Did anyone in Montgomery County, Md., see the fabulous sunset last night (Sat., 8/17) around 8 p.m.? We recently returned from 10 days in Hawaii (visiting three islands), and we never saw a sunset in Hawaii as pretty as the one I just saw a few hours ago. The unusual thing about it was that it covered the sky, N, S, E and W. I was on top of the parking garage outside the Rio Sport and Health Club.

We loved our trip to Hawaii, but I disagree with two common opinions about Hawaii--that it has beautiful sunsets and that the weather is "perfect." If you're only going to lie around the pool or beach all day, I guess the weather's perfect, but it was too hot and very humid for hiking or visiting the Missouri. I bought a calendar with beautiful sunsets on it, so I know they occur sometimes.

We recently had one of those unbelievably-gorgeous-in-all-directions sunsets in northeast Wisconsin. Beauty's where you're lucky enough to find it, I guess.

For gorgeous sunsets I have found central Oregon coast and southern Arizona and New Mexico to be breath taking.

Los Angeles on a smoggy day. Seriously.

Arizona.

Hawaii has spectacular sunsets and never tire of them, but of course back on the mainland we don't usually have the unobstructed vistas you get on a typical island vacation spot. Here in Texas we get some fine sunsets but they get obscured by usual suburban sprawl. Out in west Texas they can be almost overwhelming, horizon to horizon.
I've spent time at sea and you'll see some wonderful dawns and sunsets on the oceans. I just enjoy them wherever I can !