Author Archives: Krista Simmons

These Are the Ultimate Budget-Friendly Travel Hacks You Need in This Economy

According to a recent survey by Bankrate, summer vacation spending is expected to drop by 25 percent this year as… Read More

Fall Is the Secret Festival Season for Live Music—Don’t Miss These

Each year, festival season seems to officially kick off with Instagram feeds flooded with desert dust from Coachella and neon lights from EDC… Read More

Grab a Book and Go: Reading Retreats Are the Newest Travel Trend

Beach reads have long been an integral part of a great vacation. While not technically a formal genre of literature, these page-turners are… Read More

Here’s Where You Should Travel Right Now Based on Your Zodiac Sign

If you’ve got some summer travel FOMO and are wanting to plan a vacay, we feel you. But with the world being our… Read More

The Gear You Need to Take Epic Travel Photos, According to a Professional Photographer

For the past 25 years, Sunset staff photographer Thomas J. Story has crisscrossed the West, camera in hand, tripod slung over shoulder, capturing… Read More

This Is Why Sandwiches Taste Better at the Beach, According to Science

There’s something magical about unwrapping a sandwich at the beach. With sun kissing your shoulders and waves undulating rhythmically in the background, suddenly the… Read More

Raging Wildfires in Grand Canyon National Park Destroy Historic Lodge

The White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire exhibited extreme and volatile fire behavior the evening… Read More

These Are the Essential Safety Tools Every Traveler Needs in the Car for a Road Trip

Before you embark on your epic summer road trip, you’ll want to make sure your car is stocked with the right gear. A… Read More

Here’s Exactly How to Beat Fourth of July Holiday Traffic (Plus Other Essential Travel Tips)

This Independence Day promises to be one of the busiest travel periods on record, with AAA’s annual projections estimating that 72.2 million Americans… Read More

These Are Hands Down the Easiest (and Tastiest) Camping Meals

Recently, we’ve been obsessing over the majorly hunger-inducing mukbangs from HelloItSoap over on TikTok. (I mean Korean fried chicken and… Read More

These Are the Worst Airlines to Fly in 2025

Flying can be a less-than-relaxing experience, to say the least. But some airlines undoubtedly make that experience more pleasant than others. We all have… Read More

This Outrageously Pretty Purple Tile Is Actually Made out of Sea Urchins

If you’re a surfer or avid tidepooler, you likely have been irked by the reality of a sea urchin prick. But there’s more… Read More

Calling All Tinned Fish Girlies and Yachtcore Enthusiasts—These Are the Coastal Tastemakers Worth Following

Marine motifs and nautical flair are making a splash in the zeitgeist every which way you look these days—from interior design to fine… Read More

Turns out You’re Packing All Wrong. Here’s How to Do It Right, According to a Professional Organizer.

Professional organizer Christine Krkach has a bone to pick with travelers. The expert, who also goes by The OCD by… Read More

These Are the 50 Best Places to Camp Right Now—And How to Book Them

If you’re anything like me and put off making campsite reservations til, well, now, rest assured there’s still a chance to score a… Read More

Want to Get Naked at a Hot Springs Resort? Here Are the Rules to Follow.

Getting naked in the outdoors is hardly a new thing, but the trend—which really had its moment in the peak of the pandemic—doesn’t… Read More

A Massive New In-N-Out in Las Vegas Is Set to Open Next Year. Here’s a Sneak Peek.

A new neon sign is on its way to the Las Vegas Strip, and no, it’s not for another casino. A colossal In-N-Out… Read More

These Are the Dirtiest Beaches on the West Coast

Heal the Bay’s 2024-2025 annual Beach Report Card was released this week, and for many oceans advocates, the results were… Read More

I’m a Travel Editor and These Are the Shoes I’ll Be Wearing to the Airport All Summer

As a travel editor, I’m on the move constantly—hopping between airports, strolling through vibrant neighborhoods, and clocking miles in on set and around town… Read More

I Went Seaweed Foraging on the Sonoma Coast—Here’s What I Learned

Daybreak sneaks through my curtains at Sea Ranch Lodge, and much as I wish I could cozy up all morning in the soft cotton… Read More

Getting a Spot at These Secret Campgrounds Is Like Winning the Lottery

There’s a side of me that doesn’t even want to write this story, as it’s already difficult enough for adventure-seekers to book campsites in… Read More

Yep, Getting Naked in Nature Is Still Trending. Here’s How to Do It (and Not Get Arrested)

If you thought the naturist camping trend peaked during lockdown, think again. According to Pitchup.com’s 2025 Outdoor Travel Trend Report,… Read More

2025 is Officially the Year of the Summer Staycation. Here Are the Hottest Spots to Do It.

As summer travel season kicks into gear, Airbnb’s summer 2025 trends report reveals one crystal-clear takeaway: Americans are staying closer… Read More

These Scents Will Make You Smell Like an Endless Summer Vacation

There’s something about the scent of salt, sand, and sea that’s just totally transportive. Add in the coconut-y aroma of some Zogg’s wax… Read More