By Rachel Levin, Sunset senior editor

 

Last year, the Lakedale Resort at Three Lakes added canvas tent cabins. This spring, the scenic, sprawling campground added another supercool option for non-campers— a 1978 Sovereign Airstream. A 31-foot silver bullet complete with a kitchenette, four-burner stove, fridge, and, yes, a private bathroom—with Molten Brown products to boot.

Want to go somewhere in Washington other than San Juan Island? Orcas? Bellingham? Lake Sammish? Your own backyard? You can rent your very own vintage airstream from Northwest-based Silver Cottages Airstream. They’ll deliver it right to your destination. Pitch a tent why? http://www.silvercottages.com/

21 great camp eats

By Becky Eaton, Sunset deputy art director

Last weekend I embarked on my first official Southern California expedition. After spending a night in San Diego’s swanky Ivy Hotel, which turns into a “tri-level nightclub” on the weekends, I was ready for something a little more quiet and relaxing.

Saturday morning, my boyfriend and I walked from the Gaslamp District to the harbor, where we caught a ferry over to Coronado for only $3.50. It reminded me of taking the ferry from San Francisco’s Ferry Building to Sausalito—there were lots of tourists on board with bikes.

The Coronado Ferry Landing features many cute shops and restaurants, but I had a particular destination in mind: The Hotel del Coronado. Within 30 minutes, I was on the local 904 bus, heading down Orange Ave.

I wished I could have stayed at the Del for one night of my trip. It almost seemed like its own magical mini-city, boasting restaurants, bars, spa treatments, a shopping center, and a beautiful beach.

After lunch on the Sun Deck, I headed out to the sunny beach, a special treat after being used to San Francisco’s foggy ocean views.

Before my toes could reach the warm sand, the Lorax caught my eye. Yes, the Lorax, the main character from Dr. Seuss’s famous environmental awareness children’s book. For about a month, the Hotel del Coronado is hosting an outdoor Dr. Seuss sculpture exhibit on the Windsor Lawn. You can see other famous characters in full-scale bronze sculpture form, including the Cat in the Hat and Sam I Am (from Green Eggs and Ham). 

It was a nice surprise to see the Lorax and remember the simple life lessons Dr. Seuss taught me as a child. If you’re in town, definitely stop by the sculpture exhibit. It will be up until May 20.

by Lisa Trottier, Sunset senior editor

There are some places too swank or too proud—or both—to discount their rooms, even when tourism is tanking. But what many of the swisher spots are doing is throwing in an extra night if you book three.

This is a trend we get behind fully. After all, “two nights” is really just a fancy way of saying “one day.” Four nights, though, gives you the time to really release your life, your job, your weedy garden—whatever—and isn’t that the point?

Two four-night specials are at the top of our wish list:

The Sequoia High Sierra Camp, in pristine high country that would normally require  a 12-mile hike with a 50-pound pack, is a civilized escape a mile’s walk from your car. A tasteful bungalow, three meals a day prepared by a chef, daily maid service. Ah, yes. At $300 per person, it ain’t cheap, but this summer they’re throwing in a fourth night when you book three. Talk about getting away from your worries...

Book by May 15. Season: Mid-June to Mid- September, weather permitting. Includes three meals a day.

Even Los Cabos’ Las Ventanas, the ultimate seaside luxury resort, is getting in on the 4-nights-for-3 game. If you’ve ever been tempted to splurge on this dreamy (I’ve been, and there’s really no other word) place, this could be as attainable as it's going to get.

Arrive Sun–Tues and get a fourth night free. Rates are from the $500s. Good through Dec 18, 2009.

More: Our top 20 romantic getaways

By Amy Anderson, Sunset editorial intern

Hotels are making it easy to travel and take in the West's celebrations on April 22, Earth Day, without going overboard on the budget. Check out these lodging deals, local festivals, and eco-friendly tips for Earth Week.

Photo courtesy of visitlakequinault.com

Lake Quinault Lodge: Stay in Washington's Olympic National Forest for $109 on Friday, April 24, then spend Saturday from 9 am- 4 pm volunteering to preserve the Quinault Rainforest.

