Not a fan of tourist mountain towns. I go to the mountains to get away. If I want to pay outrageous prices, deal with congestion and people from the city, I may as well stay home.
Ya dude so true I agree. The mountains are a place of peace and beauty. Not meant to be full of motor vehicles and tourists. Yosemite valley is starting to become affected by this and is slowly losing its beauty
Drake Zakra Oops sorry I will remember this the next time thanks for correcting me my mistakes as I am not an American so please forgive my mistakes am really sorry!
@Drake Zakra Funny. I just googled "mountain states" and got this: The Eight Mountain States of the United States 1. Wyoming 2. Montana 3. Idaho 4. New Mexico 5. Nevada 6. Utah 7. Arizona. Located in the southwestern United States, Arizona is a Mountain States and one of the Four Corner States. ... 8. Colorado. Colorado is one of the eight Mountain States. ...
They missed one of the best. Estes Park, Colorado is a Beautiful, peaceful mountain town. Located just 70 miles northwest of Denver, this is where you want to be towards the end of September to see and enjoy the annual Elk Rut. The area has many shops where local artists display and sell their work, and several great restaurants offer diverse dining experiences. The eastern entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park is only 2 miles from downtown.
SharkSport Thanks! I looked it up, looks like an amazing place to visit. We may get a chance to go There someday. My whole family loves the western mountains. Great places to go to get away from these brutally hot and humid Florida summers.
Topspeed350 You are RIGHT about that! We usually go after school is back in session. We went in early September last time, but didn’t see very many Elk. The late spring is also a good time, the late September is the best.
I used to live in the Shenandoah Valley and it’s by far my favorite of all the places I’ve lived so far. Loved it there! 💖⛰ Asheville is really beautiful too...I think of it kind of as an artsy town. Would love to see Bend, Oregon someday too! Looks and sounds like an awesome place! ☺️
You missed Truckee/Lake Tahoe. And I spend part of the year in Colorado. The only negative aspect to living in Truckee is the exposure to people from the SF Bay Area.
Westcliffe,Colorado is another Beautiful Place to Visit n Live. I Have lived there during the early 90's when it was still small n quiet n even today it has grown somewhat but if one has a chance to visit please do so you will not be disapointed.
Almost 20 years ago, I used to live in Idaho Falls, ID with my dad then lived in Caldwell, ID where I owned a house for 14 years. Now, moved south in Prescott Valley, AZ in past 3 years ago to be closer to my mom's house in Prescott, sometimes it rains in August, too.
We had a cabin on the hill between Wears Valley and Townsend. Very peaceful. Easy to get to Gatlinburg for our one obligatory visit and close to all the wonderful hiking in the National Park. It’s a convenient and inexpensive way to visit.
I am surprised that there were no towns mentioned in the Ozark Mountains. Eureka Springs, Arkansas is one of the most beautiful and down to Earth places that I have ever been and I have been all over this nation.
How could you plug Asheville, NC and overlook Flagstaff, AZ, with it's 12,300'+ San Francisco peaks, snow capped about 9 months each year. Flagstaff is 6,910' asl.
Nice that Shenandoah County made the list. I live in Warren County, near the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River. Moved out here a couple years ago. I love it here in Front Royal, very different from the madness of the DC suburbs.
Yes, I think that's inevitable. As housing prices and congestion in the DC area continue to increase, the sprawl will continue creeping westward. Winchester is a hot spot for that now, but Charles Town WV and Front Royal are also seeing it.
That was a great tour, I think that small towns are awesome I love places were architecture is created by individual preferences, somehow built as I have view in movies or articles, but believed that it could exist only in the past.
There is no mention of any of the Lake Tahoe towns any of which has so much more to do than most this video mentioned! First of all Lake Tahoe and the mountains surrounding it is spectacular all year long. With 10 Ski Resorts, Edgewood Golf Course, Five Star Hotels/Restaurants and hundreds of mountain trails life is always interesting living here!
