SUNSET MAGAZINE REPORTS RESULTS ON THEIR

82% Of Those Polled Say They Would Rather Have $10,000 Cash Instead of an Exotic Vacation

Menlo Park, CA – Sunset magazine commissioned an independent polling company to survey men and woman 18 years and older, living in the West, about how they like to travel. More than 400 adults were surveyed and the results are found in the May issue (on newsstands now). When asked to decide between an exotic vacation and $10,000 cash, 82% chose the cash (page 85).

Dream Destination? – Thirty-five percent of those polled say that Europe is their dream destination, followed by 22% wishing for a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. Thirteen percent would love to visit another U.S. state and 12% would like a trip to the Caribbean.

Relax or Explore? Fifty-one percent would rather go on safari instead of a relaxing spa vacation.

Romance or Family? Forty-three percent prefer to travel with just their spouse, followed by 32% enjoying a family getaway. Seventeen percent of those surveyed would most like to travel with a friend, and 7% enjoy traveling alone.

Also in this issue:
EASY HOME MAKEOVERS (page 70) – Sunset has great ideas for easy makeovers that take just one weekend.  Our editors found five old, damaged items on Craigslist for next to nothing and with some paint and simple techniques created unique and gorgeous pieces for their home. Tips include:
• Go dark and dramatic: Don’t be afraid of black paint. It covers a multitude of sins on woods and makes pieces look modern.
• Add eye-grabbing upholstery: Reupholster old, worn chairs professionally for a tailored look, or do-it-yourself for an inexpensive fix.
• Try an unconventional hue: Use an unexpected color. Sunset refinished tarnished candlesticks in just over a half hour with a fresh coat of indigo paint.
• Create a unified palette: Sunset brought new life to mismatched picture frames by choosing colors from the same palette of blue. Use sample-size jars of paint for small jobs to save money.

The Ten Smartest Vacations (page 32) –Sunset names ten trips that will have you come home not just relaxed, but smarter. Trips include:
1. Enjoy a four-day retreat with guided hikes though the red rocks at Sedona (AZ) Spirit Yoga & Hiking.
2. Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Southern Mexico at Seasons of My Heart, a cooking school in the Oaxacan countryside of southern Mexico.
3. Go beyond your Mexican-restaurant-level Spanish by spending a week at the Baja California Language College in Ensenada, Mexico.

4. Connect with your inner cowboy at the Vista Verde Ranch, a cluster of cabins and a main lodge north of Steamboat Springs, CO.
5. Get command of whitewater paddling basics at Otter Bar Lodge Kayak School, a wilderness hideaway on Northern California’s Salmon River
6. Dig beneath the surface with geologist Chuck Blay of TEOK Investigations on hikes all over Kauai, HI.
7. Learn the surfing basics on British Columbia’s Nootka Island at Tatchu Surf Adventures with beginner-friendly waves.
8. To understand what makes the Northern Lights so spectacular, take a crash course in astrophysics at Camp Denali, an 18-cabin retreat inside Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve.
9. Roll out of bed at the Ahwahnee, drink in the Yosemite’s Half Dome view, then sip some California wines at Vintners’ Holidays.
10. Paint alpine meadows with pixels in the eastern Sierra Nevada during Mountain Light’s three-day photographic workshop in Bishop, California.

Luxury Camping Retreats (page 94) – Go into the wild in style and swap your sleeping bag for a feather bed at a luxurious campground. Sunset profiles facilities in California, Montana, Washington, and British Columbia.

US Travel Destinations on a Budget (page 100) – With a falling dollar, it’s more expensive than ever to travel abroad. Sunset suggests a great alternative in the US with a European flair: Santa Fe, New Mexico. The city has shopping, dining, and activities in line with your budget and provides just the vibe you’re looking for.

Start a Wine Cellar (page 122) – Most wine drinkers have more bottles tucked away than they realize. Turn your attention to converting your random collection into a working wine cellar or wine wall in six easy steps.
1. Start a record: Keeping track of the wine you have by recording the vitals of each bottle in an excel spreadsheet.
2. Take stock: To figure out what kind of collection you have, separate your bottles into tiers as you record them – wines you think will get better if you hold onto them; wines to dip into for special occasions; and wines you can open any day of the week.
3. Set up your storage: There’s a world of inexpensive wine racks out there and wooden crates do just as well. Store the bottles on their sides. In general you should aim for a constant temperature, around 65 degrees, and the darker the storage location, the better.
4. Organize your bottles: Either set up your bottles in tiers or group them to your liking by region, variety, or how you’ll drink them.
5. Add a few special-purpose bottles: Make sure you’re supplied for the upcoming special occasions in your life.
6. Drink up and keep up: After you drink a bottle, update your record and replace the bottle.

Sunset magazine is the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and landscaping, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. The magazine has five zoned editions and is read by nearly five million people each month. Sunset is published by Birmingham, Ala.-based Southern Progress Corporation, a subsidiary of Time Inc. and leader in lifestyle information.


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