The September issue of Sunset will be on newsstands next week. Here’s a peek at one page from our new Weekend guide: We’re calling it Insider Tips. In it, experts share their local scoops.

To read this month’s tips for your area—from the Northwest and Northern California to Southern California, the Southwest, and the Mountain region—scroll down. Have some tips of your own? Post a comment below.

Seattle local and dog expert Lisa Wogan, with Renzo (a Husky mix) and Lulu (a Lab mix). Photograph by Annie Marie Musselman

NORTHWEST

Expert: Lisa Wogan, pets columnist for Seattle’s nwsource.com and author of Dog Park Wisdom
Field of study: Fun outings with Fido

Best places to play: Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA ($1 parking fee; 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy. N.E.; 206/205-3661). Cougar and Squak Mountains in the Issaquah Alps of Issaquah, WA.

Fave dog-friendly getaways: Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, ID (open through Oct 31; $92; 208/962-3647). Crystalwood Lodge near Klamath Falls, OR ($152 through Sep 14, $122 after; 866/381-2322). Alexis Hotel in Seattle (from $279; 888/850-1155).

Where to get a drink with your dog: Portland’s three Lucky Labrador Brewing Company locations.

Go-to dog treat: Himalayan Dog Chews (from $7.50).

Dog coats for cold days: Zentek Clothing (from $98; 206/784-5038).

San Francisco resident turned mountain man John Muir Laws (yep, real name). Photograph by David Fenton

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Expert: John Muir Laws, who spent six years compiling The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada

Field of study: Sierra wildlife

Best places to see wildlife: Catch migrating hummingbirds in the Mokelumne Wilderness (209/258-8606), south of Lake Tahoe; try the family-friendly 5-mile round-trip hike to Winnemucca Lake from the Carson Pass trailhead (on State 88, east of Kirkwood). And spot marmots and pikas—which are like high-elevation rabbits—at Yosemite’s Olmsted Point ($20 per car).

Must-haves in your pack: A pair of Pentax Papilio 8.5x21 binoculars, duct tape (for blisters), a sunhat, and plenty of water.

Great post-hike spots: A soak in Travertine Hot Springs, near Bridgeport (free; on Jack Sawyer Rd.; 760/872-5000). Or fish tacos from Tioga Toomey's Whoa Nellie Deli ($$; open through late Oct; in Tioga Gas Mart, 22 Vista Point Dr., Lee Vining; 760/647-1088), at the Mobil station at the east end of Tioga Pass.

Bay Area bird-watching: Shorebirds, or “peeps,” at Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District facility (300 Smith Rand Rd., San Rafael).

Best bookstore: Green Apple Books & Music (506 Clement St., San Francisco; 415/387-2272).

At his Los Angeles wine shop, Christian Navarro fields some outrageous requests—like shipping 24 bottles of 1982 Château Pétrus ($4,500 each) to a director filming in Prague. Photograph by Joe Schmelzer

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Expert: Christian Navarro, sommelier to the stars and partner in Westwood’s Wally’s Wine & Spirits

Field of study: L.A.’s vino scene

His favorite L.A. wine bars: A.O.C. ($$$$; 8022 W. Third St.; 323/653-6359) and Lou ($$; closed Sun; 724 N. Vine St.; 323/962-6369).

L.A. restaurants with great wine lists: Providence ($$$$; 5955 Melrose Ave.; 323/460-4170) and Capo ($$$$; closed Sun–Mon; 1810 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica; 310/394-5550).

The best place to pop a cork for a special evening: The Hollywood Bowl, where you can sit outside on a warm, breezy night, listen to great music, and open a bottle of wine.

Longtime Santa Fe local Pauline Kenny recommends traveling to and staying in one place to really absorb your destination. Photograph by Jen Judge

SOUTHWEST

Expert: Pauline Kenny, founder of slowtrav.com

Field of study: “Slow travel” in the Southwest and beyond

Close-to-home escapes in Santa Fe: Views from Dorothy Stewart Trail (505/955-2102); the Museum of International Folk Art, on Museum Hill (closed Mon after Sep 1; 505/476-1200); and Ten Thousand Waves Spa & Resort (from $20; 505/992-5025).

Southwest hikes she loves: Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument ($5 per vehicle; 505/761-8700), southwest of Santa Fe. Near Taos, Carson National Forest (575/758-6200), on the road to Angel Fire. And Saguaro National Park ($10 per vehicle; 520/733-5158) in Tucson.

Favorite places for a long weekend: The Red Rocks area in Sedona, Arizona. And in Colorado, Boulder’s Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast (from $149, including organic breakfast; 888/786-8440), hiking in the Flatirons, and Ouray’s Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings (rooms from $129, treatments from $15; 970/325-4347).

When he's not in the kitchen at one of his acclaimed Boulder restaurants, chef Matthew Jansen is on his bicycle. Photograph by Jenifer Harrington

MOUNTAIN REGION

Expert: Matthew Jansen, chef at Boulder’s Mateo Restaurant Provençal and Radda Tratoria

Fields of study: Cycling—and replacing those spent calories

Best road-bike routes for seeing Colorado’s autumn foliage: Independence Pass in Aspen. Also, Left Hand Canyon and Sunshine Canyon, both right in Boulder’s backyard.

Where to grab a post-ride treat: Amante Coffee ($; several Boulder locations), for a cold Moretti on tap or a scoop of gelato and espresso. Also, try the patio at Zolo Grill ($$; 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder; 303/449-0444), for Coin-style margaritas.

Best local kitchen-supply shop: Peppercorn (1235 Pearl St., Boulder; 303/449-5847).

Top spots for a good meal (besides Jansen’s Mateo and Radda, of course—see below): Frasca Food and Wine ($$$$; closed Sun; 1738 Pearl St., Boulder; 303/442-6966); Cache Cache ($$$$; 205 S. Mill St., Aspen; 970/925-3835); and Osteria Marco on Larimer Square ($; 1453 Larimer St., Denver; 303/534-5855).

His own restaurants: Mateo Restaurant Provençal ($$; closed Sun; 1837 Pearl St., Boulder; 303/443-7766) and Radda Tratoria ($; 1265 Alpine Ave., Boulder; 303/442-6100).