When traveling on I-84, La Grande seems like another eastern Oregon ag town. However, the Grand Ronde River flows northeast from the Blue Mountains, and Anthony Lakes Ski Area, which boasts the state's driest snow, is 45 miles southwest.
After five years of closure due to ownership turmoil, Saddleback Ski Area reopened in 2020, revitalizing northern Maine's outdoor culture. Rangeley has moose, loons, and the Appalachian Trail, and fishermen have been catching prize.
Canaan, the promised country in the Bible, may be West Virginia's Canaan Valley, home of David and Thomas. Nearly 70% of the valley is protected by the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, but the rest has more than 100 miles.
Reno has been expensive for a long. Due to Californian migration, property prices and outdoor possibilities have risen since 2012. For those who prefer mountain cities over mountain towns, the Biggest Little City in the World is finest.
The smelter stack, slightly south and higher than the Washington Monument, is a reminder of Anaconda's copper mining history until the early 1980s. Recreation in the region is helping the community move away from its extractive history.
Choose your season and Boone, North Carolina's largest high country town, has something for you. Spring runoff on the New and Watuga Rivers, the Southeast's greatest skiing with three resorts within 45 minute.
There are a few Adirondack fantasy towns, but Saranac Lake stands out for its charm and trail access, including a network that feeds into six mountains. Summers are full with boats, and winters you can ski Mount Pisgah.