The Iconic Western Destinations Everyone Should Visit at Least Once
Put these on your bucket list.
The Flower Fields
The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These 12 destinations are the 2026 winners of the Where to Go: Classic West 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.
Grand Canyon West in Arizona
Grand Canyon West
Located at Grand Canyon West outside Peach Springs, Arizona, just a two-hour drive from Las Vegas, this corner of the canyon is an exceptionally accessible destination. It boasts magnificent landscapes, multiple ways of accessing its grandeur, and a rich Indigenous history.
Greater Palm Springs, California
Visit Greater Palm Springs
The desert playground that continues to deliver. Even more top spas, resorts, world-class modernist architecture, spectacular hikes, music and culture festivals, breathtaking landscapes, and hot springs await for travelers looking for a one-stop vacation.
La Paz, Mexico
Courtesy of Go La Paz
If you’re after a slower pace in Baja California Sur, the authentic charm of the capital city of La Paz delivers with a stunning waterfront, farm-to-table dining scene, and proximity to oceanic underwater adventures on the Sea of Cortez that impressed Jacques Cousteau himself.
Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Visit Baja California Sur
Tucked between the Sea of Cortez and the rugged Sierra de la Giganta, Loreto offers the kind of Baja experience that feels increasingly rare: unhurried, authentic, and connected to the natural world. Here days are spent kayaking among islands, exploring desert trails, lingering over fresh seafood, and watching the sun sink into one of the most beautiful landscapes in Mexico.
Nevada’s Highway 50
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Dubbed the Loneliest Road, this route stretches across some of the most hauntingly beautiful and genuinely remote terrain in America. On your journey you’ll encounter more stars than people. Whether you’re a UFO enthusiast, a public art aficionado, or just one who loves the open road, this trip delivers.
San Luis Obispo County, California
Visit SLO CAL
San Luis Obispo County, known as SLO CAL, is nestled in the center of California’s Central Coast, just three hours between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Spanning over 15 distinct communities, from Nipomo in the south to Ragged Point in the north, SLO CAL is defined by its people, pace of life and distinct sense of place. The region is home to over 250 wineries across Paso Robles wine country and the SLO coast wine region. Farmers’ markets take place every day of the week, including the iconic Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market held every Thursday evening. History runs deep in the region, with landmarks and cultural sites that tell the stories of California’s early settlers, Indigenous cultures and coastal communities. The county’s rich culinary heritage and farm-to-table cuisine includes seven Michelin-mentioned restaurants throughout the region, two of which have earned a Michelin Star.
Klawock Island, Alaska
Klawock Island
An Indigenous-owned cruise destination on Prince of Wales Island, Klawock Island invites visitors into a Łingít community, where towering totems, a working carving shed, and abundant wildlife reflect a deep connection to land and sea. The destination is a partnership between Klawock Heenya Corporation and Na-Dena`, the tourism joint venture of Alaska Native corporations Doyon, Limited and Huna Totem Corporation, expanding Alaska Native-owned tourism by directing revenue into rural communities and supporting jobs, educationm and cultural preservation. Opened in May 2024, the site transforms a former industrial area into an eco-conscious port with a floating tender dock, welcome facilities, and a small retail tent featuring Alaska Native arts and crafts. Guided by local experts, guests experience marine wildlife tours, kayak adventures, a culinary tasting, and other cultural excursions. Growth has surged from six ship calls in 2024 to 57 expected in 2026, driven by demand for authentic, community-centered travel.
Icy Strait Point in Alaska
Icy Strait Point
Icy Strait Point is Alaska’s first Indigenous-owned cruise destination, set across more than 23,000 acres of Alaska Native-owned beach and rainforest. Developed by Huna Totem Corporation, the destination is shaped by the local community and offers a wide range of experiences rooted in place and culture. At its center is a restored 1912 salmon cannery, now home to local shops, a museum, and cultural exhibits that reflect the area’s fishing heritage. Visitors can choose from more than 20 excursions, including whale watching, coastal brown bear viewing, scenic gondola rides, and the world’s largest ZipRider zip line, which offers sweeping views of forest, ocean, and surrounding mountains. Guided by Huna Tlingit residents, visitors gain direct insight into local traditions, art, and wildlife. Visitors can also explore at their own pace, with experiences that provide an authentic connection to the landscape and local way of life.
San Simeon, California
Visit San Simeon
With Highway 1 now fully reopened, San Simeon stands as the welcoming gateway to Big Sur, offering travelers renewed access to one of California’s most awe-inspiring coastal drives. This serene destination invites exploration, where dramatic ocean views meet rolling hills and uncrowded landscapes. Visitors can experience remarkable wildlife, from elephant seals along the shoreline to diverse marine and bird life, or step into history with a tour of Hearst Castle. Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless opportunities to hike coastal trails, wander quiet beaches, and take in sweeping vistas shaped by wind and sea. Ideal for families, road trippers, and nature seekers alike, San Simeon delivers a refreshing sense of escape, blending scenic beauty, outdoor adventure, and cultural landmarks into a memorable Central Coast experience that invites visitors to slow down and reconnect.
Pasadena, California
Edie Tyebkhan
Pasadena’s tree-lined streets, historic neighborhoods, and widely beloved Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day have remained alluring to travelers since its days as a resort town. Countless movies and series, most recently Apple TV’s Shrinking, have kept the iconic suburban city in the minds of travelers for decades. Today, as a cultural node of Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena is home to globally inspired museums, restaurants, and shopping mixed with longstanding businesses, connecting the modern city to its past as a major stop on the revered Route 66.
Grants Pass, Oregon
Visit Grants Pass
Just west of Oregon’s I-5, Grants Pass is a discovery waiting to happen. Set along the Rogue River, the town offers easy access to one of the West’s great waterways, where days unfold through rafting, fishing, and unhurried walks along the river’s edge. A short drive away, the Applegate Valley adds depth with a landscape of small farms and vineyards that invite lingering. Tasting rooms and agritourism experiences reflect a region shaped by its agricultural rhythms, where what you taste is closely tied to the land. Nearby, the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve brings a sense of wonder, while Oregon’s only Certified Nature and Forest Therapy trail offers a quieter way to take it all in. Trail systems at Cathedral Hills and Dollar Mountain add miles of accessible terrain for hiking and biking. What defines Grants Pass is its ease, a grounded, welcoming place still genuinely undiscovered.
Boise, Idaho
Visit Boise
Boise, Idaho, is a capital city in the Pacific Northwest with a truly walkable downtown, more than 100 restaurants and bars, miles of trails, several parks and green spaces, and a mountain-fed river. Spend the morning biking the 29-mile Greenbelt, hiking in the foothills, paddling and floating the Boise River, or surfing waves at Whitewater Park. Switch gears to explore Basque culture on the Basque Block, view murals in Freak Alley, and enjoy an impressive, award-winning dinner scene. Idaho’s capital feels relaxed, creative, and outdoorsy without trying too hard. It’s the kind of place where you can float the river, browse shops and galleries, sip local wine, and still catch a rooftop cocktail before sunset. For travelers seeking city energy without losing sight of nature, Boise makes a very strong case.
