, discovering an emerging chef, or

stocking up for a wine country picnic, it’s a place to raise a glass to drinking in life.

The Lobby Bar & Emporium

More than a century after opening its doors, the Davenport continues to find fresh ways to celebrate its history. The new Lobby Bar

and Emporium transform Spokane’s grand hotel lobby into a lively gathering place

where Prohibition-inspired cocktails, housemade peanut brittle demonstrations, and

beautifully preserved architectural details invite guests to linger a little longer.

BARK Air

Alaska Railroad

comfort with adventure with nimble

Alaska to inland wilderness, offering a

itineraries designed to immerse you in

This iconic rail journey connects coastal slow-travel experience that lets you

absorb the landscape’s grandeur at

the perfect pace. The route showcases pristine wilderness, dramatic glaciers,

and remote communities in a way that no highway can match.

AdventureSmith Explorations For deep access to the West’s most

remote wilderness, AdventureSmith

offers small-ship cruises that combine

vessels, expert guides, and all-inclusive the wild. Bucket list travel at its best.

BARK Air

This airline prioritizes pooches in an

unrivaled way, reimagining pet-friendly travel by letting your four-legged com-

panion fly alongside you with first class

service. It’s an innovative game-changer for the growing number of travelers who refuse to leave their pets behind.

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MADE IN THE

WEATHER From Pioneer Square to Penn Cove to the Olympic rainforest, a Northwest journey into the food, forests, and grit that shaped Seattle’s enduring identity.

Story by H U G H GARVEY

/

Photographs by TH O MAS J. STO RY

If you’ve ever flipped through vintage issues of Sunset from the early part of the twentieth century and beyond, you’ll find stories and advertisements celebrating one Western utopia or another, a formula you’ll still see today. In one issue from 1925 there’s an abundance of content about the Pacific Northwest, and the Seattle area in particular: Olympia oysters, travel to Puget Sound, Rainier apples, a profile of a photographer who summited Mount Rainier to get the perfect shot. It’s a mosaic of ideas and imagery of adventure, opportunity, and industry.

While we’ve covered the area hundreds of times in the century since, we decided to revisit Seattle with that early wide-eyed enthusiasm. We wanted to experience the nature, the topography, and savor the oyster that is Seattle and surrounds. Rather than look to the new first, we looked to the timeless, and then looked for the people who are keeping that spirit alive. We met the makers, restaurateurs, and artisans who mine the past to give weight to the present, and in turn help build the foundation for what comes next.

This isn’t a travel story. It’s a timetravel story.

Wander back in time in the backstreets of Pioneer Square.

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SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

THE

City

We arrived in Seattle on a rainy day, which can be any day. That was just fine with us, because the clouds created a vivid sunset as we wandered the waterfront that’s been revitalized in recent years. The rain doesn’t soak you there so much as aggressively mist.

I was joined by staff photographer Thomas J. Story and travel editor Krista Simmons, and the city was the first stop on our mission to seek not only what remained permanent in spirit, grit, and entrepreneurship, but also for progress. Shipping still thrives here, but so does tech. Grunge may be a past influence rather than a thriving scene, but that make-up-the-rules ethos still prevails.

We visited the factory and store of Seattle outfitter Filson, where bolts of cloth, battered archive pieces, and the steady choreography of sewing machines stitch together past and present.

In those early issues of Sunset you’ll frequently find ads for Filson, most often extolling the toughness of the Cruiser: a sturdy article of clothing that became one of the most iconic garments to come out of the West. Filson was born in 1897,

one year before Sunset. It began as an outfitter for prospectors heading north during the Klondike Gold Rush and became synonymous with the loggers, foresters, and manual laborers of the region.

The Mackinaw Cruiser, patented in 1914, became the foundational piece: cut to allow movement, built with pockets for tools and maps, and, in its vivid black-and-red check, eventually synonymous with weather, work, and the great outdoors.

Here we outfitted ourselves in waxed tin cloth, wool, windbreakers, totes, canvas bags, and technical sacks to protect ourselves and our gear, and hit the road over two tempestuous weeks as rain gave way to warm days and then back again.

