You definitely can’t miss this café. It’s become a food destination. I dream about their open-faced fried egg and bacon sandwich. They top it with provolone cheese and Anaheim peppers, and sometimes on Sundays they’ll throw on some portobello mushrooms. If someone reached into my brain and pulled out the best sandwich I could imagine, that would be it. 4001 Judah St., (415) 661-6140, outerlandssf.com. As told to Jen Murphy. See all of Danny Hess’s favorite places in San Francisco’s Sunset District. Photos by Erin Kunkel. This story appeared in the January/February 2012 issue.

Driving into Yosemite National Park, you make your way through a narrow tunnel. When you emerge, this is the view that greets you. It was winter time, and a blizzard had just blown through. While driving into the park, I had slipped on the ice, and crashed my car. I was desperately trying to not be in a terrible, disheartened mood. This view made everything ok again, and put me in the correct frame of mind to have an amazing trip. It rescued me.

West Randolph Street in Chicago’s West Loop has become a new home to the city’s culinary talents. Stephanie Izard first drew crowds cooking dishes like roasted pig face at Girl & the Goat (pictured). She recently opened Little Goat, a retro diner, across the street. Graham Elliot Bowles keeps it simple at his casual g.e.b, where each dish has no more than three ingredients. On a more elegant note, the prix-fixe menu at Grace, from chef Curtis Duffy, features dishes such as kampachi with coconut, lime, basil, golden trout roe, and pomelo presented in a cylinder of frozen ginger water. Photo by Huge Galdones. This appeared in the March/April 2013 issue.

One of the most amazing places I have stayed, and would stay again in an instant is the Pacuare Eco Lodge in Costa Rica... I stayed in the above cabana high in the rainforest canopy above the ground. The cabana has its own private bridge and hot tub.... You can walk out on the bridge and see monkeys, toucans and feel like you are atop the trees. The lodge sits on the Pacuare River and is only a few hours from capital city San Jose. You can raft the river and take treks up to cabecar indian villages. The whole property is run on renewable energy via solar, wind and water turbine power.. the staff is great, huge community area for dinner/breakfast and drinks.... There are a many different size cabanas and shared hammock areas... Each cabana feels like it is your private rainforest high in the canopy... Yes, there is a honeymoon suite too!! http://www.pacuarelodge.com/ Enjoy!

The ocean churns as a 36-ton mammal swims up to the boat. With your arm plunged into the cool water, you await the touch of a California gray whale. Like a house cat craving a scratch on the head, the whale pushes its rubbery skin, rough with barnacles and battle scars from boats and orcas, against your palm. From January through March, hundreds of gray whales settle in Magdalena Bay, on the southwest coast of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. From their feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska, they’ve made one of the longest animal migrations—more than 5,000 miles—to mate, give birth, and raise their young here. Visitors who join local fishermen and outfitters in the bay are practically guaranteed to see whales, and the luckiest will encounter “friendlies,” including proud mothers who nudge their wrinkly black calves toward the surface. Sea Kayak Adventures offers a new trip that combines gray whale sightings in Magdalena Bay with blue and fin whale watching in the Sea of Cortez. From $1,495. (800) 616-1943, Photo by Tui de Roy/Minden Pictures. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.

Hard to definitely pinpoint on a map, the Wave is a gorgeous rock formation near the Arizona and Utah part of the Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness. Don't rush off there and expecting to just show up and visit, this area is tightly controlled by the Bureau of Land Management and only 20 people are allowed in on a daily basis. You can apply for permits online or participate in the daily lottery to get a day pass to see these magnificent rock formations. No matter what time of year you go you will be blown away by the stunning rock and textures made by wind, water and time - the natural beauty will blow you away.

This was the end of the Hana Highway in Maui. Our guidebook told of a red sand beach, but it specifically left out information on how to get there, in an effort to keep people from spoiling it. Before our trip, I printed out some instructions from a traveller who had been there before. So, we parked our Jeep Wrangler, and had to walk through a cane field, past a Japanese cemetary, climb down a cliff to a beach, and walk along the rocks for a bit. When we turned the corner, this is what we saw. Sometimes going off the beaten path will lead to remarkable experiences. Lost!

My uncle and I stood with my tripod on the lakeshore behind our houseboat, trying desperately to capture the massive red rock wall before us. It was one of my first lessons in night photography, and it wasn't going great: there just wasn't enough light despite the starry starry sky. I tried over and over, different shutter speeds, using spotlights, nothing worked...too dark. On my last try, I set the shutter speed to a few minutes, as the shutter opened, all of a sudden a houseboat from the next cove over set off fireworks. Their fireworks lit up the entire night sky, and shone their glorious light right on my rock face, resulting in this image.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: This is my favorite hike by far! Cueva Ventana ("Window Cave") is a beautiful, scenic hole in the side of a mountain that opens up to a lush, green valley down below. You'll trample through mud, hunker down under low hanging stalagmites, dodge around stalactites and never look up (there are bats, of course) while wandering through the cave. All this winding around through two caves leads you to one of the most spectacular views in all of Puerto Rico (but I may be bias). The hike to this cave is half the fun - how about climbing down into a small opening under enormous ancient tree roots??? You certainly get the feel of a tomb raider! But, if you're claustrophobic or don't feel up to lowering yourself down a small cave wall, there's an additional path that bypasses the first cave and leads you straight to the easier hike to Cueva Ventana. There's something for everyone! I'm pretty sure I saw one Puerto Rican woman doing the whole thing in heels! This is a must visit site for anyone touring the north-west central part of Puerto Rico! Want to know another tid-bit? It's practically free! You can find the directions on PuertoRicoDayTrips.com, park in the adjacent Texaco gas station parking, pay just $2.00 (because the station had to benefit from this place somehow; and then you know your car is watched the whole time you're gone), and get some simple basic directions again from the gas station attendant, who also speaks English. My favorite site!

