5 dream vacations in your own backyard

Sunset Magazine

Channel your favorite vacation spot in your garden with these dreamy design ideas.

IF YOUR DREAM VACATION IS TO...


Malibu: Fake a seaside resort
Bring out the striped cushions and colorful umbrellas, and let the garden take care of itself, as this one does. The deck is made of sustainable ipe wood that has weathered to a soft gray. Drought-tolerant plants need only yearly trimming and occasional watering-which leaves plenty of time to kick back on a lounge chair and bask in the sun.

> Related: 3 ways to bring beachside style to your home


Vancouver: Pave a trail to the coast


Give it twists and turns, then edge it with grasses, so strolling along it feels like a hike toward the water's edge. This path winds through coppery New Zealand hair sedge (Carex tenuiculmis'Cappuccino') and 'Georgia Blue' veronica. Miscanthus sinensis fans out at right, while bigleaf maples and Douglas firs create a view in the distance.

> Related: 32 great ideas for garden paths


Maui: Add a poolside shower


A soothing spray, backed by yuccas, cycads, and other lush plants, is within easy reach of the pool in this backyard garden. Teak boards mask plumbing, and slotted boards on the floor drain into a hidden shower pan.

> Related: 12 refreshing outdoor showers


Yellowstone: Light a campfire


A built-in firepit is the hub of gatherings in this garden. Sandstone cobbles edge the 5-foot-diameter lava rock-topped pit, which blazes with gas-fed flames. A sandstone wall, scattered with cushions for comfort, serves as seating. Thyme and other herbs grow around the firepit and between the seat wall's stones.
> Related: 50+ landscaping ideas with stone

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