• Procession of the Species: April 25, Olympia
• King County Earth Day Expo: April 22, Seattle
• Earth Day with Citizens for a Healthy Bay: April 25, Tacoma

Kimpton Hotels: Help cut back on carbon emissions by taking your vacation by train. Then show your ticket at a Kimpton hotel (try the San Francisco, Portland, or Seattle spots), and receive 20 percent off your stay.

• Berkeley Earth Day: April 25, Berkeley 
• Cal Parks Earth Day Restoration: April 25, California
• Oregon Zoo "Party for the Planet": April 26, Portland

Photo courtesy of whotels.com

W Hotel Scottsdale: Until May 22, your stay at the W will get you a donation of 100 Trees for the Future on your behalf through Trees for the Future’s Plant-a-Tree program, in-room breakfast for two, and two spring cocktails starting at $229.

• Earth Day Phoenix: April 22, Phoenix
• Arizona Earth Day: April 25, Phoenix
• Scottsdale Community College Earth Week: April 20-24, Scottsdale

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole: From May 7 to September 30, you can book the Eco Adventures package in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and get a biologist-led wildlife tour, Flip Ultra video camera and a daily breakfast starting at $174 per night, per person.

• Earth Day in Laramie: April 22, Laramie
• Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance Earth Week: April 21-25, Jackson Hole

And finally...

• If you're still feeling guilty about all the greenhouse gas that's emitted from traveling, Carbonfund.org can help your conscience. Just use the calculator to find out how much CO₂ came from your trip--by car, train, bus, or air--then donate the amount of money that will offset.

• Find more ways to green your home and lifestyle with Sunset's Real-world Earth Day tips.

Take time this week to think of other ways you can lower your environmental impact!

by Sophie Egan, Sunset editorial intern

High season in the Northwest officially begins May 1, with prices for everything bumping up to summer rates. If you have a night or two free in the next week and a half, jump on the good weather and good prices for a spring stay in an urban bed and breakfast. We like the looks of these three deals:

$124, The Chambered Nautilus, Seattle

The University of Washington campus, which really wows in spring, is five blocks away, and you’ll find cheap eats on lively University Avenue, an eight-minute walk.

$109, The Corkscrew Inn, Vancouver

Away from the downtown hubbub, the inn is an easy stroll from several public beaches with jaw-dropping views. Stay before May and duck the usual three-night minimum requirement.

$149, Mangy Moose Bed and Breakfast, Anchorage

Ideally located for wildlife sightings: Moose meander through the neighborhood almost every day, and hiking trails at Chugach State Park are a 10- to 15-minute walk. Before May 1, you can affordably swoop on a jacuzzi room or suite. 

Frolicking in San Francisco’s Fort Funston

Why? Because this wild stretch of dunes south of Ocean Beach (popular with off-leash dogs) is always, always, always cloaked in fog and cold, with winds so high you can barely breath. (No wonder it's a haven for handgliders.)  But, this springy weekend, temps in San Francisco are expected to hit 80. Hallejuhah! So bust out your sunhat, pack a picnic, and grab a patch of sand overlooking the Pacific. Ahh.

Photo taken on the last perfect afternoon in Fort Funston. Oh, about four months ago.

By Trina Enriquez, Sunset copy editor

Ever since Lisa Taggart wrote about the chibi taiyaki (small, golden, fish-shaped cakes made to order with fillings such as Nutella, chocolate, vanilla, or red bean, plus a catch of the week) at Sweet Breams in San Mateo, California, for the March ’09 Northern California issue of the magazine, I’ve sort of taken to haunting the place. And joined its Facebook fan page. And initiated as many friends as possible into the cult of Tiny and Tasty.

While I wait for my school of 12 fish, I look over works by resident artists Cat Oshiro, Andrew Uy, and Simon Tran, and took to coveting Uy’s Miso Panda print until word came that it was sold out—argh! But this Saturday, April 18, Sweet Breams is hosting its first group art show, Meet Me Under the Cherry Blossoms, featuring new works by the 3 artists and 11 of their friends. Spanning genres from “psychedelic acrylics” to “urban lifestyle,” their newest digital illustrations, drawings, and paintings will debut at this exhibition, which takes its name from the beauty of sakura, or Japanese cherry blossoms. (To extend the festivities, check out the Sunset story on SF's J-town and head to San Francisco.)

