These Vibrant Cities Show Why the West Is the Best

The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These destinations are the 2025 winners of the Where to Go: Superlative Cities category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.

Beverly Hills, California

Courtesy of the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

One of the West’s most inviting and accessible communities that embodies the essence of luxury living: Stroll the palm-lined streets, revel in its lush parks, shop its world-famous boutiques, and dine in some of the best restaurants in the country. This is the California dream realized.

Santa Monica, California

Courtesy of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

The textbook definition of beachy Southern California living, Santa Monica offers visitors a dizzying array of entertainment, dining, and outdoor experiences: Learn to surf, bike, stroll the coast, book into a beachside resort, walk the Santa Monica Pier, and dine al fresco where California cuisine was refined.

Reno Tahoe, Nevada

Courtesy of VisitRenoTahoe.com

This cool and iconoclastic community caters to creatives and adventure seekers alike with its dynamic arts scene and status as the entryway to Burning Man. With diverse lodging options from grand resort casino hotels to charming boutique properties, visitors can enjoy easy access to outdoor activities at Lake Tahoe, just 30 minutes away, where opportunities for hiking, biking, and skiing at premier resorts like Mt. Rose and Northstar abound.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Courtesy of the city of Albuquerque

One of the most multicultural and dynamic cities in the desert Southwest, Albuquerque is having a moment. With the Route 66 Visitor Center opening coinciding with the 100^th anniversary of Route 66, exciting hotel openings such as Arrive Albuquerque and upcoming Hiway House Motel, and an ever-evolving culinary scene, Albuquerque is on our must-visit list.

West Hollywood, California

Courtesy of Visit West Hollywood

With the vibrant Sunset Strip, world-class shopping on Melrose Avenue, the Design District, more entertainment than any other neighborhood in L.A., and a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, this eclectic and energizing city-within-the-city is one of the most thrilling locations to experience in the West.

Victoria, British Columbia

Courtesy of Oak Bay Beach Hotel

The Pacific Northwest, with its moody fog and dense rainforests, is one of the more magical places on the planet, and this walkable waterfront capital city in British Columbia, Canada, proves it. Rightfully known as the “City of Gardens,” Victoria is also home to rich First Nations traditions that can be experienced through its diverse adventure, culinary, and art activities.

Pasadena, California

Tanveer Badal

When the tragic fires that ravaged nearby Altadena hit, this city, known for its Tournament of Roses celebration, sprang into action to house nonprofit organizers, aid workers, and shelters for their neighbors. As the area continues to rebuild, visitors can support the effort by frequenting the many museums, restaurants, and farmers’ markets that make this SoCal community so special.