On the bay, the Great Wheel spun and glowed electric as, for the first time all day, the sun— sinking low across the islands in the Sound— punched through the clouds and cast a lavender and orange glow over the waterfront, reflected in the water and in the skyscrapers just up the hill. In the Sound, boats just in from Alaska can be seen hauling in the catch. That’s the truth of this city: it wears its industry on its sleeve, and on its sea. You can see it everywhere. In the former

KRISTA WEARS FILSON WOMEN’S DRY WAX SHORT WORK JACKET IN SLATE OLIVE, WOMEN’S FIELD DOUBLEFRONT PANTS IN FADED BLACK, AND BALLARD WATCH CAP. BAG IS JOURNEYMAN BACKPACK IN TAN.

tracks and loading zones, in the cobblestone streets of Pioneer Square, where we made our home base at Populus Seattle. Housed in the restored 1907 Westland Building, Populus typifies a very Seattle philosophy of combining creature comforts, artistry, and sustainability. With a cozy little reading room off the main entrance, an exOpposite, clockwise cellent restaurant and from top left: Jon Duce bar, exposed brick, crafts custom and limited-run pieces in the original Douglas fir Filson workshop; beams, abundant Damn the Weather plantings, and local glows cozily through art, the property has a the gloom; a vintage Filson vest at Barn Owl cosseting and organic Vintage; one of hunfeel that is unpretendreds of fishing boats tious and deeply commoored by the bay. fortable in the middle of the city. It avoids the “concept” feel of so many new hotels and is ridiculously well sited: a few minutes in one direction to the city’s two major stadiums; in the other, the ferry, waterfront, Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and downtown.

We wandered past the old missions and hotels and into Pioneer Square for a drink and a bite at Damn the Weather, a decadeplus-old cocktail bar and restaurant that helped define a new formula for how the foodier, cozier restaurants in Seattle do their thing: locally sourced produce, craft cocktails, service that’s somehow both casual and refined. It was a baseline reference visit for a number of incredible meals. In Ballard, Little Beast offered proper British-ish pub food with exceptional butchery and charcuterie. There’s Scotch eggs, head cheese, and bracing briny martinis. At Populus, Salt Harvest offers all day dining, capped off with the option of an excellent prix fixe chef’s tasting menu at the open kitchen.

The next day there was a break in the rain and we walked the length of the new Waterfront Park, a civic reimagining that replaced noisy roadway with thousands of native plantings, new trees, public piers, bike lanes, play spaces, benches, overlooks, and stairs that reconnect the promenade by the water to Pike Place above it. If it reminds you of the Seattle version of the paradigm-shifting High Line in New York, there’s good reason. It was designed by the same landscape architect: James Corner Field Operations. Spending time there, the beating heart of this port city feels alive and well, with ferries shuttling workers, cargo ships moving goods, fishing vessels coursing the waters in the distance, and the thrum of the city behind you.

Travel editor Krista Simmons enjoys a drink at the preposterously cozy bar at Captain Whidbey.

Preview the menu.

A quick scroll before

you arrive means you walk in with a plan,

which frees you up to actually be present once you’re there.

Happy hour is your

friend. Lower stakes,

lighter spend, livelier

room—a perfect entry

point if solo dining still feels like a stretch. Toby’s Tavern on Whidbey Island does it

right and has a happy hour vibe almost any hour of the day.

Bring a book. Tuck it

in your pack and give yourself permission

The Delights of Dining Solo The best table in the house is often the one set for one.

Here’s how to own it.

By Krista Simmons

to disappear into it

between courses. A good

bag and a good book are

all the company you need.

Write it down. A field jour-

nal turns a meal into a

memory: the dish, the room, the stranger two seats over.

Pack one every time and doodle ‘til your heart’s

content. (I also love saving

stickers, receipts and flyers

to make collages from des-

Sit at the bar. It’s the social hub of any restaurant. The

energy makes solo dining feel intentional, not lonely. Plus

it’s a seamless spot to strike up conversations with locals

to get recs and learn about town. (We pulled up a stool at

the bespoke cocktail bar at Captain Whidbey on Whidbey Island, ordered a Negroni, and didn’t want to leave.)

Go early. Off-peak hours belong to the solo diner. Beat

the reservation crush, snag the best seat, and settle in before the room fills up.

Do the fancy lunch, keep dinner simple. Midday is

when chef’s specials and tasting menus are both more

affordable and the dining room is less charged. Ask what the kitchen is most excited about and order that. Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge on the 16th floor of the Lotte

Hotel Seattle is exactly the kind of place worth splurging

tinations I visit.)

Make friends with the

bartender. Ask what they’d

order, where they’d eat tomorrow, what they’re

drinking after their shift.

Solo dining unlocks a kind of access a table of four never gets. James Beard Awardwinning chef Renee Erickson’s wine bar Lioness in

Seattle, whose bar is standing room only, is the kind of

place where that conversation could last all night.

on at lunch.

