by Anna Nordberg, Sunset special projects editor

This is shaping up to be a season of staycations. Dismal headlines, expensive gas, and a general uncertainty about everything mean that people are putting their holiday plans on ice (bad news unless you've had your fill of politics and turkey with the in-laws). So in the spirit of frugal chic—but still squeezing in that weekend getaway—here are some vacation deals that have come across my desk.

Photo credit: The Camelback Mountain Spa and Resort, courtesy of the Scottsdale Convention & VIsitors Bureau

Scottsdale: The Scottsdale CVB website offers dozens of deals. Look for the special overnights section on the  vacation packages  page for deals at Scottsdale hotels (think Camelback Mountain Spa and Resort, W Scottsdale , Phoenician,  Boulders resort and Golden Door Spa, and more.)

Tucson: This deal is a roll of the dice, but you have until November 30 to register to win a free getaway  (travel not included) at Tucson hotels such as the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort , Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa , and Westward Look Resort  (plus six more.)

Photo credit: The Westin La Paloma Resort

While I imagine the odds of winning are about as slim as the Dow clawing its way past 10,000, I thought I'd put it out there.

Sedona: Several hotels here are offering packages. Enchantment Resort lets you stay the fourth night for free if you book a three night stay by 12/18 (I think this qualifies as the only steal versus deal.)

Photo credit: Enchantment Resort

The El Portal Sedona gives discounts if you book now over the internet or if you are willing to switch rooms during your stay.

The Sedona Rouge has a couples package which includes a $100 credit at Reds Bistro and free spa treatment for two (not to discriminate against singles, it also offers a $50 credit for dining or spa treatments if you book before 12/31).

Full disclosure: Before you send me grumpy emails about the fine print, please know that I haven't vetted these deals, but they come from sites I trust. When you're booking, read the terms and conditions with a skeptic's eye and be very clear about which package you are calling about.

Happy bargain hunting!

by Matt Villano

North Bay residents are through braving Bay Area traffic to catch flights to Las Vegas. The new daily propeller-plane Horizon Air flight from the single-gate Sonoma County Airport just made their trip to Sin City not only easier, but more fun. As on all Horizon flights, beer and wine are complimentary, putting passengers in a Vegas kind of mood before they even touch down. Outbound flight leaves Santa Rosa at 12:05 p.m.; the return departs Vegas at 2:40 p.m. Round-trip fares start around $290. horizonair.com. 

By Amy Wolf, Sunset travel editor

While some parts of the country are getting battered by rain storms (as Barack Obama can attest from out there on the campaign trail), we San Franciscans are smugly enjoying the last gasp of Indian summer. Sadly, daylight savings time ends this Sunday, November 2, which is always a little depressing, heralding the for-real end of summer and fun. But I say let's not let that stop us from getting outside and living it up as if the whole year were one long summer—after all, even November days where we live can be downright balmy and beautiful.

So, for those of you who live in the Bay Area, or those of you planning to visit, here's a little tip on where to hightail it to on the next sunny day that rolls around: San Francisco's China Beach. It's easy (just minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge), it's free, it's sort of secret (a lot more secret than the much more popular Baker Beach), it's got unbelievable views of the GG Bridge and the Bay, and best of all, it has hot showers! Which means you have no excuse not to pair a visit here with a hike or a run on the Land's End Trail, which is undoubtedly the most stunning urban hiking trail in the country, or even with a bike ride from wherever you want.

What better way to beat the onset-of-winter-and-darkness-and-economic blues than by packing a picnic and your sports shoes and a change of clothes, taking a scenic drive past the enormous ocean-view homes in Sea Cliff, hitting Land's End for a hike or a run, showering and picnicking at China Beach, and stopping for a look at what's new at the Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum (where you can catch an organ concert this Saturday or Sunday afternoon) before heading home? Throw in a stop at the Sutro Baths and a drink, or a meal featuring the last of the heirloom tomato harvest, at the Cliff House and you've got a near-perfect day.

Bad weather be damned.

The weekend is here, and Sunset’s Weekend Guide will help you make the most of your two free days.   Here, a Northwest wine director tells us the best wines to sip and serve.  Tell us yours!

Expert: Dawn Smith, wine director and sommelier at Bin Vivant ($$$; 1200 Carillon Point, Kirkland; 425/803-5595)

Field of study: Thanksgiving pairings, the best hangover remedy, and the next Washington wine to try.

