Travel Ideas: Tips, Guides & Road Trips for the Western U.S. - Sunset

The Latest From Sunset

Insider Tips, Deals, & Perks for the Best Ski Season Ever

Think skiing’s too cold, too crowded, too expensive? These solutions will have you itching to hit the slopes this season

November 10, 2011

December 13, 2019

Travel

UberSKI Feature Confirms Extra Space for Skis and Snowboards, Making It Easier Than Ever to Shred This Winter

Forget car rentals, crowded shuttles and pricy parking lots... you can now Uber to the slopes with all your gear in tow

December 11, 2019

Outdoor Adventure

Your Winter Guide to Aspen, Colorado

Chalets, sleigh rides, top-notch skiing and contemporary art. Welcome to Aspen's winter wonderland

November 2, 2017

December 10, 2019

Travel

Gifts for All Types of Travelers

From classy luggage to cool accessories, make your favorite traveler's holiday complete

November 6, 2013

December 10, 2019

Holiday Season Travel Tips

Travel Tips

Tips for Staying Healthy During Your Holidays Travels from Frequent Flyers Across the West

These tips for flying germ-free this holiday season may save you weeks of sickness

December 6, 2019

December 12, 2019

Outdoor Adventure

These Ski Resorts Lead the Pack on Sustainability in the West

With eco-friendly equipment, plastic-free campuses, and zero-waste plans, these mountain resorts are helping ensure the future of snow sports

November 20, 2019

December 6, 2019

Holidays

These Jaw-Dropping Life-Sized Gingerbread Houses Are Now on Display at Hotels Around the West

Every winter, hotels in the West add extra holiday spirit with unique life-sized gingerbread houses inspired by Christmas movies, Disney characters, and even the desert

December 3, 2019

Outdoor Adventure

A Photographer’s Guide to the Northern Lights

You don’t have to go to Canada or Alaska to see them! Here’s a nature photographer’s guide to capturing the aurora borealis in the dark skies above Washington, Idaho, and Montana

October 14, 2016

February 8, 2019

Insider Guides to the West

Northwest

Bellingham, WA’s Outdoor Adventurer Extraordinaire Shares Her Top Hometown Haunts

Heather “Anish” Anderson, thru-hiker and endurance adventurer, reveals her insider tips about where to go and what to see and eat in this small city near the Canadian border

December 6, 2019

California

Go on a Neighborhood Tour with Two of Atwater Village’s Hippest Designers

Lily and Hopie Stockman, co-owners of Block Shop textiles, share their insider tips on where to eat, drink, and shop in this colorful enclave near the L.A. River

December 6, 2019

California

Eco-Friendly Soap Makers Take You for a Spin Around SF’s Hippest Surfer Hood

Tim Hollinger and Spencer Arnold, co-owners of Bathing Culture, share the inside scoop on the foggy but lively Outer Sunset neighborhood in San Francisco

December 5, 2019

December 6, 2019

Rockies

A Beehive State Brewer Shares Where to Get a Good Drink and More in Salt Lake City

A fifth-generation brewer spills insider tips about where to eat and drink, and how easy it is to get into the mountains that surround the city

December 10, 2019

More Ideas

Hotels

These Beach Resorts Go All Out for the Winter Holidays

With dazzling displays, indulgent banquets, and festive parties, these seaside hotels will have you feeling merry and bright

November 19, 2019

December 10, 2019

Outdoor Adventure

These Ski Resorts Lead the Pack on Sustainability in the West

With eco-friendly equipment, plastic-free campuses, and zero-waste plans, these mountain resorts are helping ensure the future of snow sports

November 20, 2019

December 6, 2019

Kids skiing down a mountain at Beaver Creek Ski Resort

Outdoor Adventure

Picture-Perfect Ski Resorts for Families with Tiny Shredders

What does it take to rank high as a kid-friendly mountain? A nice mix of gentle and advanced terrain, a killer ski school, and family-fun events. Perks like ice skating and free cookies sure don't hurt, either

December 3, 2019

December 12, 2019

Outdoor Adventure

We Made Up the Ultimate Mountain Resort for a Winter Sports Dream Come True

Forget custom skis: This season, we customized an entire resort with all our favorites—both new and classic—from the best snow towns across the West

