Sunset+201810

GUIDEBOOK

Travel

• HEATHMAN HOTEL,
  PORTLAND

GREAT AUTHORS TRAFFIC in quirky characters and intriguing plots,
sure, but they also capture a sense of place: Think Cheryl Strayed
and the heights of the Pacific Crest Trail or Henry Miller and the
hidden-away world of Big Sur. The West—with its vast, open spaces
punctuated by rambunctious cities—has long been a magnet for
writers seeking inspiration, and that also makes it a prime place
for a literary pilgrimage. There’s no shortage of opportunities to

follow in the footsteps of icons (and their protagonists) at des-

tinations like John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row , Jack London’s Yukon

Territory , Raymond Chandler ’s Los Angeles , and M.F.K. Fisher’s

California wine country. But that’s not to say you need to look to the

past. The West’s literary scene is bubbling with a diverse generation

of up-and-coming writers , and their new tomes are itching to

become your next immersive travel guides.

Despite our digital habits, books remain the objects of our affections—particularly

when they lead to our next trip. By Kerry Newberry

26 OCTOBER 2018 ❖ SUNSET