Wine director and sommelier Dawn Smith gives us the skinny on the Northwest wine scene (left). Photograph by Michael Hanson

Favorite bottle of (affordable) Northwest red with turkey: Chinook Cabernet Franc.

Best Seattle wine bars: The Purple Café and Wine Bar ($$$; multiple locations) and Portalis Wine Shop + Wine Bar ($; 5205 Ballard Ave. N.W., Seattle; 206/783-2007).

Best way to soak up a hangover: The oeufs en meurette at Café Campagne ($$; 1600 Post Alley, Seattle; 206/728-2233): two poached eggs served on garlic croutons with pearl onions, bacon, and champignons in a red-wine and foie-gras sauce served with pommes frîtes.

Enjoy French food within walking distance of Seattle's waterfront at Café Campagne. Photograph courtesy of Café Campagne

Best Washington varietal: Syrah—it is world class.

Idaho winemakers on the radar: Ste. Chapelle Winery, Koenig Distillery & Winery, and Snake River Winery.

Best wine with Bin Vivant’s “widow maker” burger (Kobe beef, foie gras, and truffled cheese): The 2005 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon—a truly decadent combination.

Want to know great places to eat in the Southwest?  You’re in luck.  Today we’re serving up restaurant recommendations from our November Southwest expert.  Let us know your favorites!

Expert: Janos Wilder, chef-owner of Janos ($$$$) and J Bar ($$; both closed Sun; 3770 E. Sunrise Dr., Tucson; 520/615-6100)

Field of study: New Southwestern cooking (and, for his restaurants, atypical works by Southwestern artists)

Pioneer of New Southwestern cooking, Janos Wilder lets us in on his hot spots for good grub (right). Photograph by Edward McCain

Where to find good versions of chiles rellenos (besides Janos and J Bar): La Roca ($$; 91 Calle Elias, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico; 011-52-631-31-20-760), about an hour from Tucson. It’s very romantic and uses hot chiles stuffed with bacon-wrapped shrimp. In Tucson, Rosa’s Mexican Food ($; 1750 E. Fort Lowell Rd.; 520/325-0362) for the mild cheese/lightly battered rellenos you’d find in the Sonoran region.

Favorite restaurants in and around Boulder: Gold Hill Inn (prix fixe $31; 401 Main St., Gold Hill, CO; 303/443-6461). In Boulder, the Kitchen ($$$; 1039 Pearl St., Boulder; 303/544-5973) and Frasca Food and Wine ($$$$; closed Sun; 1738 Pearl St., Boulder; 303/442-6966); both use fresh, local ingredients and have an ecological and environmental ethos.

Where to find art that doesn’t fit the typical Southwestern idiom: Davis Dominguez Gallery (closed Sun–Mon; 154 E. Sixth St., Tucson; 520/629-9759). Etherton Gallery (closed Sun–Mon; 135 S. Sixth Ave., Tucson; 520/624-7370).

The Kitchen serves simple, straightforward bites (left).  Photograph by Laurie Smith

We’re getting you ready for the weekend with day three of Sunset's Weekend Guide previews.  Below, get party tips from a Los Angeles event planner. Leave a comment with your party ideas!

Floral designer and event planner Mark Held (left) counts celeb weddings in his portfolio—and offers tips on planning your next party. Photograph by Gina Sabatella

Expert: Mark Held of Mark’s Garden (13838 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818/906-1718)

Field of study: Event planning and floral design

Mark Held and coauthor Richard David wrote Fabulous Parties: Food and Flowers For Elegant Entertaining (Ryland Peters & Small London, 2008; $35).

Three things to have on hand for last-minute parties: A fridge stocked with decent liquor, or Champagne. Logs for the fireplace. Candles to line the path and steps to the front door.

Go-to spots for accessories: The GM Floral Company (closed Sun; 740 Maple Ave., Los Angeles; 213/489-7055) for tabletop supplies. For candles, General Wax & Candle Company (closed Sun–Mon; 6863 Beck Ave.; 800/929-7867). Pier 1 Imports (800/245-4595) and Z Gallerie (800/908-6748) for affordable selections.

Decorating ideas for the holiday table: Fragrance, sparkle, and candles. Tabletop topiaries using cranberries and raspberries. Vintage pieces for character. Sur La Table (866/328-5412) and Ikea have great buys. Cost Plus World Market (877/967-5362) often carries gold chargers to pair with colorful wineglasses.