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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THE

Island

For a deeper look at the area’s maritime and military history, we took the ferry to Whidbey Island, home to farms, vacation houses, windswept beaches, rich forests, and Fort Casey, once part of the “Triangle of Fire,” a defensive network with Fort Worden and Fort Flagler that guarded the entrance to Puget Sound in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You can now tour the abandoned batteries and guns at Fort Casey, which we did, but mostly we were there to soak up the nature and hospitality

that draw thousands of visitors seeking escape from the city.

We booked into Captain Whidbey, which might just be the coziest cottage-core Pacific Northwestern redoubt around. Here we were joined by Renee Erickson, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind some of Seattle’s most beloved restaurants, including the oyster Valhalla that is The Walrus and the Carpenter, Lioness, and the new Mio Oh Mio. Captain Whidbey was built in 1907 on Penn Cove This page: Dining on the dock at Captain Whidbey. Opposite (clockwise from top left): Taking the ferry to Whidbey Island; the main lodge at Captain Whidbey; Toby’s Tavern in Penn Cove is a muststop for a bowl of local mussels; the restaurant at Captain Whidbey.

KRISTA WEARS FILSON WOMEN’S DRY WAX SHORT WORK JACKET IN SLATE OLIVE, WOMEN’S FIELD DOUBLEFRONT PANTS IN FADED BLACK, AND BALLARD WATCH CAP. BAG IS JOURNEYMAN BACKPACK IN TAN.

WILL WEARS FILSON DOWN CRUISER IN DARK TAN; KRISTA WEARS FILSON WOMEN’S DRY WAX SHORT WORK JACKET IN SLATE OLIVE, WOMEN’S FIELD DOUBLE-FRONT PANTS IN FADED BLACK, AND BALLARD WATCH CAP. RENEE WEARS FILSON WOMEN’S COTTON CREWNECK SWEATER AND WOMEN’S SHELTER CLOTH SHORT WORK JACKET IN BLACK.

from logs and stone gathered on-site, and it still has a handmade, storybook feeling.

Now reimagined across a six-acre waterfront property with cabins, a private dock, a lagoon, a chef’s garden, and Adirondack chairs and blankets on the porch, it holds both the old romance of the island and the new polish of Clockwise from top Pacific Northwest left: King salmon with hospitality. stewed peppers and capers; enjoying chef Whidbey itself Renee Erickson’s feast has that same dualiand a glass of wine on ty. It is close enough the beach at Captain to Seattle to feel Whidbey; Renee Erickson serves up easy, and far enough grilled Hama Hama away to feel transoysters with fermentformational. Deceped chile butter. tion Pass, with its bridge and churning waters, helps frame the island as both a getaway and a threshold. The forts remind you that this serene vacation landscape was once militarized.

The farms remind you that it is still a place of production and provision. At Toby’s Tavern in Coupeville, we had Penn Cove mussels and beer under taxidermy and a vintage racing hull suspended from the ceiling while locals told us about their favorite beaches and hikes. Back at Captain Whidbey, a bald eagle watched from the trees as we ate breakfast on the deck overlooking the water. Families came and went. Locals slipped in for drinks.

A house flipper at the bar talked up the region with the zeal of someone who had already convinced himself and was now working on everyone else. The French brothers, who helped revive the property, clearly understood the assignment: don’t erase the old magic, but upgrade the menu and the top shelf.

That evening, on the rocky beach, Erickson lit a fire and cooked the way chefs do on their day off. Everything was prepped, ingredients were impeccable, a few simple sauces and garnishes took it to the next level. Oysters went on the grill topped with chile-spiked compound butter, their shells opening slowly in the heat.

Grilled salmon followed, of course, sauced with zippy stewed peppers. Jets passed overhead from the nearby naval air station, still holding down the fort, so to speak, while below us the fire popped, and we slowly watched the tide rise on the stone beach as we toasted the setting sun just barely peeking through the grey, the ocean air the final perfect garnish for our feast.

An old Contax point and shoot and a weathered waxed tin cloth jacket are a classic vintage pairing.

Shoot fewer frames.

Digital encourages abundance; film

encourages inten-

tion. Twenty-four or

thirty-six exposures

are often more than enough for a day if you’re paying attention.

Travel early and

stay late. The hours

around sunrise and sunset offer softer

light, quieter streets, and fewer people.

Carry a notebook.

