Table of contents for Wellness 2025 in Sunset

In the past few years, it seems “wellness,” “mind-body,” “holistic,” and other formerly fringe terms have become centered in our daily lives. It used to be that you did healthy things, like eating mostly vegetables as a lifestyle statement or fast or diet, or went on a retreat to meditate, or had a massage or cold plunge or steam treatment at a dedicated facility, and only once in a while. Blame it on social media, good science, or just living in the West, but it seems like the aforementioned are all non-negotiables for anyone who takes living well in all ways seriously. Which is why when we put together this, our annual wellness issue, it can seem as if it’s like so many other issues of Sunset: full of tours…

Whether you’re a bird-watching newbie or an old pro, having the right gear on hand is going to make appreciating the rich and diverse avian world of the West an easy-to-indulge, ongoing delight. And that means the more compact and portable, the better, as you’re more inclined to, say, carry a compact set of optics in your backpack or purse than a full-size pair of binoculars. Here are the essential tools (all of them compact, all of them essential) to improve your days out in nature watching the trees and skies for winged wildlife. A MERLIN BIRD ID APP This free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the go-to mobile app for a reason: Its songbird identification technology is matchless, and you can download regional databases of songs…

The Golden Door spa in San Marcos, California, has been an exclusive, and legendary, destination for well-heeled wellness seekers for over six decades. The intimate, women-only environment (save for limited men’s and co-ed weeks a year) has remained largely unchanged since the 1970s, and the architecture and gardens, inspired by traditional Japanese design, have been lovingly preserved. Guided, challenging hikes through the rolling hills across 30 miles of trails at 6:00 a.m. are a big draw. The entrance is marked by a discreet sign off of a country road north of San Diego, and they do not advertise. It’s a very specific place that relies on word of mouth among women who crave peace of mind more than trendy workouts. And those who have been immersed in its magic often…

Afloral favorite to start growing while the weather is still cool, author Brenna Estrada explores the world of petite petals in her new book Pansies: How to Grow, Reimagine, and Create Beauty with Pansies and Violas, offering growing tips and unusual variety recommendations, along with unique applications for crafts, recipes, and even apothecary. Often overlooked and used solely as a border groundcover or container accent, Brenna proves that pansies can be a powerful pop when used in cut flower bouquets. Just in time for seed sowing, she’s curated five petal-perfect pansy pairings, each guaranteed to inspire a spring refresh out in your garden and inside your home. Hazy Hues Flower Varieties: Pansy ‘Flamenco Soft Light Azure Limonette’ & Pansy ‘Magnum Lilac Shades’ Why It Works: Purple was my favorite color as…

The area surrounding Edmonton in the province of Alberta is considered to be the agricultural heartland of Canada, and there’s a movement to uplift prairie cuisine taking hold in the city. It’s on full display at RGE RD, named after the range roads that mark the sprawling ranchlands outside the city limits. Here, co-owners chef Blair Lebsack and wife Caitlin Fulton have evolved their long-table field dinners into a full-service fine dining restaurant, showcasing all that Western Canada has to offer. Their show-stopping nose-to-tail butcher shop located next door to the restaurant offers primal cuts from family-owned regenerative farming operations, as well as sandwiches and grab-and-go items like sausage rolls, charcuterie, sandwiches, and housemade bison jerky. A visit to their restaurant reveals soul-warming dishes that are exactly what you’d want…

No longer is health simply skin deep. There’s been an industrywide shift in what consumers expect from wellness, and that trickles down to travel. Gone are the days of a spa treatment or a simple juice cleanse detox retreat being sufficient. The new luxury is longevity. Consumers are looking for bona fide biohacks and roadmaps that can be taken back home and integrated into their daily routines, providing a longer, healthier life. Here are three key players in the space. SENSEI LANAI At this bespoke wellness destination, the learning starts long before you arrive on the island. Working with Sensei’s guides, guests set their intentions and then work with the resort’s toptier coaches, doctors, and instructors to not only have the best-in-class spa experiences and fitness programming but also gain…

As a lifelong athlete and avid traveler, staying active while on the road isn’t just a matter of fitness for me, it’s a matter of sanity. And while I wish there were an Olympic pool or ocean I could dive into at every destination, the one constant I can control is packing a pair of trainers. (Truly, it’s the first thing I throw into my suitcase, every single time.) Running isn’t just great for combating jet lag and counterbalancing all the eating I love to do on a trip; it’s the ultimate way to immerse myself in the heartbeat of a new destination. There’s nothing like lacing up and exploring bustling streets and unknown terrain. Every stride reveals a new facet of a city’s personality. And it doesn’t have to…

Every three months, you’ll get a box full of home, design, food, and garden products from the West and beyond curated by Sunset editors. Our next box will be filled with items that are perfect for spring parties and gardening. Expect products to help you make the most of the season while you’re spending time in the kitchen. It’s the easiest way to live the Sunset lifestyle! Visit thesunsetbox.com or scan the QR code Some of the goodies from past boxes.…

Amangiri set the high bar for luxury desert wellness travel when it first opened on 900 unspoiled acres of high desert in southern Utah. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, Amangiri continues to thrill with its signature combination of architecture that seamlessly incorporates the surrounding topography and high desert views as well as minimalist yet luxurious suites, private dining, and a spa that dissolve the boundaries between indoor and out and connect guests to the wilds just outside. Nearby Camp Sarika boasts gorgeous private pavilions that further immerse guests in the dramatic landscape. Hike the slot canyons, traverse the via ferrata, or make your way to three nearby national parks, or remain on property for winter wellness programs like yoga on the rocks, restorative treatments incorporating Utah salt and clay, and…