December 2, 2019

December 10, 2019

Wine Country

We Shouldn’t Tell You This, But: You Can Sleep in a Refurbished Grain Silo at this Oregon Wine Farm

For a unique and cozy sleep, bunk up at this wine country hidden gem

November 20, 2019

November 21, 2019

Southwest

How to Plan the Ultimate Trip to Marfa, Texas

Everything you need to know before your epic trip to West Texas’s quirkiest town

August 15, 2018

November 26, 2019

Aerial view with winding route of one of the best hikes in the West Angels Landing at Zion National Park, UT

National Parks

Zion Turns 100: These 5 Champions of the National Park Sing Its Praises

In honor of Zion National Park’s centennial celebration this November, we hear from five people deeply connected to the land and invested in protecting it for another 100 years

November 26, 2019

December 3, 2019

Amazing Aurora Borealis Adventure in Alaska

Outdoor Adventure

Amazing Aurora Borealis Adventure in Alaska

The cure for the daily grind? An Alaska getaway to meet the aurora borealis and the people who track it

October 3, 2018

November 14, 2019

The eclectic lobby at the Soho Warehouse in L.A.

Hotels

Meet the New Hotels Everyone Will Be Talking About This Season

From a new Canyon Ranch retreat to a sexy ski-in/ski-out W Hotel in Colorado, these sleek pads will have you packing your bags

November 24, 2019

December 3, 2019

Travel

These Holiday Markets Boast Chic Artisan Goods and Loads of Cheer

'Tis the season for taking photos with Santa, sipping mulled wine, and shopping for unique, handmade gifts at these spirited Christmas bazaars across the West

November 15, 2019

December 10, 2019

Two women skating across Lake Louis ice skating rinks with giant mountain in the background

Travel

The Most Beautiful Ice Skating Rinks from San Diego to Vegas

With its staggering mountains, beachside settings, and glittering cities, the West provides the perfect backdrop for some seriously magical skating

November 9, 2011

December 12, 2019

The Montage Deer Valley hotel covered in snow

Travel

Gift Yourself One of These Amazing Holiday Vacation Packages

Whether you’re looking for Yuletide splurges or savings, these end-of-year escapes will put you in the holiday spirit

August 2, 2017

December 3, 2019

Travel the West

Ski June Mountain, Swim in Palm Springs, and More Cool California Winter Getaways

The Latest From Sunset

Insider Tips, Deals, & Perks for the Best Ski Season Ever

UberSKI Feature Confirms Extra Space for Skis and Snowboards, Making It Easier Than Ever to Shred This Winter

Your Winter Guide to Aspen, Colorado

Gifts for All Types of Travelers

Holiday Season Travel Tips

Tips for Staying Healthy During Your Holidays Travels from Frequent Flyers Across the West

These Ski Resorts Lead the Pack on Sustainability in the West

These Jaw-Dropping Life-Sized Gingerbread Houses Are Now on Display at Hotels Around the West

A Photographer’s Guide to the Northern Lights

Insider Guides to the West

Bellingham, WA’s Outdoor Adventurer Extraordinaire Shares Her Top Hometown Haunts

Go on a Neighborhood Tour with Two of Atwater Village’s Hippest Designers

Eco-Friendly Soap Makers Take You for a Spin Around SF’s Hippest Surfer Hood

A Beehive State Brewer Shares Where to Get a Good Drink and More in Salt Lake City

More Ideas

These Beach Resorts Go All Out for the Winter Holidays

These Ski Resorts Lead the Pack on Sustainability in the West

Picture-Perfect Ski Resorts for Families with Tiny Shredders

We Made Up the Ultimate Mountain Resort for a Winter Sports Dream Come True

We Shouldn’t Tell You This, But: You Can Sleep in a Refurbished Grain Silo at this Oregon Wine Farm

How to Plan the Ultimate Trip to Marfa, Texas

Zion Turns 100: These 5 Champions of the National Park Sing Its Praises

Amazing Aurora Borealis Adventure in Alaska

Meet the New Hotels Everyone Will Be Talking About This Season

These Holiday Markets Boast Chic Artisan Goods and Loads of Cheer

The Most Beautiful Ice Skating Rinks from San Diego to Vegas

Gift Yourself One of These Amazing Holiday Vacation Packages