Table of contents for Travel Awards 2024 in Sunset

“I am always on vacation.” While you might associate this statement with a bon vivant, trust fund kid, or recent retiree, none other than Mahatma Gandhi uttered this phrase. He was reportedly responding to a journalist who suggested that the tireless Indian lawyer deserved a vacation after his decades of activism. Gandhi didn’t mean he was constantly flying off to The Bahamas but was likely referring to present-moment awareness, the mental state during which the mind is focused neither on the past nor the future but truly on the here and now. I thought about Gandhi’s line, vacations, and making the most of the here and now when we were working on this, our annual travel issue, which celebrates the best destinations, parks, bakeries, hotels, wineries, restaurants, spas, markets, and…

The sun has just crested the hills of West Marin, and the water is placid on Tomales Bay. We pull on hip waders and walk through the low tide, mud sucking at our boots, and climb aboard an aluminum boat that embarks daily to haul up cages of some of the most prized oysters on the planet: Hog Island oysters, named after a tiny piece of land in the middle of the bay, where dozens of pigs sheltered after the ship ferrying them crashed and burned in the 1870s. “That’s a horrible name for a company,” was pretty much what everyone told business partners John Finger and Terry Sawyer when they named their then-fledgling company in 1982. Today, Hog Island Oyster Co. sells some $30 million dollars in oysters, oyster…

Foodies know that fermentation is the cornerstone of so much that is delicious in the world: without this nearly alchemical process of preservation we wouldn’t have complex and savory cheeses, the layered umami-rich flavors of charcuterie, or briny zippy tangy pickles, krauts, and kimchis. And now we have a mini food hall dedicated to such things at the West Marin Culture Shop in the ridiculously charming town of Point Reyes Station, California. Here, in the former home of legendary cheese producer Cowgirl Creamery, a collection of businesses dishes up all of the above, plus grilled cheese sandwiches, florals, and artisanal home goods. The anchor is husband and wife Luke Regalbuto and Maggie Levinger’s Wild West Ferments, a nationally distributed maker of kimchis, krauts, Salvadoran el curtido, and other pickled produce…

Here at Sunset, we’re big fans of the “Incredible Shrinking Dream House.” Photos of sprawling mountain houses and 10-bathroom ranches land in our inboxes daily, and, yes, those have an undeniable, aspirational appeal. To anyone who’s fortunate enough to own a second home with a four-car garage, we tip our collective hat to you. But it’s the cabins and cottages, the barns and the bungalows, that really flip our aesthetic switch. Small homes are for people who want to sit outside under the stars, not in a 12-seat screening room. Limits on both square footage and budget force people to dig deep into their creative well. And smaller-space living requires every last detail to be just-so in order to make it sing. That’s why we celebrate a treasured A-frame that’s…

LIVINGSTON, MONTANA Historic Livingston, Montana, the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park, combines rustic charm and world-class amenities with a twist of historic quirkiness. Access epic outdoor recreation and enjoy diverse dining, shopping, vibrant arts, festivals and events. In Livingston, you choose your own adventure.  ExploreLivingstonMT.com GARDINER, MONTANA Discover the unspoiled wilderness of Yellowstone by cross country skiing, snowshoeing or backcountry skiing as you never have before — in a real-life snow globe. Our favorite trails offer frozen waterfalls, steaming thermal features, and ample wildlife sightings. Wrap up a day of adventure at a local eatery and a fine lodging establishment, or unwind with a soak at our area hot springs.  VisitGardinerMT.com IMMERSE YOURSELF IN WINTER Winter transforms the captivating landscapes of Montana’s Yellowstone Country into an enchanting, snowy wonderland…

The beauty and abundance of shrublands in the West are packed with inspiration throughout its diverse topography, geology, hydrology and microclimates. While it feels inadequate to point out just a few plants important to each region, authors Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi are huge proponents of getting to know the basic players that might otherwise be overlooked. Here, they share a shrub starting point localized for four Western territories to take into your own localized landscape. West Coast/California California’s coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral were a huge source of inspiration for us and can be found in different combinations from southern to northern California. Some major players are California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), black sage (Salvia mellifera), white sage (Salvia apiana), and California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Pacific Northwest The…