Tips for keeping flowers fresh longer: Cut the stems regularly and change the water. You can also add a drop of bleach when you refill the vase.

Favorite nearby gardens for inspiration: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Garden (closed Tue; $20, $10 ages 12 and up, $6 ages 5–11, ages 5 and under free; 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino; 626/405-2100). In Montecito, Lotusland (open Wed–Sat through Nov 15, then reopens Feb 18, 2009; $35; reservations required; 805/969-9990).

The water gardens at Lotusland (right). Photograph by Bill Dewey, courtesy of Lotusland

Private rooms for a holiday party: For up to eight guests, Table One at the Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air (701 Stone Canyon Rd., Los Angeles; 310/943-6710). For larger groups, Café Bizou (14016 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; 818/788-3536).

Every day this week, we’re giving you a preview of Sunset’s October Weekend guides, featuring regional experts.  Here, a San Francisco floral designer tells you how to spruce up your table.  Share your pre-party tips in the comments!

Expert: Paige Benjamin, owner, Passiflora Designs, South San Francisco, CA (left) Photograph by Jen Siska

Field of study: Romantic, 3-D flower arrangements

Easy decorating tips for the Thanksgiving table: Check out San Francisco’s Coast Wholesale Florist (closed Sun; 149 Morris St., San Francisco; 415/777-8533) for everything from moss balls to birch vessels that add interest to the table. For a modern look, use orange and rust tones with pops of chartreuse green. You can also use mini pumpkins, California-grown roses, and antique burgundy hydrangea. Another great idea is to fill individual glass apothecary jars with manzanita, acorns, and viburnum berries.

Go-to spots for good finds: The Alameda Antiques and Collectibles Faire (510/522-7500) for old tin flowerpots, teakettles, and old 1950s milk glass bottles. Sonoma’s Artefact Design & Salvage (23562 State 121, Sonoma; 707/933-0660) for rustic urns and unique containers.

Quick getaways for inspiration: The formal gardens at Filoli (86 Cañada Rd., Woodside, CA; 650/364-8300). The Conservatory of Flowers (John F. Kennedy Dr. in Golden Gate Park).

Dinner and dancing at Filoli’s nine-day “Holiday Traditions” celebration, which begins November 28. Photo courtesy Filoli Center 

Passiflora’s Studio Bloom classes: The next class is on November 17 ($60 for lecture and materials; 650/588-1416), using different kinds of pods, berries, mini pumpkins, squashes, and gourds.

by Matthew Jaffe, Sunset senior writer

We are a nation divided. But I’m not talking about red states and blue states. I’m talking about those who are sick of the presidential campaign and those who can’t get enough of it.

This one is for the political geeks. You know who you are.

The 2008 presidential campaign has been unique in all kinds of ways. From a Sunset-centric perspective, it is the first time in American history that three of the four main candidates have direct ties to our region. In addition, former San Francisco supervisor Matt Gonzalez of San Francisco is Ralph Nader’s vice presidential running mate.

Only Delaware’s Sen. Joseph Biden lacks a connection. His much-mentioned home town of Scranton (Joe Biden’s just a kid from Scranton, in case you haven’t heard) isn’t even in western Pennsylvania much less the western U.S.

Here are a few things we turned up while researching some election facts for our November issue. Found some other trivia you want to share? Just let us know.

Youth Will be Served: For one thing, not only are the nation’s youngest states, Alaska and Hawaii (Sen. Barack Obama’s birthplace) represented on the ticket but so too is its third newest state, Arizona (admitted in 1912).

Line of Succession: Sen. John McCain is the second Arizonan to win the GOP nomination; he also succeeded 1964 nominee Barry Goldwater in the U.S. Senate.

Red Rock White House? Not quite. While John McCain’s Arizona retreat is typically datelined as Sedona, it’s actually located a bit south in the Verde Valley community of Cornville. A favorite McCain restaurant is The Asylum in nearby Jerome.

They’re Just Like Each Other! Nicknamed Barry O’Bomber, Obama was a member of the Hawaii state championship basketball team at Honolulu’s Punahou School. Nicknamed Barracuda, Sarah Palin was a member of the Alaska state championship basketball team at Wasilla High School.