Record locations, conversations,

A Guide to Mindful Photography The best photographs happen when you put down the smartphone.

By Thomas J. Story

weather, and the

stories behind the images.

Months later, the notes

often become just as valuable as the negatives.

Accept the unknown.

Film asks for trust. You won’t know exactly what you

captured until the roll is

developed. That uncertainty is part of the magic.

The photograph becomes a memory first and an image second.

Talk to people. A camera

Bring a film camera. Limitation breeds creativity.

A single film camera can force you to work with what you have instead of wondering what you’re missing.

Less gear means less distraction and more attention.

is often an invitation. Ask

questions, listen to stories,

and stay curious. The best

travel photographs usually come from genuine con-

Leave the screen behind. Film removes the urge to

nections rather than per-

rectangle competing for your attention, you’ll be more

Remember why you start-

Slow down before you shoot. Before pressing the shut-

about collecting content.

frame is worth more than ten hurried ones.

ences. The camera is sim-

constantly review, edit, and share. Without a glowing aware of your present moment.

fect compositions.

ed. Travel photography isn’t

ter, ask yourself why the scene matters. A thoughtful

It’s about collecting experi-

Walk without a destination. Some of the best photo-

ply a tool for paying closer

Turn down the side street. Take the long way back.

around you.

graphs are found when you’re not looking for them.

attention to the world

Follow the light.

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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THE

Forest and the Mountains

On a near-record-breaking, bone-chilling day, we hit the road early for the Olympic Peninsula, which everyone told us was a must-visit, and we were not disappointed. Rain turned to snow turned to sleet as we made our way deeper into the peninsula, the roads growing greener by the mile. Logging trucks trundled by. We kept our eyes peeled for deer. The whole landscape felt Middle-earth in its mossy verdant timelessness.

We stopped at Lake Quinault Lodge, built in 1926 on the shores of the lake, a grand and rustic wood-framed hotel that once hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt and boasts one of the coziest fireplaces around. The lodge sits within the Olympic National Forest, near one of the rainiest regions in the contiguous United States. From the lodge, we walked into the

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rainforest. We traversed mossy logs and found an enchanted emerald forest where we broke out the large-format camera and breathed in the quiet. You can’t shake the knowledge that logging shaped this peninsula as powerfully as preservation did. This is the West in its clearest tension: extraction and awe. The cut smack dab against the untouched.

On a return trip, in briefly fairer weather that quickly turned foul, we drove three hours north of Seattle to Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan to experience the Alpine side of the area. Here a fellow traveler told us to take our cameras to Artist’s Point, and there we found the epic view that you’ll find on the cover of this issue. Then we took our own advice and put down our digital cameras and took the photographs you see on the opposite page with old film cameras. It anchored us in the moment, if only briefly, before we headed down the mountain one last time.

KRISTA WEARS FILSON MACKINAW WOOL CRUISER JACKET IN RED/BLACK PLAID AND BALLARD WATCH CAP IN DARK MUSHROOM. TOM WEARS MACKINAW WOOL CRUISER JACKET IN RED/BLACK PLAID.

The jagged peaks of Mount Shuksan on a mild day. Within 24 hours these trees and the ground were covered with snow.

Clockwise from top left: A glass plate negative photograph of Mount Shuksan at Picture Lake; Krista snaps a self-portrait with a 35mm point-and-shoot; Tom takes the photo of Picture Lake you see on this page with his 4x5 camera; a photo of the road taken with the 35mm camera.

THE

Barn Owl Vintage

Barn Owl Vintage Josh Dand at Barn Owl Vintage

Tessa Sayers at Eighth Generation Tessa Sayers

Barn Owl Vintage

Before we departed the Seattle area for warmer climes, we headed to Georgetown, where the industrial bones of Seattle are still visible and where old things find new lives. There we met Josh Dand, the vintage hunter and self-styled Filson-obsessed historian behind Barn Owl Vintage, who has made a practice of finding pieces that already have a story. Here you’ll find bags worn soft by use, work vests with faded names and stains, and mythical rare pieces, like a yellow “Golden Cruiser” that sold for thousands. He understands that the patina people pay for is a historical narrative. Another sort of time travel. He showed us a weathered bag that still held the ID of a traveling salesman and quipped you could have this stolen valor for $250.

We also met holistic mind-body practitioner and educator Tessa Sayers, who designs blankets sold

by Eighth Generation, the Seattlebased Native-owned art and lifestyle brand whose mission pushes back against the old extractive pattern of “Native-inspired” design. In a city and region built atop Indigenous land and imagery, it is one thing to borrow symbols and quite another to support Native artists telling their own stories.