Durango is great to visit. It has the best free museum ever, the Railroad one. I took the narrow-gauge trip to Silverton last year. It was a great trip with scenic views all the way. Durango has great bars and a fantastic Himalayan Restaurant, The Himalayan Kitchen. If you are in Durango, don't fail to eat there. Salida is also a wonderful town to visit. Stay in the Salida Inn and Monarch Suites Motel. Friendly Family ownership and great accommodations. Eat at Currents, they have a good selection of fish daily. Moonlight Pizza is over-rated.
You may as well have not even mentioned Taos, NM. You showed a picture of the Pueblo Reservation. That;s all well and good but Taos is a beautiful town with lovely shops and art studios as well as good restaurants. It is the seat of the ski resort .
Saranac lake should be on this list. Short drive from lake Placid, Historic Winter Festival,great village walk along the river, nice lake side beach,and park,near mid size and world class Alpine and Olympic level Cross Country skiing. It is a smaller and friendlier Lake Placid. Paddlers paradise too.
Eric the Red then, you should go to Patagonia, or Antartica. Howvever there are lots of undiscovered mountains on Mars, Venus and underneath the Earth's water. Massive mountains are waiting undiscovered beneath the oceans.
What about Truckee, California. It is the gateway to the the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is located at the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas are a short driving distance from Truckee. The Truckee/Tahoe area is very popular area for fishing, backpacking, boating, bicycling and hunting. There is something there for just about anyone. Numerous excellent restaurants are located in the Truckee area.
Missed several (Telluride, Aspen, Vail, Big Bear, Park City and most of these are for tourists and have crowds and attractions and souvenirs and hassle. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge is the worst. Miles of traffic, mini golf, movie theaters, go-karts, Elvis and Dolly Parton museums. The ski towns more expensive but much better views, mountains are 10,000ft. and are less crowded while focused on skiing in the winter, outdoor activities in the summer. Anywhere in the West is better than anywhere in the East.
iamnotfernando : If you want to do the Smokies, but, like me, can’t take Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, get a cabin in the Wears Valley/Townsend area. It’s quiet. You can always run to the Kroger in Pigeon Forge, or the IGA in Townsend, for supplies.
Ive been blessed to have spent time in 8 of those 20..... there are so many more out there it's hard to pick just 20......but Ouray was certainly different.... nearby was Durango and Silverton also very nice......Jackson may be my favorite because i love photography but it's expensive and has become very touristy the past 20 years......... they are all beautiful however
Attention all whiners.... Tourists and rich people flock to the best places. Good luck finding some amazing place that isn't full of rich people and tourists. It doesn't exist except in the minds of those who do mental gymnastics, convincing themselves that where they live is so awesome because everyone there is poor and no one wants to visit.
Well said. Why would rich people and tourists want to go anywhere other than the best places? Seems obvious that you would find them in Jackson, Aspen, and Telluride because of what those places have to offer.
Should be named "Tourist Traps". Thought it would be little known "quaint" towns nice to live in. Exception would be Sitka, which is not so full of tourists due to the difficulty of getting there. Cruise ships do stop by though.
You are right about tourist traps. Lake Placid NY is also. But there are a couple of things people should know. LP is a great little alpine town with lots to do but lots of tourists. Instead, go 8 miles down the road to Saranac Lake. Much quieter with restaurants but if you need more drive over to LP. Also, there are more beautiful lakes in the area than anywhere else in the US except Wisconsin and maybe northern Minnesota.
exactly! ive lived in quaint towns in the eastern sierras in california. none of which are on this list. half the list seemed like it was just the ski towns of colorado
I've been to a few of these western towns.....they left out the best one--Kalispell, Montana and another, Leadville, Colorado and lest we not forget Mammoth, California......but one of the best is Susanville California.
I cant speak for much on the list other than the Colorado towns. Crested Butte is definitely a tourism destination with the costs to go with. All the other ski towns mentioned are definitely high costs tourism destinations. #1 Ouray would be the exception. I lived on the Western Slope for awhile and Ouray and Silverton were my two favorite towns. I havent been back since 2011 but last time i was there, we stayed at a really nice hotel right on the river and Box Canyon where the ice climbing park is located. The room was around $100 a night. This place was no W but it wasnt a Motel 6 either. View was worth $200 a night. It may have changed since i was there last but i kinda doubt it. About 7 miles north (550)towards Ridgeway you can take a right on county rd 10(i think) and head towards owl creek pass. Its on around 13 miles but you better have full tank of gas and around 3-4 hrs but that drive has some of the most beautiful places on earth. Silver Jack reservoir, etc.