You’re cordially invited to join the Sunset Wine Club, a selection of story-worthy wines produced by the top growers and 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 to drink this season. 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…

No longer the best kept secret for travelers looking for that bucolic California that time forgot, the Santa Ynez Valley has seen a gold rush of Michelin-rated restaurants, forward-thinking wineries, and design-minded lodging. But it’s still got all the charm, authenticity, and friendly vibes that put it on the map in the first place (thanks Sideways!; more on that later). Only two and a half hours from L.A., four hours from San Francisco, and with nearby Santa Barbara Airport offering direct flights from 12 major markets, it’s one of the easiest ways to get a dose of the old California we love. Think rolling hills dotted with ranches, picket fences, ancient oaks, lush vineyards, independent businesses run by passionate locals… but with all the modern cultural and culinary upgrades and…

When Chip Conley speaks, the industry listens. The founder of boutique hotels supergroup Joie de Vivre Hospitality and former Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for Airbnb is now on a mission to redefine aging at the Modern Elder Academy, where participants tap into the upsides of getting older. Here, he unpacks his vision. There’s a wide age range of travelers coming to MEA. What are some of the cross-generational goals for participants? We’re trying to understand what wisdom is and how to develop and cultivate it. Our program has three key pillars: navigating transitions, cultivating purpose, and owning wisdom. That all falls under the banner of how we reframe our relationship with aging. All of the knowledge of the world is on this little iPhone. With Chat-GPT and artificial…

PLANT ▶ Sow cool-season natives like desert marigold and penstemon, which appreciate lower temperatures for germination. Plant companion shrubs such as serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) or golden currant (Ribes aureum) as windbreaks to protect these more delicate plants as they grow. ▶ Consider providing wildlife support with your late fall plantings by adding berry-producing shrubs such as toyon, elderberry, and canyon snowberry, all of which provide food for birds and other animals during the winter months. By practicing a technique of layered planting using both groundcovers and shrubs, you’ll not only provide diverse habitats for wildlife but also aid in weed suppression and erosion control. ▶ Get a head start on your spring kitchen garden by planting herbs and hearty greens. Tuck garlic and chives throughout your growing area to attract…

Autumn is bulb purchasing and planting season here in the West! Garden designer and author Jacqueline van der Kloet’s newest book, Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden (Timber Press; $35), inspires us to combine bulbs with perennials and grasses in a loose, nonchalant style, and she’s sharing her top tips on how to get started now to maximize spring blooms. PLANTING PREP Flower catalogs make our eyes go wide with possibility, but it’s important to understand your available planting real estate before purchasing. Similar to perennials, certain bulbs require different conditions—while some enjoy full sun, others only thrive in dappled or deep shade. Be sure to map out a game plan of your site and sun conditions before adding any bulbs to your shopping cart. For sunny spots, consider crocus,…

Not far from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, there’s a jewel box of a restaurant called Tsubaki. Over the years, it has set the bar high for izakayas, the small Japanese neighborhood restaurants that combine good sake and delicious dishes that go great with drinks. This self-described “Los Angeles izakaya with Japanese roots and a California state of mind” serves dishes like Japanese “latkes” topped with salmon and yuzu scallion crème fraîche as well as a potato croquette “danger dog” korokke that pays homage to the street hot dogs of L.A. Tsubaki’s transcendent version is topped with jalapeño and boasts a premium Kurobuta pork sausage instead of a standard steamed or griddled frank. It also has exceptional yakitori, expertly cooked over charcoal until smoky, just charred, and ridiculously savory and…

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Rae Rockwell is an interior designer breathing new life into boutique hotels, restaurants, and short-term rentals throughout California. Her eclectic work reflects a lifetime of world travel, which eventually led her to settle down in the High Desert. Here, she shares her favorite makers and creatives in the Mojave communities near Joshua Tree National Park—a sundrenched region that’s undoubtedly one of SoCal’s most beloved weekend destinations during the winter months. STAY One of my short-term rental projects Flamingo Social Club has stunning views that you can enjoy from its cheekily named dock, where you’ll find rowboats in the sand that match the sunset. For larger groups, check out Looking Glass, with plenty of hang spaces, a great location, and a pool. EAT The Copper Room is the perfect…