Sayers’ work carries memory, geometry, autobiography, and reclamation.

On this deep dive into the city we had only scratched the surface.

That is the problem and the gift of a place like Seattle. Every answer becomes a door to another question. Do we go next to Ballard for boats and bars? To the International District? To the shipbuilding school? To another island? The list is infinite, like time, like a great city, like the West.

SAYERS: DRESS - MORNING STAR DESIGN BY TESSA SAYERS FROM SOUL CURIOSITY’S LIMINAL COLLECTION; SEAMSTRESS: CINDY YODER; BLANKET - NEW BEGINNINGS WOOL BLANKET DESIGNED BY TESSA SAYERS AVAILABLE AT EIGHTH GENERATION

Makers

Seattle

SOURCEBOOK

WHERE TO

Ballard classic with the right mix

STAY

Populus Seattle

Lioness A stylish, intimate Phin-

ney Ridge restaurant with Italian

tree-like architecture and Pio-

and a room that hums after

like a new Northwest landmark;

The Walrus and the Carpenter

Lotte Hotel Seattle Grand, pol-

equal parts briny, convivial, and

tainability-minded hotel whose

wines, cocktails, pasta, oysters,

neer Square setting make it feel

dark; lionessseattle.com

populusseattle.com

The city’s essential oyster bar,

ished, and quietly glamorous,

unmistakably Northwest; the

a historic downtown Seattle

Salt Harvest at Populus A

Thompson Seattle Sleek, cen-

Populus that channels the sea-

Thompson is the easy choice

seasonality of the Pacific North-

setting; lottehotelseattle.com

walrusbar.com

hearth-driven restaurant inside

tral, and steps from Pike Place,

food, produce, smoke, and

for travelers who want the city

west; populusseattle.com/

thompson-hotels/en-US/

Mio Oh Mio A lively Pioneer

at their doorstep; hyatt.com/ seath-thompson-seattle

Toby’s Tavern

Seattle soul; sunsettavern.com

Populus A design-forward, sus-

Lotte brings big-city luxury to

Populus Seattle

of music, drinks, and worn-in

salt-harvest

Square newcomer celebrating

Captain Whidbey A romantic,

Pacific Northwest shellfish, pork

on Penn Cove with cabins, a

ingredients; mioohmio.com

character, and a sense of

institution in Coupeville, where

timeworn waterfront lodge

chops, pasta, and seasonal

private dock, deep Northwest

Toby’s Tavern A Whidbey Island

escape just beyond Seattle;

Penn Cove mussels, cold beer,

Lake Quinault Lodge A classic

charm deliver the full island

captainwhidbey.com

and weathered waterfront

1920s lakeside retreat in the

experience; tobysuds.com

fireplaces, deep-green views,

WHERE TO

Olympic rainforest, all crackling and old-park-lodge atmo-

sphere; olympicnationalparks. com

SHOP

Eighth Generation Indigenous-

WHERE TO

owned and artist-centered,

EAT

Eighth Generation is the place for blankets, textiles, and gifts with real cultural grounding;

Little Beast A bold Ballard gas-

eighthgeneration.com

world, with whole-animal

ited vintage shop with the pati-

tropub from the Beast & Cleaver

Barn Owl Vintage A tightly ed-

butchery and English-pub soul;

na, utility, and character that

exploretock.com/little-beast-

define great Western style;

seattle

barnowlseattle.com

Damn the Weather A Pioneer

DeLaurenti at Pike Place The

Square staple where sharp

old-school Italian market at Pike

food make a strong case for lin-

wine, and suitcase-worthy pro-

cocktails and hearty, clever

Place for salumi, cheese, pasta,

gering; damntheweather.com

visions; delaurenti.com

The Sunset Tavern A low-key

TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

83

Insider

Seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts.

Veleros Beach Club

LOS CABOS BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR Paco Rosas has spent more than two decades as an engineer, sound designer, producer, and musician, building an intimate understanding of how Baja’s culture and community intersect. As Music Director at Hotel El Ganzo, the beating heart of San José del Cabo’s creative scene, he is tuned into how locals really live, beyond the resort circuit.

