Sunset (San Juans) American Road Dino Diamond

Local interest: the inviting tent on the front cover is from San Juan Island's Lakedale Resort

The May 2011 Sunset magazine is on the shelf for sale, and the beautiful peaceful tent on the cover caught my eye, and then I discovered that they were right nearby.  Another fantasy vacation?

With summer almost here, and the prospect for warmer, sunnier weather for those that like that sort of thing, travel is on the mind.  And this Sunset has some fun travel leads for the western traveler.  A day trip to the Dalles, 26 Wilderness Adventures (from luxury tent camping, cattle wrangling, stargazing at an Oregon beach or Utah's Red Rock country, glaciers, historic trails...), or for the urbanite, shopping in San Diego, Denver, or Santa Fe.

Or you could pick up American Road and get tons of tips on road trips for dino lovers.  You get the La Brea Tar Pits, a Route 66 (the classic!) oil tour, and the Dinosaur Diamond, a National Scenic Byway.  I've been on nearly all the Dinosaur Diamond, and you want to be sure to do the Colorado leg in a car with a good radiator, it is beautifully steep and windy. 

Rwaaarrr!

Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway's website has a nice calendar of upcoming events in the Dinosaur Diamond area.  But remember!  Fossils (pot shards and artifacts) on public land belong to the people, don't hoover them up!  There are some strict legal repercussions.

Fun Magazines You May Have Missed

Sometimes there is a whole section of magazines that you have always missed somehow.  Or maybe you just didn't expect it.

Dirt Rag #154, while having the expected articles of Where to Ride in New Zealand, also writes about access in Colorado, the relationship between bike trails, wilderness, and the roadless rule.  Even though it was right on the cover, I almost missed one called "America's First Mountain Bikers".  You may have heard about the 10th Cavalry regiment, but I was completely unfamiliar with the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, a unit African-American soldiers based in Missoula who did a demonstration bike ride in 1897  from Missoula to St Louis, Missouri.  (Further reading here and here)

Or you can find Prehistoric Times in our science and natural history section.  A fun mix of paleontology, museum info, toys, art and models.  This issue has James Gurney (Dinotopia), and article about the Chicago Field Museum, and Top Paleo Events of 2010.

And if you are looking for something more hip, there is the oversize The Last Magazine (pop culture).  The sixth issue, in its own non-standard format.