Best of the West

SUIT UP You’ll be ready to explore with Vuori’s new echo insulated bomber and ripstop climber pants, plus a pair of trusty Blundstone Chelsea boots and a West Perro sun hat.

New Ways To Nature

Story by SUNSET STAFF Photographs by THOMAS J. STORY

With more camping and glamping options than ever before, there’s never been a better time to explore the outdoors in the West. But we’re partial to experiences that slow us down and open our senses, which is why we chose Alila Ventana Big Sur as the location for our cover shoot. Rightly legendary for its luxe-meets-wild vibes above the coast, it also offers signature activities such as sound baths and astronomy that channel the region's boho history, plus the option of canvas glamping tents for just $240 a night. But that's not all. We headed out on the trail to take our trip to the next level: Join us to learn the art of foraging, on the next page. VENTANABIGSUR.COM

Foraging 101

It’s a sweeping trend: collecting edible provisions in the wild. But if you’re thinking about foraging, it’s important to do so mindfully.

When Nan Cole stops to point out the brown nuts you can pick off a California bay laurel tree, we're not prepared for the flavors of cacao and coffee that explode in our mouths—thanks to a pre-roasted handful stashed away in her pocket. These small morsels can be found in abundance throughout nearby coastal forests. “This,” Cole says, is “something you would forage.”

The San Luis Obispo guide, who leads these excursions at Ventana Big Sur off the California coast (you can also find her on Instagram @foragerslo), identifies plants like she’s reading words off a page—calendula, poison hemlock, hedge nettle. Foraging allows her to “see the same place with new eyes,” Cole says. And, when appropriate, she gathers some material—like the nuts she takes home and then roasts with olive oil and sea salt, which she harvests herself.

Try your hand at this meditative practice, and you can start to form an intimacy with plants. Foraging creates stakeholdership, Cole says, and “a desire to protect land.” As we wind our way up and down Ventana’s expansive oasis, Cole offers expert insight into the do’s and don’t’s.

DO

Go with a pro.

DON'T

Have a grocery store mentality.

Ideally, you'll head out with a forager like Cole, who is a trained expert in plant identification. She understands the art of the grazing method: allowing nature to dictate what she picks. “Pick a little from one bush, and then pick a little from another,” says Cole, who tries to forage so that if someone else passed by the area, they wouldn’t know it had been touched. You can contribute to citizen science by documenting your finds on this app, an initiative from the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. “It’s not just about finding the cool foraged items,” Cole says. Get to know the plants, observe their life cycles, and take the time to see how they’re impacted by drought and habitat.

DO

Download the app iNaturalist.

DON'T

Expect to always come back with plants.

In Bloom

Take camp cocktails to another level with foraged garnishes. The team at Ventana Big Sur harvests calendula flowers and white sage grown on the property to finish off this gin-based beverage. It’s important to note that white sage is increasingly difficult to find in the wild due to over-foraging for its use in things like smudge sticks, but you can easily plant your own from seed in a garden. MAKES 1 COCKTAIL

1½ oz. Chareau Aloe Liqueur ½ oz. The Botanist Gin 3 slices cucumber, plus one more for garnish 3 white sage leaves, plus one bunch for garnish Calendula petals, plus one flower for garnish Fever-tree elderflower tonic water Bunch of lemon balm, for garnish

1. Combine liqueur, gin, 2 cucumber slices, sage leaves and calendula petals with ice and shake. 2. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass and top with tonic water. 3. Garnish with cucumber, lemon balm and sage bunches, and calendula flower.

Pack This

Gear up for a hike with new essentials from our favorite brands.

OSPREY BACKPACK The perfect companion for a day hike, Osprey's new Sportlite series is lightweight but still packs a ton of storage space, in four sizes ranging from 15 to 30 liters. $70-

$120; OSPREY.COM

TOPO SHIRT Sturdy construction and justright sizing make this shirt perfect for layering. Organic cotton and low-water ecofriendly dye make it equally sustainable and stylish. $98;

TOPODESIGNS.COM

PRANA JOGGERS Prana's Halle Joggers are made with recycled nylon fabric and offer plenty of stretch, so you can adventure with ease.

$47.50-$95; PRANA.COM

HELLY HANSEN JACKET Keep warm with Helly Hansen's expertly designed Odin 1 Pro Shield Jacket, developed with help from Seattle Mountain Rescue.

$220; HELLYHANSEN.COM

FLAVOR of the SUMMER

WE’RE OBSESSED WITH THIS CAMPING-INSPIRED TREAT.

“Imagine yourself sitting by a cozy fire in a cedar cabin in a mountainous Californian town.” That’s how the Seattlebased ice cream-making team behind Frankie & Jo describes their California Cabin flavor. Pine and smoked vanilla meet coconut and oat milk, balanced by black pepper cardamom shortbread cookie chunks in these scoops that are entirely plant-based—and, yes, that means no dairy. It’s the perfect treat to take on your next GET summer adventure, A SCOOP Frankie & Jo’s ships whether that’s in four-pint boxes nationyour backyard, at wide, or you can join the Pint Club to get four flavors the beach, or deep delivered to your door in the forest. monthly. Order at frankieandjos.com

Scent of the Wild

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN THE SMELL OF THE PINES, THE SALTY SEA AIR, OR SOME RED DESERT CLAY. BRING THOSE ADVENTURES INTO YOUR HOME WITH GOOD & WELL SUPPLY CO.’S NATIONAL PARK SOY CANDLES.

Hawaii Volcanoes Say aloha to the aromas of wild fig, ginger, and citrus. San Juan Islands Orange blossom, honeysuckle, and sandalwood will transport you to the Washington coast. Zion Desert lavender meets sage and dried herbs in this sweetsmelling ode to southern Utah.