EAT With architecture that

seamlessly blends into

the desert landscape, a

silkscreen workshop, and

Baja Station

an art gallery, Casa Ballena is much more than

a restaurant. The kitchen stands firmly on its own,

delivering an experience deeply connected to its

The insider: Paco Rosas, Music Director at Hotel El Ganzo

surroundings. Marinero

Borracho is an unassum-

ing seafood spot that has earned a loyal following, including regular visits

from James Hetfield of

Metallica. Authentic, un-

pretentious, and packed with local flavor, it’s the

kind of place that surprises you on the first visit and has you planning

the next one before you leave. Located within

easing into a slow Baja

a sanctuary for lovers

great conversations,

heart of La Choya, Pez

best breakfast stops in

community. Every Sunday,

more than a few unfor-

Puerto Los Cabos in the Gallo is a favorite among coffee lovers and break-

town.

fast enthusiasts. Whether

DO

a day of adventure or

East Cape, Baja Station is

you’re fueling up before

84

morning, this is one of the

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

Hidden in the heart of the

of waves, music, and

musicians and wanderers gather for open jam ses-

spontaneous music, and gettable stories.

Crania is an absolute

sions, creating a space

must on a Saturday night.

become friends. Expect

Mad Max and Burning

where strangers quickly

Imagine a cross between

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: VELEROS BEA CH CLUB; TAVO OLIVAS; COURTESY OF PACO ROSAS

that feels thoughtful and

Hotel El Ganzo

Man set against the Baja desert, and you’ll begin to understand the vibe.

cottages or simply visit-

ing for a meal, it’s a

installations, music, and

slower, more intentional

the perfect excuse to let your inner child run free.

STAY Hotel El Ganzo is obviously at the top of the list, not only because it feels like home, but because it is

the beating heart of San

José del Cabo’s creative

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: HOTEL EL GANZO (2); CLANDESTINNA

in one of their charming

Crania delivers a serious

wow factor, immersive art

Clandestinna

Whether you’re staying

scene. This is a hotel for

artists, misfits, dreamers, and adventurers seeking

an authentic Baja experi-

ence filled with music, art, great food, and sunsets that will leave you plotting your return before

you’ve even checked out.

And Flora Farms is a Baja classic. Nestled among

organic gardens and or-

chards, it offers a beauti-

ful blend of luxury, nature, and farm-to-table living.

place that captures the side of Baja life.

DRINK Tucked away in down-

town San José del Cabo, Clandestinna speakeasy is one of Baja’s

best-kept secrets. The Negroni is legendary

and best enjoyed after a leisurely Thursday

Art Walk through the

historic district. Intimate, stylish, and effortlessly

cool. Veleros is the perfect beachside escape for a weekend after-

noon. Excellent cocktails, fresh tostadas,

and a carefully curated

soundtrack set the tone for a long, lazy day by the water. Few places capture the spirit of Baja quite like this.

Hotel El Ganzo TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

85

Abeja Winery & Inn

the kind of scenery

WALLA WALLA

that makes you

appreciate being here. For nature lovers, a Sunset

favorite is heading

WASHINGTON

to Jasper Mountain Reserve, a

Sidney Rice spent seven seasons as an NFL wide receiver and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, but in Walla Walla, the athlete is known for something else entirely.

His serious pivot to wine started after tasting his way through countless bottlings and realizing Washington deserved way more attention than it was getting. He and his partner Tim Lenihan run Dossier, a winery known for Bordeaux-inspired blends that both critics and connoisseurs have embraced. Here are his tips for this unique corner of the Pacific Northwest.

privately owned

wildlife sanctuary nestled in the

Washington Blue

Insider

Mountains.

DRINK At the Dossier

tasting room in

Woodinville, Tim Lenihan worked

to create a space

that is a reflection of everything we

love about Walla

Walla—incredible

area include Yellow-

craftsmanship,

hawk, a resort and

great people,

and a sense of

winery located on an

community. We

84-acre hilltop over-

built it to be a

looking the valley, and

a historic home that was

The insider: Sidney Rice, Dossier Wine Collective co-founder, and former Seattle Seahawk

place where peo-

The GG Mansion & Inn

ple can slow down, connect, and ex-

built in 1909 and meticulously refurbished and is

perience world-

breakfasts in Walla Walla.

captures the

class wine. Abeja

one of the first bed and

beauty of the

EAT

region perfectly.

