Dear Wags,

Warm summer sun, Shine kindly here, Warm southern wind, Blow Softly here!

Wag Supremo Mark Twain wrote those words; this week we hear them whispering on the breeze. Let the new season be rich in wisteria and lemonade. Let it bring you much deserved ease. May you find a big book, a welcoming couch, and a shady porch. May you fall asleep by chapter three! You’ve earned a summer of cricket song, fireflies, and friendly dogs.

Our friend, Susan Kaufman, has had a few gigs, but her transcendent vocation is as an artist. Everything Susan touches becomes that much lovelier. She has that most enviable human quality: a marvelous eye. When there were good magazines, she was the consummate editor. After saying farewell to all that, she roamed the streets of Greenwich Village with her trusty iPhone, capturing her neighborhood’s charm. There’s a serenity in Susan’s work that reminds us of the great Eugène Atget. She understands how a sagging brownstone or a quiet alleyway can lift the heart. Urban roving led to her first book, Walk with Me: New York.

The second, Walk with Me: Hamptons, chronicles her wanderings around Long Island’s East End. Strolling its lanes with Lucky, her beloved Labrador, Susan sees beyond overpriced boutiques, grasping the romance of the place. An enduring Hamptons—of shingled cottages, farm stands, and endless dunes—persists. Susan’s new book will transport you there without the aggravation of the Long Island Expressway. Wherever you roam this summer, bring a copy along with you.

Yours Ever,

Blisshampton

Not so long ago, the South Fork was filled with artists and writers living in shacks by the sea. Well, things change! Still, if you’re enterprising, you still can root out the real Hamptons. Here are some tips:

1. Get out of your car as soon as possible.

2. Hit the beach early, or go at dusk.

3. Never wait in line for dinner. We mean this. If there’s a queue, immediately go home and cook.

4. Shut yourself in on Saturdays.

Now, our spots. We have a sentimental attachment to Mecox Beach in Bridgehampton, which is squeezed between Mecox Bay and the Atlantic, making it perfect for swimmers of all ages and abilities. For surfing, we hit Ditch Plains in Montauk like everybody else. When you want more room, try Gin Beach (you’ll need a lift). For sunset walks, there’s Georgica at the end of Lily Pond Lane. Hay Beach on Shelter Island boasts panoramic views, while Havens Beach near Sag Harbor is a laid back family spot. If you need a hotel, gird yourself for high season prices. There’s the very beachy Marram Montauk, the posh-rustic Roundtree in Amagansett, Baron’s Cove in Sag Harbor, and Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton for something more in-town. Order lobster rolls at the Clam Bar or Lunch, both Montauk spots. You also can’t go wrong with the old standby, Bosticks Chowder House in East Hampton. — Lion Gardiner

Happy Valley

When you’re stuck on the freeway, the real Southern California eludes you. You may glimpse it beyond buff-colored sound walls — a ridge of distant mountains hovering above the sprawl. In truth, some of the most alluring landscapes in the world are within easy reach of Los Angeles. Ojai, about an hour and a half north of Hollywood and Vine, is as enchanting as ever. Nestled at the foot of the Topatopa Mountains, it’s always been a retreat for frazzled Angelenos, who come to hike, meditate, and smell the fragrant orange groves. Make time to explore the wilds of the Los Padres National Forest; the Cozy Dell Trail will give you spectacular views of the Ojai Valley and the Channel Islands. We also like the Pratt and Sister Canyon paths (but keep an eye out for stray rattlesnakes). In town, we browse at Bart’s Books, the only outdoor bookstore we know, grab a chai at Beacon Coffee, and dig into the broiled oysters at Rory’s Place. For drinks, visit the Topa Topa Brewing Co., which serves a dazzling selection of beers and inventive cocktails. When not crashing with R. Witherspoon, we stick with a classic: The Ojai Valley Inn, where you can watch pinky dusk light settle over the hills. — Jaime Sommers

Mountain High

Peru is the roof of the Western Hemisphere, a place of ancient mysteries and landscapes so breathtaking they’ll make you well up with tears. The Inca Trail gets all the press (it will take you about four days), but there’s much more to the country than that. Cusco, in the heart of Inca country, has no shortage of