The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These destinations and celebrations are the 2025 winners of the What to Do: Immersive Experiences category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.
Sensorio
Adam Campbell
This immersive installation amid the fields of Paso Robles wine country first gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, artist Bruce Munro has introduced a new element featuring composer Nainita Desai, creating a Fiber Optic Symphonic Orchestra (FOSO), also the title of the latest exhibition.
Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Columbia State Historic Park
Michael Sharps
Celebrate Cinco De Mayo where it all began: Columbia, California, which held the inaugural Cinco de Mayo celebration in 1862. Held annually in Columbia State Historic Park, this event vividly revives history with its preserved Gold Rush-era setting, featuring storytelling, enchanting folkloric dances, and, of course, mariachis!
Sawdust Art Festival
Courtesy of Sawdust Art Festival
The Laguna Beach Sawdust Art Festival takes place in spring, winter, and summer (the signature local event) and brings together nearly 200 artists who showcase their work in the one-of-a-kind, famed Eucalyptus Grove in Laguna Canyon. Glassblowing, ceramics, painting, textiles, and jewelry are all available for purchase, and there’s live entertainment on three stages, free art classes, and food and drink galore.
Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center
Mimi Fuenzalida courtesy of Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center
The new 14,000-square-foot Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center celebrates the vibrant culture of the Native Chumash people and their more than 8,000 years of history. With some 20,000 cultural and historic artifacts on display, including the Chumash’s modern-day traditions, this center adds depth to this beautifully rich region, also known for its missions, ranchers, and Danish settlers.
Europa Village
Courtesy of Europa Village
Europa Village brings the charm of the traditional villages of Spain, France, and Italy to Southern California with its multi-winery resort experience that encompasses excellent restaurants, boutiques, tasting rooms, and walking paths connecting it all. Book at the luxurious The Inn at Europa Village, one of the Bolero Casitas, and extend your escape to this wine country fantasia in Temecula Valley wine country.