A primo sourcing grounds for picnic provisions or a casual cafe meal, Publican Quality Meats is the latest food enterprise by the never-miss restaurant team behind Avec, Publican, and Big Star. Billed as a contemporary American butcher shop, its sleek counter beckons with house-made salumi, sausages, and terrine, as well as artisan cheeses and homemade breads and pastries. Pack your basket accordingly. 825 W. Fulton Market, (312) 445-8977.

The Mayan Ruins of Tulum are already spectacular, but then you peak over the cliffs at one of the most beautiful beaches ever seen! I guess there is no wonder as to why the Mayans chose this spot for their city. Be sure to pack your swimsuit and some towels (maybe some snacks) for your visit to the Tulum Ruins because the beach below the ruins is not to be missed. Take your time exploring the ruins that is the remnants of one of the last cities built by the great Mayan civilization. Then walk down the staircase to the beach to swim in the warm, turquoise water of the Carribean sea and lounge in the white sand.

The best hot chocolate in Montreal. The list of 27 single origin Cacao Barry chocolate choices is very impressive! The way the hot chocolates are offered is quite interesting as well. You choose a chocolate from the list ranging from 29% white chocolate to 100% dark, with all the ranges in between. It comes to your table melted in a big cup with a side of hot chocolate “base” in dark, medium or light chocolate. You add as much of the base to your melted chocolate to make it the consistency you prefer. http://willtravelforfood.com/2011/10/18/montreal-best-hot-chocolate-cacao-70/

You wouldn’t know there was a store there unless you lived in the neighborhood, but the owner, Chris, has an amazing list of cheeses. I love his shop because he sells what he likes, not what people tell him is good. He’s also got an incredible selection of salumi, pasta, and very good olive oil. 3926-28 W. Sunset Blvd., (323) 644-7511. As told to Heidi Mitchell. Photo by Amanda Friedman. This appeared in the October 2012 issue. Read about Jason Kim's Silver Lake.

Food is a highly subjective love of course, but my money on the best bowl of Asian noodles in NYC always goes to Xi'an Famous Foods. Most of their locations are small, you will wait and in the summer it won't feel worth it. However, once you dig in to your bowl of spicy broth, stewed pork/lamb/oxtail that falls apart on your fork because it's so tender and hand-ripped noodles– you will understand. This isn't like the ramen you think of when you hear 'Asian noodles'. Do yourself a favor, skip the available cans of soda and instead opt for their homemade cold jasmine tea (sweetened or unsweetened) - it perfectly cuts the spice that a coke cannot handle. There are 4 locations, including one in Queens, most of which are too busy to count on during lunch time; visit for a late lunch or early dinner and you'll be thankful. You may also find a seat!

This little hideaway in a back alley, with its communal tables and chalkboard menus, is where I go with friends when we want to share snacks. They match wines to ‘tasting trios’ selected from their cheese and charcuterie cellar. It’s best to let your server make the choices.” (604) 633-1912. As told to Rhonda May. Photo by Grant Harder. This appeared in the September, 2012 issue. See all of Savannah Olsen’s favorite places in the Gastown neighborhood of Vancouver.

In Los Angeles, the cliché is that people drive one block to get a soda. But there are lots of staircases hidden in the hills of L.A. In Silver Lake, I like a two-and-a-half mile loop of stairs known as the Music Box. Parts remind me of walking through a forest. It’s a workout. Access at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Parkman Ave. As told to Heidi Mitchell. Photo by Amanda Friedman. This appeared in the October 2012 issue. Read about Jason Kim's Silver Lake.

This place is tiny, but it's one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. The menu is small so there are only a few choices, but no matter what you get, you'll be happy. Make sure to try the iced coffee. It's made with chicory, the way it's done down in New Orleans.

Just when it seemed like the Mayan Riviera had become nothing but a sea of "all-inclusive-beach-resort-hotels" you stumble upon the quaint little Mexican village of Puerto Morelo. There are almost no huge developments, no shopping outlets, and no chain restaurants. The place is absolutely magical and is like traveling back in time! There is a small town square or plaza lined with palm trees, small cafes, and local boutiques. You can always find a good margarita to sip on at the super hip little bar called Bara Bara! If you find yourself on the Yucatan peninsula don't miss this opportunity to travel back in time 50yrs and experience what Mexico used to be like before corporate development prevailed.

Hop on your bike in downtown Jackson and ride 20 absurdly scenic miles to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The mountains watch over you as you pass through the National Elk Refuge. You can also stop off at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Photo by Brad Mitchell. This appeared in the March/April 2013 issue.