“In Los Angeles, it’s hard to tell if you’re dealing with the real true illusion or the false one.”—Eve Babitz Babitz was one of LA’s great muses, and her line rings especially true in the wake of the wildfires that swept through parts of the region last winter. Los Angeles has always been a city…

Less than four hours after signing off on Seattle magazine’s November/December issue, I was soaking in a large copper bathtub at the Bernardus Lodge & Spa, a lemongrass-scented bath bomb fizzing away the stress of press week. In a poetic wrapping-up of the issue, I’d sent the email approval of the final page proofs just as the light…

Missoula is that rare mountain town where river surfers, indie filmmakers, ranch kids, and chefs all pack into the same bar—and somehow, it works. It’s wild, weird, and wonderful in equal measure, with enough soul and scenery to make you question why anyone would ever leave. As with most small towns, the best way to…

Time doesn’t move in a straight line in Santa Fe. It’s more of a palette—one that the city draws from boldly. New Mexico’s quirky capital, nicknamed the City Different, offers visitors an experience that draws from multiple eras. Centuries pile on top of each other, enhancing, rarely erasing. The ancient Pueblo tribes and the frontier…