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Beach towns get a lot of attention from travelers and tourist blogs, but what about mountain towns? While a far cry from tropical destinations, these high-altitude locations offer plenty of outdoor adventures, stunning views of nature, huge parks, and other neat activities you can't find anywhere else.
That's why Cheapism found the most beautiful mountain towns in America. The website states, "In each of these tiny mountain towns across the country, you'd be hard-pressed to find an obnoxious throng of tourists, yet each is charming in its own laid-back way, filled with delightful finds down side streets and, in most cases, surrounded by a recreational paradise that will make you long to get out and explore."
Two Colorado destinations made it on the list: Ouray and Salida!
Writers described Ouray as a much more "laid-back" spot featuring hot springs and all kinds of nearby recreational activities, including hiking, biking, rafting, ice climbing in the winter, off-roading, fishing, and more. Here are some other to-dos if you decide to drop by there:
"Head into town for dinner and drinks at one of Ouray's many restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and coffeehouses. And don't miss the opportunity to also visit nearby Ridgway, about a 15-minute drive away and another not-to-be-missed, off-the-radar mountain destination."
Then there's Salida, a city that rests in the Upper Arkansas River Valley and is surrounded by mountains that are at least 14,000 feet high. You can also look forward to outdoor activities, shopping boutiques, art galleries, breweries, distilleries, and other exciting spots:
"Don't miss the opportunity to grab a sandwich from the huge menu at Sweetie's, and stop in Wood's High Mountain Distillery to sample one of the local ryes, gins, vodkas, and more. There's a great little park in the center of town, if you have kids tagging along, with access to float the Arkansas during warmer months. For dinner, you can't go wrong with Currents, Amicas Pizza, or most of the other eateries in town."
Want to add more mountain towns to your bucket list? Check out the full list on Cheapism's website.