Vacations near and far - Brief Article

Sunset, August, 2000 by Rosalie Muller Wright

* Here at Sunset, we pride ourselves on--among other things--our knowledge of Western travel. Every month, we have the pleasure of giving readers great advice on places to enjoy in the West, from a day trip in your region (see our Travel Guide, page 25) to a panoramic experience like this month's cover story, "Undiscovered Coast."

In August, families head out for one last summer road trip. Whether we drive to escape the heat or for a change of scene, the last thing we want to find at our destination is a crowd of people. So Sunset decided to present the emptiest and most beautiful coastal areas in the West.

For our cover photograph, art director Jim McCann was determined to find not only a spot that would represent the relative solitude that many of us crave when looking for a new place to go, but also a place that would appeal to people from the 13 states we consider our prime territory. So where was that spot? Jim posed this question to travel editor Peter Fish and Southern California staff writer Matt Jaffe. These two know more about Western geography (and have been to more out-of-the-way places) than almost anyone. Both agreed that the perfect scene was a secluded and beautiful beach in Humboldt County, California.

For this issue we also wanted to satisfy those readers who either had already returned from their summer vacations or were not about to leave their backyards. That's why we found some marvelous examples of ways to vacation without leaving home. "Lazy Days at Home" (page 114) presents ingenious ideas for backyard escapes. Take a few weekends to build "A Secret Garden" (page 86), where you can relax with friends at a "Simple Summer Supper" (page 144), topped off with luscious watermelon treats (page 104).

Whether you stay or go, this issue is sure to make your August unforgettable.