Be sure to stop by the shop between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, meet and chat with some of the artists, and order a school (or three) of taiyaki while you’re at it. (At $5.50 a school, so worth it, seriously—and don't forget about Sweet Breams' secret menu.) A digital illustration from CatmAndru! (aka Andrew Uy) will be raffled off during the reception. If you can’t make it, the artists' works will be on display in-store through May 27.

Click on any of the artists’ names below for a sneak preview and more info.

Cat Oshiro
Simon Tran
Andrew Uy
Martin Hsu
Liz Lorini
Gem Mateo
Jeramie Tolentino
Rob Beckstrom

Chibi taiyaki photo courtesy of I Heart Sweet Breams

by Lisa Trottier, Sunset senior editor

We are loving the idea of a one-day vacation. That’s right--not a one-night vacation. Just a day. One day—a workday would be best. A nice hotel room that’s yours from the time you’d normally be punching in to the time you’d normally be punching out. No one needs to know.

 
Take this twist at the Hotel Vitale, right on the bay in downtown San Francisco. For $219, you get a room from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free valet parking, plus a $50 hotel credit.

We’d recommend blowing the $50 on the “bathing ritual,” a rooftop bathtub soak ($60). Just knowing how hard everyone is working the surrounding office buildings will make a mindless soak that much lovelier.

Have any of you found a great one-day hotel offer? Tell me, and I’ll share my other favorite nine-to-five vacation with you.

Checking out the puffins in Oregon’s Cannon Beach

By Rachel Levin, Sunset senior editor

Confession: I’ve got a thing for birds. I’m a wannabe birder. I can’t tell a scrub jay from a blue jay; I confuse egrets with herons; and, it’s embarassing to admit, but I’ve been known to mistake a turkey vulture for a red-tailed hawk.

However, I do know that tufted puffins—aka Fratercula cirrhata, (okay, I looked that up)—are pretty darn cool. I mean, check out this proud little puffin, with his stocky black body, snow-white face, thick orange bill, and ridiculously overgrown yellow eyebrows. After a winter spent diving on the open seas, the puffins have just returned to nest on Haystack Rock in Oregon’s Cannon Beach, where they’ll be laying eggs and raising chicks now through mid-July.

That’s pretty much all I know about puffins. But real birders from Cannon Beach’s Haystack Rock Awareness Program will be on hand all summer long with their big scopes pointed right at the rocky island if you want to learn more.

by Amy Anderson, Sunset editorial intern

Keeping up with my Twitter updates is getting a little overwhelming. First it was just my college friends documenting their lives. Now it's businesses, newspapers, and even fictional television show characters who post on a daily basis. Even Sunset is doing it!

Twitter is a social networking site that lets users write what's going on in their lives and follow the updates of people who interest them. The catch is that each post (called a "tweet") can only be up to 140 characters long. You can write your tweet through the web, an instant message or even a text on your cell phone.

But there are some benefits to the massive influx of updates I'm getting every day. Hotels, rental car companies, airlines, and travel sites are joining the Twitter revolution and posting exclusive deals and inside scoops for their followers. Check out some recent Twitter-based steals:

Fairmont Hotels, which has luxury lodging all over the West Coast, tweets regularly with company updates, specials, and giveaways. They just gave one lucky follower a free night in the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite at Fairmont Washington, D.C. The Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles is giving away one night stays on their Twitter page through April 18. Napa Valley Marriott has Twitter contests every Monday and give out wine and hotel stays.

Southwest Airlines is big on social networking sites, and their Twitter is no exception. Find everything from humorous links to flight updates and contests. Virgin America has caught on too, updating with company news and deals regularly.

Portland recently became the first city in the country to put the qualities of a visitor's center on Twitter--a Twisitor Center! Users can ask specific questions about Portland by adding the code #inpdx to the end of their post. Travel Portland staff members and other followers of the site will respond with advice. If you're not familiar with how Twitter works, Travel Portland also has a new user's video that will help you get started.

Feeling a bit Twittered out? CheapTweet makes the money-saving life easier by accumulating the best Twitter promos and giveaways and posting them all on one site. Get advice from New York Times Frugal Traveler blogger Matt Gross, who used Twitter on a recent trip too.

To sum it up in 140 characters or less: Thrifty and web savvy travelers can find deals for their next escape on Twitter--and work on being concise writers at the same time!