Best beach town
Tofino, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Why you'll want to go:
- Adventurers, take your pick: surfing, storm- and bear-watching, tidepooling, or seaweed foraging
- Fifteen miles of epic beachscape, some fringed by old-growth rain forest
- It’s becoming a food-tropolis known for spot prawns, chilled oysters, and line-caught-halibut sandwiches
Best food town
Portland, OR
Bites worth the flight:
- Ike’s fish-sauce wings at Pok Pok, a trifecta of sticky, sweet, and savory
- The Cointreau crème brûlée doughnut for grown-ups at Blue Star Donuts
- Falafel salad with basil-mint tahini from ChickPeaDX, one of more than 500 food carts in the city
Best wine country town
Paso Robles, CA
Wine-trail detours:
- The ziplines at Ancient Peaks
- Out-of-the-way wineries redefining the wine festival: Rhone Rangers, Zinposium, and BlendFest on the Coast
- The main square for Fish Gaucho (dinner), AndBe (closet essentials), and Brown Butter Cookie Company (immediate gratification)
Best shopping town
Santa Fe, NM
Worth the splurge:
- Patterned ponchos, shawls, and wraps woven by local artisans at Handwoven Originals
- Origins’ design duos: handmade necklaces and dresses that pair with them
- A perfect pair of cowboy boots—whether it be inlays or completely customized—at Back at the Ranch
Best adventure town
Park City, UT
Climactic adventures:
- Mountain biking along the Mid Mountain Trail of aspen groves at 8,000 feet
- Tracking moose along the Lambs Canyon Loop of spruce and wildflowers
- Bobsledding or extreme summer tubing at the 389-acre Utah Olympic Park
Best hotel with water view
Puakea Ranch, Big Island, HI
Roosts to watch the sunset:
- From the lanai of the original plantation structure, the Cowboy House
- From the lava-rock swimming pool of 1940s Yoshi’s House
- From the back of a horse galloping through the plantation grounds
Best wine country hotel
Olea Hotel, Glen Ellen, CA
Reasons to sleep soundly:
- Location: A century-old house on a quiet country road
- Libations: 80 wineries are within reach. Also, weekly in-house tastings paired with Olea’s bites, like Italian-sausage bánh mì sliders with spicy cilantro aioli
- Luxe meals: A gourmet two-course breakfast is served overlooking old oaks and olive trees
Best mountain resort
Arrabelle, Vail Square, Vail, CO
Mountain close-ups:
- Views from two rooftop hot tubs, a pool, and approximately 50 guest rooms at 8,150 feet
- 101-style teachings from the Nature Conservancy at the resort. Learn about wildlife, weather, plants, and topography
- Backdoor access to White River National Forest and 195 conventional trails and 31 lifts across Vail Mountain
Best desert resort
Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, CA
Chakra portals:
- Desert-plant journeys with informational signs on indigenous plants, and daily nature walks
- A spa carved into the Palm Springs desert offering indoor-outdoor treatments, virgin prickly-pear juices, and cuke slices to perk up your eyes by the pool
- A Saturday-night celestial viewing experience
Best bed & breakfast
Canyon Villa, Paso Robles, CA
Relax pads:
- On a terrace in the Tuscan-inspired villa that overlooks cypresses and vineyards
- On the hiking trail in the nearby Los Padres National Forest
- On the pillow-top mattress, Egyptian cotton–swathed bed in an airy, light-dappled suite
Best girlfriends' getaway
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, San Diego, CA
Foolproof bonding moments:
- Besties-meet-bubbly oceanside soak spot at the spa’s outdoor hot tub
- Stand-up paddleboarding on Mission Bay with the gal pals
- #squadgoals: Polynesian sunset luau
Best hotel for families
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA
The lodge for the littles:
- Epic all-ages hikes from the lodge, like a 2-miler to Mirror Lake
- Seven restaurants that cover picky eaters, including the seasonal Summerdale BBQ and an Evening Kids Camp, so parents can drop them off and have a date
- Five pools, including a kids’ pool with water guns (and one for adults only)
Best hotel for pets
Surfsand Resort, Cannon Beach, OR
Pooch-friendly perks:
- Beyond the welcome basket: Pups are greeted in the lobby with their name on a board
- A warm paw wash near the beachfront path rinses off the sand after an offleash Cannon Beach run
- An annual dog show with proceeds benefiting Clatsop County Animal Shelter
Best hotel restaurant
Imperial at Hotel Lucia, Portland, OR
Dine-then-crash dishes:
- Ground duck meatballs with prunes and tangy orange gremolata
- Kale salad reborn with sunflower-seed brittle and a goat-cheese dressing
- Fire-roasted mushrooms, meet bone marrow
Best vineyard tasting experience
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner, OR
Places to tipple:
- One of three scenic suites in the winery to sip from the boutique wine collection
- A shaded courtyard with vineyard views and music performances
- On a migratory tasting tour with wine-and-cheese pairings
Best microbrewery or distillery
Green Flash, San Diego, CA
Sudsy glory:
- Le Freak has the fruity aromatics of a Belgian with the hoppy wonder of an American IPA
- Sea to Sea Lager for a sweet malt taste made to pair with the beach
- Passion Fruit Kicker: This wheat malt brew is the perfect ‘cue companion
Best outdoor music venue
Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA
Hitting the high notes:
- Seats under the stars on a mild Santa Barbara evening
- Acoustics that make you want to rock out
- Variety and caliber of talent like reggae Rebelution, guitarist Gary Clark Jr., and Van Morrison
Best train experience
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, CO
Reasons to rail or bust:
- Historic narration of the area while traveling by steam train; some of the cars date to the Victorian era
- Glass ceilings in the first-class Knight Sky and Silver Vista with attendants
- Themed trips such as brew and wine trains, as well as seasonal offerings like Christmas tree–cutting itineraries
People's choice award
Denali National Park, AK
Resplendent campgrounds:
- Pitch a tent at Wonder Lake, the closest campsite to Denali
- Denali’s sawtooth skyline is the backdrop at Savage River Campground
- Igloo Creek’s crystal water and wooded surroundings lead to infinite trailheads