Blog Posts by Sunset Magazine

Enjoy a heaping dose of sand and surf in these quintessential beach towns--but better keep these underrated spots (relatively) secret!

Bandon, OR

As any upstanding Oregonian knows, the real old school Oregon coast lies down south, in quintessential Oregon beach towns like Bandon. You expect festivity: seaside carnival barkers, maybe a roller coaster. But actually … nothing is happening in Bandon. Tourists schlump down the street sipping coffee at the mouth of the Coquille River, at the town's edge. Seagulls squawk on the Boardwalk, and a few sprightly old ladies sample the gratis cranberry candies at the Chamber of Commerce. The world slows down, and you notice things.

More about Bandon

Astoria, OR

Yellow-slickered fishermen mix with just a sprinkling of iPad-toting tourists in this small riverfront town with San Francisco-steep streets. Particularly fine stretches of sand with towering dunes and uninterrupted ocean views make Astoria a dreamy spot...and

Boldly colored. Drought-tolerant. With the wonderful world of succulents, you can mimic an underwater look with plants.

You can take your best pal with you on these getaways around the West.

Long Beach, WA

Dogs have the run of the town's beach, but on packed sand-so do cars. The boardwalk (Bolstad Ave.) and the 8.3-mile-long paved Discovery Trail (26th St. N.W.) are car-free and dog-friendly (on-leash)

Stanford Inn by the Sea, Mendocino, CA

Rooms laid with white bedspreads and end tables with slender mahogany legs, feels classically grown-up, not "proofed" for anything. The Stanford Inn by the Sea and many local Mendocino parks, restaurants, and other businesses, go way beyond merely allowing dogs. They welcome them, and their canine quirks, openly. Pups get "welcome kits" upon arrival: a housemade sweet-potato treat tied in a white ribbon, water and food dishes, an ample stack of plastic bags, and two fresh sheets.

Cannon Beach, OR

It's easy for a hotel, shop, or outdoor cafe to accommodate pocket pooches and handbag hounds, but big, bear-like breeds? That's a different

Special enough for company, quick enough for weeknights

Up the serenity in your own garden room with these easy-care, low-water plants

Santa Barbara daisy
(Erigeron karvinskianus)
The tiny white and pink flowers make a great border accent when planted in the forefront of tall grasses.

Mexican feather grass
(Stipa tenuissima)
These clump-forming grasses produce large, open, airy inflorescences that can add lightness and motion to the garden.

More about Mexican feather grass

French lavender
(Lavandula dentata)
This aromatic variety of lavendar is lovely when used as informal hedge or edging.

More about French lavender

Beard tongue
(Penstemon)
This bushy plant is fairly short lived, but to make up for it, it produces lots of trumpet-shaped blooms over a long period. Deep purple 'Midnight' is a standout for its vivid hue.

More about Beard tongue (Penstemon)

Butterfly bush
(Buddleja davidii)
These small, fragrant blossoms grow in spikelike clusters and attract

He's a chef, she's a designer. Together this L.A. couple keeps the fun going to 3 a.m. with easygoing and stylish ideas you can use.

From grilled veggie sides to inventive salads, get our favorite ways to enjoy summer squash and zucchini.

These eateries are more than just local favorites--they epitomize a sense of place.

Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles

Pizzeria Mozza is the queen bee of the upscale-downscale scene, where a wood-burning oven turns out cutting-edge, stunning pizzas with super-fresh tomatoes and mozzarella-not to mention with egg, bacon, potato, and onions.

More about Pizzeria Mozza

Natural Selection, Portland

Natural Selection is a restaurant built on vegetables, fruits, and grains. Served in a stylish and warm European supper club setting, the cuisine features both rustic and modern cooking techniques while highlighting the flavors of France, Italy, and Spain.

More about Natural Selection

Coi, San Francisco

Daniel Patterson's superb, cerebral cooking is shown off with an 11-course tasting menu that ranges from dishes like spiny lobster salad with fennel and chervil to quince parfait with huckleberry and thyme. The Michelin guide has handed the place two coveted