By Anna Nordberg, Sunset special projects editor

On Sunset Traveler we'll have a new Friday column going forward—Best of the Web. Basically, we troll cyberspace for the best travel writing to help you as you plan your weekends and vacations—or pieces that just make us feel inspired about the west.

Feel good about where you live: David Brooks of The New York Times writes about how, recession or no recession, Americans still want to go west. In fact, seven of the top 10 cities Americans most want to live in are out here (Denver nabs the number one spot).

Also, the Times' Timothy Egan offers a poetic take on why Wallace Stegner’s writing still resonates today, (as well as a funny look at why Western writers often have a rocky relationship with east-coast critics).

Hit the road: In honor of Oregon's 150th birthday, Terry Richard of The Oregonian blogs about the 150 best places to visit in the state. With an encyclopedic knowledge that has given this travel editor a bit of an inferiority complex, Richards does Oregon's A to Z of travel, hitting every single county in the state.

Heart your city: In honor of their March city issue, National Geographic Traveler has rolled out a list of “I heart my city” reports from readers. Venice, CA, Seattle, and Portland are just a few of the western hubs covered by everyday people; the dispatches are entertaining and peppered with local knowledge. 

Your bottom line: House-swapping is becoming the hot new travel trend, given that you can live like a local for free. The Wall Street Journal reports on how house swaps work, plus the pros and pitfalls of doing it.

We'd love to hear your picks for best travel blogs and writing, so write and let us know! Happy weekend.