Amy Balfour - Western USA

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Landscapes and legends draw adventurers to the West, where a good day includes locavore dining, vineyard wine-sipping, cowboy history and whoa-dude outdoor fun.

Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, (), Arizona.
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Western landscapes inspire oohs and ahs, but its the sound of adventure Whoosh! Splash! Kathunk! that gives the scenery its punch. The big draw is the western coastline, stretching from the sunny shores of San Diego north past the bluffs of central California to the rocky, mood-filled beaches of Oregon and Washington. Red rocks, plunging gorges and prickly-pear deserts are traveler bait in the Southwest where the biggest wonder is the Grand Canyon, a 277-mile stunner that shares its geologic treasures with a healthy dose of fun. In the Rockies, skiing, ice climbing and mountain-biking never looked so pretty. The best of the outdoor west? Its encapsulated in northwest Wyoming, where beauty and adventure were given their due in 1872 with the creation of majestic Yellowstone, Americas first national park.

Travel in the west isnt just about ogling the scenery. Its also about immersing yourself in the culture, which is code for digging into the food. Several dishes are representative of local strengths and traditions: fish tacos in San Diego, Sonoran dogs in Tucson, steak and potatoes in the Rockies, green chile sauces in New Mexico and wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest. Regional specialties are as diverse as the landscapes. But these days there is one commonality chefs and consumers alike are focusing on fresh and locally grown, a locavore trend that started in the West. Even better? This eco-consciousness has been embraced by wine producers, who are increasingly implementing organic and biodynamic growing principles. And speaking of winemaking, its more diverse these days too, with Napa and Sonoma sharing the spotlight with Washington, Oregon, central California and Arizona. All here to play and stay.

Very rarely should one dare say, Life is good. But gazing upon twinkling city lights from the rooftop of the Standard Hotel in downtown Los Angeles certainly qualifies as one of those times. Sip that martini, flash that tan and embrace the urban cool. In every region of the West except the northern Rockies theres a big-city anchor bursting with museums, malls and restaurants. The differences? In California theres the hey-bro friendliness of San Diego, the Hollywood flash of Los Angeles and the bohemian cool of San Francisco. Further north in Seattle, cutting-edge joins homegrown, often over a cup of joe. Cosmopolitan chic meets plucky frontier spirit in Denver, while patio preening and spa pampering give Phoenix a strangely compelling spoiled-girl vibe. And last theres Las Vegas, a glitzy neon playground where you can get hitched, spend your honeymoon in Paris and then bet the mortgage all in the very same weekend.

Venice Boardwalk, (), Venice, Los Angeles.
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What makes Yellowstone () the quintessential national park? Geologic wonders for one thing, from geysers and hot springs to fumaroles and mud pots. Theres also Mt Washburn, an impressive central peak with inspiring views from its summit. Add in a towering waterfall, an historic inn and an abundance of bison, elk, moose and bears, and youve described perfection. And dont forget the gray wolves; restored in 1995 they now number about 100. Finally, Americas first park has the one-and-only Old Faithful, a beloved geyser still blowing its top for appreciative crowds.

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San Francisco

Amid the fog and the clatter of old-fashioned trams, San Franciscos () diverse neighborhoods invite long days of wandering, with great indie shops, world-class restaurants and bohemian nightlife. Highlights include peering into the cells at Alcatraz, strolling across the Golden Gate Bridge and dining inside the Ferry Building. And you must take at least one ride on the trolley. How cool is San Francisco? Trust us turn that first corner to a stunning waterfront view, and youll be hooked.

Tram on Hyde St, with Alcatraz () in the background.
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Old West Towns

If you judge Old West towns by the quality of their nicknames, then Jerome, Arizona () shares key traits with the others: a rough-and-tumble mining past, a remote location at the end of a scenic drive and quirky citizens putting an old-west spin on B&Bs, saloons and museums.

Jerome (), Arizona.
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Las Vegas

Just when you think youve got a handle on the West majestic, sublime, soul-nourishing here comes Vegas () shaking her thing like a showgirl looking for trouble. Beneath the neon lights of the Strip, she puts on a dazzling show: dancing fountains, a spewing volcano, the Eiffel Tower. But she saves her most dangerous charms for the gambling dens seductive lairs where the fresh-pumped air and bright colors share one goal: separating you from your money. Step away if you can for fine restaurants, Cirque du Soleil and a shark-filled reef.

BOB KRIST / CORBIS

Grand Canyon National Park

The sheer immensity of the canyon () is what grabs you at first its a two-billion-year-old rip across the landscape that reveals the earths geologic secrets with commanding authority. But its Mother Natures artistic touches, from sun-dappled ridges and crimson buttes to lush oases and a ribbonlike river, that hold your attention and demand your return. As Theodore Roosevelt said, this natural wonder is unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. Or as we might say today, Whoa!