The wings at Public House

The setting is in-

124 are a must every time

credible, and the

I’m in town; they’re the

wines showcase

kind of dish you order

why this region

once, and think about

has become one

long after you leave.

of the best wine

Brasserie Four brings a

destinations in the

little bit of Europe to Walla

Public House 124

Walla. The atmosphere,

the food, and the atten-

night with a glass of cham-

pagne at The Thief. It’s styl-

tion to detail make it one of those places you can

STAY The Marcus Whitman Hotel is a Walla Walla

classic. It has that perfect mix of history, character, and comfort and I love

the modern renovation

they did. It’s where I send

friends who want to experience the heart of downtown. Sunset picks in the

86

ish without taking itself too

sit for hours and just enjoy

seriously—exactly what Walla Walla does so well. Walla

the moment. It’s a great

Walla Beer Parlor is a fun

place to sip a glass of

Champagne and meet

stop because it represents

up with friends. Passa-

another side of Walla Wal-

tempo Taverna is one of

la’s beverage scene. We

my go-to spots because

it feels both elevated and

love that they are our new

approachable. Great

DO

and a vibe that makes

one of my favorite places

pasta, great cocktails,

Wine Valley Golf Club is

you want to linger.

to spend a day outside

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

country. There’s

something about ending the

and play a round with friends. The course is

beautiful, challenging, and surrounded by

neighbor! It’s relaxed, local,

and a great place to discover something new. Start at

Dossier, end at the Beer Parlor. Perfect day!

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ABEJA WINERY & INN; GINGER MASTERS/COURTESY OF VISIT WALLA WALLA; STEPH FORRER/COURTESY OF VISIT WALLA WALLA; DOSSIER

The GG Mansion & Inn,

87_Sunset_Archeaological Paths_87.indd 1

8/10/26 12:44 PM

Poudre River

FORT COLLINS COLORADO Carol Cochran, co-founder of Horse & Dragon Brewing Company with her husband Tim, has deep roots in Fort Collins and an even deeper love for the local craft beer scene. A Colorado native who’s traveled the world sampling breweries in Asia, Milwaukee, and Napa Valley, Carol returned to this town with a mission: to build a gathering place for the community through great beer. Here’s where she heads when she wants the best of what Fort Collins has to offer.

Insider

with an upmarket, modern flair.

EAT Yellow Crunch is a Colombian restaurant at The Exchange in Old

Town that delivers bold food and electric en-

Armstrong Hotel

ergy. If you happen to

be there when they’re

airing a Colombian soc-

Ginger and Baker

a tiny home or a tent on the river—they’ll run a shuttle

cer match, the atmo-

back and forth to the venue

sphere is unforgettable.

for you. Head to the Muse-

The Regional is a charm-

um of Discovery and play

ing farm-to-table spot

around. Exhibits are built to

with wonderful owners

fascinate and invite all of us

and staff serving up fresh

to explore and experiment.

ingredients in creative,

delicious ways. Colorado

It’s fun no matter your age.

Room, close to campus

Call a local brewery and request a tour. Many of the

and downtown, is a dive

smaller ones are willing to

bar with a heart of gold.

STAY The music-themed Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town has great gathering

spaces and live events

worth checking out. The beautifully refurbished

Armstrong Hotel downtown whisks you back to what Fort Collins might have felt like 100 years

ago, including an underground speakeasy. And

Buxton Hotel is the new-

est addition to the scene

88

There are plenty of

screens if your favorite

you about their 74 taps.

beers, along with a popu-

sometimes live music on

for a beer or Jell-O shot

and mains. Stop in at Gin-

team is playing, and

the back patio. Little on Mountain opened with

22 seats and a glassware collection worth ordering a drink just to check out.

DRINK I am, of course, partial to

the local craft beer scene.

Stop by Tap & Handle,

where their knowledge-

able staff can chat with

SU N S ET • TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026

Town Pump is worth a visit

lar menu of appetizers

and an “atomic cherry”—

ger and Baker for a beer

oldest liquor licenses.

in an historic mill setting.

it holds one of Fort Collins’ William Oliver’s, a few

(or slice of seasonal pie)

miles out of Old Town, is

DO

with a massive selection

Catch a show at The

a transportive Irish pub

Live music is everywhere.

of whisky. Don’t miss or-

Armory. If you’re up for

dering their famous ba-

con with your drink. Moot

House pours from 30-plus taps and has many local

heading into the canyon for the night, see a con-

cert at The Mish and stay at Riverside Colorado in

give tours even if they don’t publicize official ones on their websites. Go to The

Lyric for a film, a band, or

other performance. Take a whitewater trip down the

Poudre River with Mountain Whitewater, then enjoy a cold beer while watching

footage of your trip at their wonderful outdoor bar,

Paddler’s Pub. (Or, if you’re not the rafting type, skip straight to the beer and

watch other people’s river rafting journeys.)

