Table of contents for Travel Awards/Harvest 2023 in Sunset

The hardest thing about travel in the West is deciding where to go and what to do. Bouldering in Yosemite or bronzing in Cabo? Driving Highway 1 above Big Sur or riding the surf in Malibu? Booking a tasting menu at a three star Michelin restaurant or queuing up for a three dollar taco? Kayaking in the San Juan Islands or paddling an outrigger off the Kona Coast? You get it. The options are infinite. Decision paralysis inevitable. When it came time to book a semi-working vacation this year I took the easy way out and returned to a place I’ve visited off and on for the past 15 years: the Big Island of Hawaii’s said Kona Coast, that dramatic intersection of centuries old black lava flows and swaths of dense…

Autumn is the perfect time to rethink how we use our outdoor space. As we turn toward projects that might be less about planting and more about planning, we can find inspiration in making intentional style decisions that will connect us deeper with our surroundings. Here Félix de Rosen guides us on defining small design moments that create big impact. FENCING When it comes to creating boundaries, de Rosen suggests looking inward at our intentions. “In urban and suburban areas, I notice how often fences go up between properties because neighbors assume this is the norm. Landscape design actually becomes a way to avoid building relationships. Let’s aim for the opposite—inspire and collaborate with neighbors.” Consider the trend of combining backyards into shared, wild spaces or replacing fencing entirely with…

Jeffrey Morgenthaler can get pretty philosophical when it comes to bar food. “The West Coast has its own special food language, and I think there is a larger conversation in there about classic West Coast gastronomy that is deeper than the typical farm-to-table discussion. Pacific Standard isn’t Alice Waters; it’s James Beard.” There aren’t a lot of bartenders working these days who name-drop deceased East Coast culinary lions when riffing on the inspiration behind their latest project. But then again there aren’t many bartenders like Morgenthaler. He’s the guy who put Portland cocktails on the map, first at Clyde Common at the Ace Hotel, then at Pépé le Moko. He’s written two books on the subject. He’s an excellent maker of drinks with some 30 years behind the bar. And…

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport A proper welcome wagon to one of the country’s most majestic national parks, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is Montana’s busiest and best. Located in the heart of the beautiful Gallatin Valley, the airport provides nonstop flights to 22 cities in the United States with connections all over the world. Alaskan Dream Cruises Alaska’s only Indigenous-owned, small-ship cruise line, Alaskan Dream Cruises offers an authentic view of Alaska’s Inside Passage. The fact that it’s owned by a family of Tlingit heritage means travelers get a unique connection to local communities while experiencing the beauty of the country’s most remote state. SLO Safe Ride Tasting wine in a sprawling setting like the beautiful Central Coast, with its winding roads and dozens of wineries spread out across the region,…

This month: Five Points, Denver, Colorado The insider: Tommy Lee, chef-owner of Hop Alley EAT The chef-owners of Redeemer Pizza have fine-dining backgrounds, and “they bring those sensibilities to their pizza-focused restaurant and slice shop. Their dough is cold-fermented over a few days, making it complex and chewy. Their high-quality toppings are a great mix of traditional and creative combinations. The alley-entrance slice window is one of the best ’secrets’ in RiNo.” Curtis Park Deli is “one of the best sandwich shops in town. It’s not over-complicated. All the sandwiches are cold, but built with perfect proportions that make a sandwich great. My favorites are the French (Niman Ranch ham, brie, mixed greens, house-made mustard, house-made ai-oli) and the Fish (smoked rainbow trout, house-made aioli, blue cheese, capers, red onion, arugu-la, olive…

The Western spa retreat just got a major upgrade with the $40 million renovation of the serene Mii Amo, sited perfectly in Sedona’s picturesque Boynton Canyon. After 20-plus years of providing award-winning service to wellness seekers, Mii Amo (one of the winners of our 2023 Travel Awards, which start on page 59) has expanded to a whopping 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, all built of adobe, stucco, and wood in the resort’s signature soothing earth tones. In addition to more casitas than ever, 26 treatment rooms, a new sensory garden, and an expanded fitness center, now guides and naturalists lead hiking, biking, and climbing excursions into the 400-mile trail network of the nearby canyon. And James Beard Award finalist and fitness enthusiast chef Seamus Mullin has redefined…