Change They Could Believe In: From 1979-81, Obama attended Occidental College in Los Angeles before transferring to Columbia University. Palin’s sequence is as follows: Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, 1982; North Idaho College, Coeur d’Alene, 1983. University of Idaho 1984-1985; Matanuska-Susitna College, Palmer, Alaska, 1985; University of Idaho, 1986-1987, bachelor’s degree in journalism.

Obama’s Oahu: He tries to get back to the islands once a year (his grandmother Toot still lives in Honolulu). This summer he rented a house in Kailua, where he picked up shave ice at Island Snow Hawaii. Obama also stayed at the Kahala Resort and his Honolulu restaurant choices included Indigo Restaurant and Alan Wong’s.

Department of the Exterior: McCain hiked Rim To Rim at Grand Canyon National Park in 2006. Palin and her family have a set net fishing site on the Nushagak River at Bristol Bay. Obama bodysurfs at Sandy Beach during his Hawaii vacations.

The November issue of Sunset hits newsstands this weekend. Want a sneak peek?  Here are some Insider Tips from our Weekend Guide.  Each day this week you’ll get a taste of a different region! Tune in daily and don’t forget to leave comments.

Expert: Jamie Korngold, Adventure Rabbi (left) Photograph by Carmel Zucker

Field of study: Spiritual outdoor places in the Rockies

Favorite ways to reconnect with nature this month: A moderate 1.8-mile snowshoe hike beginning at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park ($20 per vehicle; 970/586-1206) up to Emerald Lake—perfect for talking with friends or family and reconnecting with what’s truly important. Also the easy 1.5-mile hike to Corona Arch (435/259-2100), west of Moab, Utah. The red rock with a dusting of white snow is ethereal.

Sprague Lake, one of many treasures in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo courtesy National Park Service

Most spiritual place in the outdoors in Boulder: The smell of sun on soil and the sound of wind on the moderate 1.5-mile Shanahan Ridge Trail (303/441-3440).

Favorite places to holiday-shop for outdoor enthusiasts: Craigslist—you can find great deals on lightly used items.

Thanksgiving tradition: Celebrating up at Copper Mountain Resort (call 866/841-2481 for lift-ticket prices) with a small gathering of friends. Nothing beats the empty slopes of Thanksgiving afternoon when everyone is inside watching ‘the game.’

By Ben Marks, senior editor Sunset Books

Driving around Fort Collins, listening to the radio and observing the abundance of yard signs, you get the clear and unambiguous impression that people here are really into the upcoming election. Until recently, Colorado had been a reliably Red state, but this year it looks like the place may just turn Blue. Whatever the outcome, whichever way it goes, Fort Collins residents understand that their vote could well decide the 2008 presidential election. They are in the game.

I don't have much planned for Wednesday; a lazy looping bike ride around town, beginning with a southeast cycle on the Poudre River Trail, followed by a turn west on the Spring Creek Trail. The main event will happen tonight at Avo's, a suds, subs, and live-music spot with decidedly bluegrass leanings. I meet up with Helen and we ride our bikes to join the partisan hordes who've gathered there to watch the final debate between Senators Red and Blue.

We arrive late, which means the bike racks are loaded to capacity, absolutely jammed. Inside, hundreds of people are packed into the restaurant's main room, with dozens more filling a smaller seating area and the bar. Television sets are everywhere, and every one of them carries the images of the two candidates and their moderator. The crowd at Avo's cheers and claps for their candidate, and there is only one preference here tonight. They want to be polite, I'm sure, but very often they can't help but laugh at the rhetorical pretzels their candidate's opponent regularly twists himself into. This is a college crowd, so they aren't as troubled by Senator Blue's "eloquence" as Senator Red appears to be.

After the debate, most of the boisterous and talkative crowd happily files out (Wednesday is a school night, after all), certain that their candidate has "won." A few of us to hang back to rehash what we've just seen and heard as several bluegrass musicians unpack their instruments and begin to tune up. Each of us has suddenly become a campaign manager, assessing our candidate's strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of our opponent. We are positive we can see around bends, certain of our ability to peer into the future, assuming the stars align, that is. We say our goodnights and ride off into the dark.

By morning, the New York Times has published an article about how the rise in voting by mail is transforming Colorado politics. The article's dateline is Fort Collins. Yeah; these people are definitely in the game, and they are loving every minute of it.