Dotted throughout the innumerable nameless hills of Los Angeles, hidden in nooks and canyons, obscured by oaks and palms, and up or down winding roads are havens you can’t see from the street. There are thousands of unseen houses of countless styles perched on the slopes and cliffs of this secret skyline. And behind each of these houses is a story. And the story behind this house is one of friendship and ideas that stand the test of time. The house in question has been called Hidden House and Hidden Canyon by its architect and landscaper, respectively, and when you arrive, you understand why. After climbing the vertiginous switchbacks of the highest points in L.A.’s Mount Washington neighborhood, you need to navigate a narrow private road that goes from paved…

PLANT ▶ Now is an ideal time to add succulents, such as agave, yucca, and aloe to your landscape. Try also adding prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) into the mix as an unexpected culinary addition, whose pads (nopales) and fruit (tunas) are both edible. ▶ Consider planting lovage in your herb garden, a hardy perennial that can be used as a celery substitute and adds architectural interest when interplanted in raised beds. Flower stalks can reach up to 6 feet in height. Consider placement in the back of beds or in areas you might want additional shade for future tender transplants. ▶ Take advantage of cool weather and lingering precipitation to transplant more natives, such as ceanothus (California lilac), manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), and red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) alongside your garden.…

There’s no easier way to drink well than the Sunset Wine Club, a selection of story-worthy wines produced by the top vintners in California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond—delivered straight to your door. We’ve partnered with the country’s premier online wine retailer, Wine Access, to curate a standout mix of reds, whites, bubblies, and rosés. Think of each delivery as a box of aperitifs, party-ready bottles, and weeknight dinner solutions. Even better, they’ve been selected to go with the recipes and menus in the issue you’re holding in your hands. As a member of the Sunset Wine Club, you will receive the following exclusive benefits: Six Story-Worthy Wines, Shipped Every Three Months Each bottle is thoughtfully crafted by a group of diverse, environmentally responsible winemakers. Sunset Recipes, Profound Pairings Every bottle comes…

Many roads lead to a restaurant opening: meals eaten, restaurants visited for inspiration, research trips taken, recipes tasted, Pinterests pinned, and for one partner at the new restaurant Bar Etoile in Los Angeles, a single bottle of wine in France. Bar Etoile co-owner Jill Bernheimer had never tasted anything like it: It was alive and vibrant and a little earthy, and maybe what you’d call funky. She was on vacation at a restaurant in Paris and had no idea that she was drinking a bottle made by one of the pioneers of the natural wine movement, that contested genre of fermented grape juice that most can agree is based on minimal intervention, wild yeast, possibly biodynamic, probably organic, likely regeneratively farmed. Inspired by this thrilling new-to-her (and at the time,…

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Ryan Hitzel is the founder of the adventure lifestyle apparel brand Roark. Rooted in travel and surf culture, his collections are inspired by farflung destinations with designs that meet the demands of rigorous adventure. When he’s not chasing waves off the beaten path, you can find Hitzel in his Southern California hometown—known for its creative community of shapers and painters, as well as its magnificent white-sand beaches—with his wife and kids. STAY Casa Loma feels like it could be anywhere but has shades of home—a bohemian’s paradise. The details are impeccable and well-traveled, a bespoke enclave for both the road-weary and those on holiday. I dig everything about it. I could imagine being anywhere on Earth sitting at the bar, yet it’s still uniquely Laguna Beach because of…

Two decades ago, Steve Sando started a little Napa-based bean company called Rancho Gordo that sold a few varieties of rare heirloom beans that had fallen out of favor. These were tender, from small farmers, and fresh—the opposite of the desiccated commodity beans or canned beans that make up most of the legume market even today. Chefs and home cooks took notice, and in a few years, Rancho Gordo became the go-to provider of beans to everyone from Thomas Keller to Alice Waters and, yes, the Sunset test kitchen. (We’ve also included Rancho Gordo beans in our subscription box.) Today, Rancho Gordo sells over two dozen varieties of beans grown in New Mexico, California, Oregon, Washington, Mexico, and beyond in a gorgeous array of dusty tans, speckled purples, reds, blues, blacks,…

1 Ètra Minimalist, wood-paneled, intimate, sexy—and also super friendly!—this modern Italian spot instantly became the art scene hang from the moment it opened. Date night perfect, birthday perfect, anything perfect, really. 2 Cafe Telegrama The sister cafe to Ètra serves perfect coffee, simple breakfasts and bowls, and a killer breakfast burrito studded with tater tots. 3 L.A. Grocery and Cafe The new model of what a grocery store should be: produce from the best local farms, a low-waste policy, local-friendly employment, and a fantastic selection of cheese, meats, and grab-and-go food. 4 Kuya Lord Chef Lord Maynard Llera rightly won Best Chef in California from the James Beard Foundation for his homey and precisely executed updated versions of Filipino classics like lechon and pancit, plus new classics like green goddess…

Murrieta Hot Springs in the Temecula Valley has been a distinguished retreat ever since it made its debut in 1902. After three decades of private seclusion and a recent restoration, it has finally reopened, and it’s a stunner. The property boasts a sprawling woodburning sauna area that overlooks the palm tree-lined pools and plenty of opportunities to find solitude, with more than 50 geothermal pools, cold plunges, and water features. The restored natural water features are a real highlight, giving the property a truly otherworldly feel. There are also barrel hot tubs for soaking in, which are particularly beautiful during golden hour. Pro tip: This is a great time to grab a cocktail at its poolside bar, or a juice from its restaurant, Talia Kitchen. The restaurant features wellness-driven fare…