Sleep Matters As someone who has struggled with insomnia, Styles takes her sleep seriously. “Sleep is a true pillar of health,” says the entrepreneur. “So much depends on it!” Between shutting down her phone hours before bedtime to wearing breathable pajamas, she’s gotten her wind-down routine “on lock.” But one of the most critical parts of inducing calm sleep, she believes, is to reduce the harmful toxins that come into the bedroom. Made of certified organic materials, including GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic wool and cotton, Avocado’s mattresses are more durable, breathable, and supportive than those made with synthetic materials, says Jessica Hann, Avocado’s Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Sustainability. “Polyurethane foams can emit volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, harmful chemicals that can cause respiratory irritation or…

SEEK THE SUN Shorter days and changes in the sun’s angle can have a big impact on your plants. Rearrange to ensure they’re getting the best light possible—you may need to move them closer to a window, or adjust the area of the room you have them styled in. Numerous yellowing leaves, or other major changes in appearance, are often a sign that the plant needs more light. If you are unable to move plants, consider plugging in a grow light—there are many stylish options, including bulbs that can be screwed into any lamp. CLEAN UP CREW If you’re bringing plants in from outdoors, dirt and pests may have hitched a ride. Wipe down leaves and stems with a soft cloth using water and diluted neem oil. Inspect each plant…

This month: Ojai, California The insiders: Lisa Casoni and Heather Stobo, Beato Chocolates STAY Ojai Valley Inn is “one of the last family owned luxury resorts in the country. From golf to an array of spa treatments, it is full of luxury amenities.” The Capri Hotel is part of the ultra-hip Shelter Social Club group and “has been restored to have a laid-back vibe, pool, and is walking distance to town.” Also part of the group, The Ojai Rancho Inn “is an affordable option for those who like a more activated pool and common areas. It’s an easy walk into town. Grabbing some wine or beer at their poolside lounge, Chief’s Peak, is a must.” EAT Nocciola’s outdoor dining is “a favorite of the locals. We like to cozy up to the…

This month: Wallace, Idaho The insider: Kristie Mae Wolfe EAT "The highway runs right through the town of Wallace,” which is a historically protected and preserved mining town that lays claim to being the world’s largest mountain bike, ATV, and snowmobile trail system. “The town has unusually great food. The Black Board has a book-shop inside of it, milk-shakes, and the best lasagne. I can’t believe it’s vegetarian! Eating there and watching the snowflakes falling down outside the window solidified my buying property here.” The Cog is “right next to a bike shop, and has a really fun vibe, and their food is insanely good. Plus, they’re dog-friendly and serve free popcorn.” DO Just a couple miles from MoonPass Lookouts, you’ll find the Pulaski Tunnel Trail, “which is named…

Kyle Pinjuv walked down the narrow road near his cabin in Nuns Canyon, just outside Glen Ellen, California, and stood at the edge of the fire. It was 4 a.m on Monday, October 9, 2017, and he had been up all night waiting to evacuate. There was one way out, the winding passage before him, and it was engulfed in flames. The fire that had begun at 10 p.m. the night before raged on. If he attempted to drive out, his tires could melt. Or a tree could collapse on the road, or on his car. “We were deep in the canyon, very isolated,” says Pinjuv, who works for the Sonoma Land Trust, a local land conservation nonprofit. He was renting a 1950s-era wooden cottage on a protected SLT easements,…

“ THERE ARE HIDDEN GEMS EVERYWHERE! FOCUS ON FINDING BEAUTIFUL SPOTS OF LIGHT. GOOD LIGHTING WILL MAKE A PHOTO, BUT A GOOD LOCATION WON’T!” David Suh is a portrait photographer, but the Los Angeles–based dynamo is so much more than that. Suh, who started his career as a dancer, is perhaps just as much of a life coach, helping his subjects hone their confidence in front of the camera—a gift that often extends well beyond his portrait sessions. Suh’s posing tips on how to move and position the body within the frame are approachable, comical, and go incredibly viral on social media. And we thought there would be no better person to ask about how to pose in order to take memorable, timeless travel photos on the road. Taking photographs…