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: RIVERNORTHPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES; ARMSTRONG HOTEL; AARON COLUSSI; HORSE & DRAGON BREWING COMPANY

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TH E TRAVEL ISSU E 2026 • SU N S ET

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8/13/26 3:14 3:10 PM

“ WE WANT UNFUSSY CLOTHES THAT LOOK AND FEEL GOOD THROUGH IT ALL—EVEN IF WE’RE SHAKING SAND OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY.” What was the original idea that sparked the now-iconic blanket shirt? How has the brand evolved since then?

Growing up surfing and skating, flannels were part of the uniform, and when we designed our first collection the

options were uninspired. I was looking closely at the twill

construction of some vintage blankets I had collected and thought we could design a shirt that had that same loftier weave and would feel like wrapping yourself in a plush

blanket—a button-down that could be this versatile layer that’s both laid-back and also pulled together when you

need it to be. This idea of upgrading the items we grew up with has been our M.O. ever since.

What do you think the modern traveler is looking for, and

how does it translate to the type of clothing that they buy?

The modern-day traveler is looking for versatility, but not just boring basic versatility. Versatility that feels special

and looks good and functions when it needs to. We’re busy humans on the move, so how do you pack in the lightest

way that still allows you to get the most out of every day?

Surfers are naturally good at this. We get our morning surfs in, do a beach change, head straight to work, and straight into our evening plans. We want unfussy clothes that look

and feel good through it all—even if we’re shaking sand off throughout the day.

If you had a travel uniform, what would it be?

The uniform evolves, but always something vintage with something new, items that I can wear multiple days in a

row without overthinking it. Easy layering up and down has

John Moore brings a surfer’s utility, a collector’s eye, and a designer’s obsession with detail to Outerknown’s road-ready wardrobe.

Interview by KRI STA S I M M O N S

Waterman John Moore started Outerknown with surf legend Kelly Slater with the goal of creating clothes “that make you feel something, that feel great next to your skin, and feel good because you know they were made in the most responsible way.” Utilizing sustainable alternatives like recycled wool, regenerative cotton, and recycled fishing nets, the brand creates everyday adventureready clothing that quickly works its way into the wardrobe rotation, whether you’re on the road or rinsing off after a long session. Here, he shares what keeps his creativity flowing.

always have a pair of trunks just in case.

What’s a destination that’s influenced you most?

Japan is the place that completely changed the way I think about

clothes. They obsess about everything: the materiality, the textures, the dyes, the trims, the cut, the function. In terms of my own design

philosophy, everything matters down to the smallest details. Nothing can be overlooked.

Where do you think surf culture is headed?

I’m a huge sports fan, so I think it’s amazing that surfing is now on

the largest stage of the Olympics, but I think a very, very small subset of the larger population comes to the sport through competition.

Surfing in its purest form is symbiosis with nature. It gets us off our

phones, breaks the frenetic pace of life, and gets us in tune with na-

ture. In my opinion, that’s a great thing. Hopefully more people picking up surfing becomes an antidote to the madness unfolding around us.

We can be a little kinder and more thoughtful with each other in the line-up, and treat Mother Nature better so the oceans thrive. That’s what unites us all: feeling most alive in and around the water.

SUNSET (ISSN 0039-5404) publishes 6 issues per year in regional and special editions by Sunset, P.O. Box 15688, Beverly Hills, CA 90209. Periodicals postage paid at Beverly Hills, CA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2.) Nonpostal and military facilities: Send address corrections to Sunset Magazine, P.O. Box 138243, Sacramento, CA 95813. Vol. 249, No. 5. Issue: October/November 2026. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright © 2026 Sunset. Sunset is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Member Alliance for Audited Media. Sunset, The Magazine of Western Living, The Pacific Monthly, Sunset’s Kitchen Cabinet, The Changing Western Home, and Chefs of the West are registered trademarks of Sunset. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited ­submissions.

Manuscripts, photographs, and other material submitted to P.O. Box 15688, Beverly Hills, CA 90209 can be acknowledged or returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

For service, please email support@sunset.com. You can also call 1-800-777-0117 or write to Sunset Magazine, P.O. Box 138243, Sacramento, CA 95813. U.S. subscriptions: $29.95 for one year.

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OUTERKNOWN

Cut from the Coast

always been my approach. One great pair of jeans and

a couple different tees and top-layer options get me through. And

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