Although we're still very far from retirement, my husband and I have started having those "where will we live when we can live anywhere" conversations. A desert oasis? A haven in the mountains? It has to be a place where our daughters would eventually come with their families to vacation during the summer.

These conversations are usually sparked by our August vacation at Pinecrest Lake in the Sierra foothills. We sit on the shore, toes in warm sand, watching the small sailboats race against the backdrop of sugar pine and perfect blue sky. This is it, we think, the way we'd live all the time if we could.

This August issue has a little bit of fantasy to inspire your own dreams of the perfect family escape. The cabin on Washington's Hood Canal (page 98) is my idea of a perfect getaway. Right on the water, it has a design that blurs indoors and out, plus charming decor inspired by its location. …