August is the month my family makes its annual escape to Pinecrest Lake, a pretty little jewel north of Yosemite. We've been carrying on this tradition for decades, and now my own children jump into the cold water just as I used to, heart willing and teeth chattering.

As lakes go, Pinecrest isn't particularly spectacular, and it isn't even large enough to allow waterskiing. Nevertheless, when I read our cover story on best lakes (page 86), I thought of Pinecrest because it's the setting for so many of my best summer memories. I caught my first fish there (a brown trout I carried back to camp clutched in my hand after my brother took off with the creel). Made old-fashioned peach ice cream and roasted marshmallows. Learned to drive my uncle's outboard, and did more bailing than sailing aboard the Suzy Q his ancient wood sailboat. When I think of summer, I think of these pleasures at the lake.

If you're looking to create special summer memories of your own this August, the lakes our travel editors have chosen will give you a great head start. And if we didn't have room to include a favorite of yours (as we didn't mine), please share it with us, along with some of your best summer memories.

Since this is my first issue as editor, it also seems a fitting rime to ask you to share your ideas, reviews, and suggestions-and whatever else you would like me to know about your Sunset. I look forward to hearing from you often.

Katie Tamony

P.S. We're bowled over by the mail we've received from readers about our June story "Energy-Wise." Check out several suggestions on energy conservation in Open House (page 16), and look for more on our website at wwwsunset.com/home/energywise.html.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Sunset Publishing Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group