Get out the marshmallows and toast them over your very own outdoor fireplace.

Many homeowners have rediscovered the appeal of outdoor living and dining in recent years, and they want to bring the ambience of the hearth outside with them. Manufacturers, of course, are coming out with products to reflect this alfresco trend.

One concept turning heads at recent trade shows is Heat-N-Glo's Twilight fireplace ($3,099), which links indoors and out with a firebox that acts as a window in an exterior wall. One fireplace creates a hearth for both the patio and living room.

Patio campfires ($250 and more) such as Heat-N-Glo's and Peterson's are a convenient, rustic choice. They look like the stone-ringed pit you roasted s'mores over as a kid, but they're gas-fueled and easy to transport around the pool, deck, or tailgate party.

With Vanguard's Chimenea, the classic Mexican clay fireplace with the gaping mouth has been updated for more convenience. Vanguard recently introduced a model with a gas log set tucked inside ($329-$349).