-
Best of the West
Find the West's best fall hikes, weekends, rafting trips, beach strolls, romantic cottages, ski resorts, waterfalls, bike rides, and more
more
1. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Chihuly in the desert
Go for the… Dale Chihuly show, which busts out beyond gallery walls to plant his shimmering, neon-colored glass sculptures throughout the 145 acres of landscaped desert.
You’ll fall for the… way Chihuly’s fluid forms mimic the lines of the garden’s agaves, cactus, and succulents, helping you see more clearly the plants’ own sculptural beauty. Chihuly exhibition through May 31; $15; reservations required; 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy.; 480/481-8188. –Nora Burba Trulsson
2. The Water Conservation Garden, El Cajon, CA
A succulent experience
Go for the… exhibits and classes on how to keep your water bill from breaking the bank.
You’ll fall for the… hardy plants that live with just a smidge of water. We’re talking fleshy succulents in pink, yellow, green, burgundy, and blue, plus cactus blooming with magenta flowers. Bring the kids along as you learn how to grow veggies in a raised bed or check out dollhouse-size models of fire-safe landscaping. Have a lawn you love to neglect? Find smart solutions at the new meadow of drought-tolerant ornamental grasses. Free; 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. W.; 619/660-0614 ext. 10. –Nan Sterman
3. Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena
Alfresco art
Go for the… galleries filled with Rembrandt portraits, Degas dancers, and Matisse prints.
You’ll fall for the… sculpture garden outside, where the Maillol nudes nestled in reeds at the lily pond’s edge look as inviting as mermaids. Beyond the daylilies, lavender, and bamboo, Gwynn Murrill’s Sitting Cheetah seems so at home under the trees, you expect its tail to twitch.
A cafe tucked into one corner is a pleasant spot for a break before you head back to the galleries. Closed Tue; $8; 411 W. Colorado Blvd.; 626/449-6840. –Sharon Cohoon
4. Earthbound Farm, Carmel Valley, CA
A farm for all the senses
Go for the… loaded salad bar (and excellent veggie lasagna) at the farmstand run by Earthbound, the organic farm that pioneered pre-washed lettuce.
You’ll fall for the… hands-on attitude at Earthbound’s 30-acre research garden. Get dirt under your fingernails with a harvest-your-own-flowers walk or a pick-your-own-vegetables chef demo, or visit the snip-your-own-herbs garden. For a full-on sensory experience, wander barefoot through a low-growing chamomile labyrinth. Involve your kids in farm life at the children’s garden, which has a tipi, tunnels, and peanut butter–scented plants that could be straight out of Dr. Seuss. $20; 7250 Carmel Valley Rd.; 831/625-6219. –Abigail Peterson