In Taos, that's not Spanish architecture, but Taos Pueblo, the oldest structure in the US and home to the Taos Indians - who dislike the Spanish for what they have done to the Indians in the Southwest - the very ones you are now insulting. They still live there.
@@davidkingraiders7294 - Yep, the drive on US 64 east from Taos to Cimarron is great. Most people think New Mexico is a desert. I have criss-crossed that area many times, usually get rained on. Can't believe how that area dried out and burned in the summer of 2022 in the Mora valley almost to Las Vegas.
@@benluecken2839 I know. I used to live in Washington and have been in Leavenworth countless times. But to me it's pretty much a tourist trap and just a place to pass through and not stop.
Robert Thomas yeah I have been there multiple times as well. It is very touristy around Christmas and Oktoberfest but for someone who’s never been there it’s definitely worth a stop. But I agree, it’s not as cool after going there multiple times a year like I do, though still a fun place to stop every once in a while
Glad you got Sedona AZ in . You forgot Flagstaff AZ, a real snow town at the base of Mt Humphry , the highest mt. in AZ, at over 12000 ft. Good skiing .
I lived and worked in the western U.S. all my life. I'm a forester by education and would love to see the fall colors in the east. I would go nuts trying to identify trees.
I rode a bicycle from Gatlinburg to Clingman's Dome summit, I was passed by 100,000 cars in 1-2 hours. It is so crowded and busy like New York city, mountain towns are too crowded now. Hard to relax, the planet is getting way too crowded. It is not fun to hike with 1000s of people all around you.
I’m surprised you even survived that! People around there aren’t really accustomed to dealing with cyclists on the road. The Smokies are stunning, but Gatlinburg is tacky. Even worse . . . Pigeon Forge! 😱🤢
Wonderful video. I have been to a few of these wonderful towns and they are the best. Never had a problem with traffic in any of them; because I went slightly off season and got lower rates. Warning: The turbulence can be very rough for the entire ride going into any mountain town in a prop plane during change of seasons. Prop is $200 cheaper; jet is much smoother and usually not available until high season. Prop planes not best for children or adults that fear flying.
World Economic Summit held in Jackson Hole. We missed it by a week; thank goodness. Jackson Hole is awesome. Since it is so far north, sunset colors last until 10 pm when it finally gets dark and you can see the beautiful night sky.
@@lowlifeangler you definitely live up to you're name that's for certain! Btw the reason it's so expensive is because of famous people moving in. I fear cody will follow the same trend because of Kanye West and the Kardashians. Thank goodness I bought my house already.
Matter of opinion, but yeah Crested Butte area is nice. I liked Gunnison, CO better just down the valley. They certainly had a totally different "spirit" about the two considering they are only roughly 28 miles apart.
Lived in Breck for a while before getting out to a less populated mountain town. Breck/Frisco/Silverthorne is wildly overcrowded nowadays. Really hard to enjoy yourself there if you enjoyed it 10 years ago. Just not the same.
10:15 That's the picture you decide to show for Taos New Mexico?? That's an awesome town with beautiful winter mountain scenery and you chose to show a boring dirt house for 30 seconds.
I would add Logan Utah. It has the advantage of having a University, Theater and Opera and is not over run with tourists. Affordable too. Easy access to the outdoors of Cache Valley canyons and Tetons, Yellowstone, Southern Utah Parks are just 6 hours beautiful drives away.
There's a hundred more decent places, but don't more here. Too many Chicagoan and CAs already ruining this place They flee their crap and then try to turn here into what they ran away from.
OMG What happend to Aspen Colorado?? Why is that nice town not on this list?? I`ve been several times there, and some others here you did show,!! I Liked Taos New Mexico btw a lot too! The good thing is i saw some Aspen trees on your video, into very nice colours they change, and the sound of them when the wind blows is stunning!! Too bad they wont grow in The Netherlands, took some shoots with me, but did not want to stay here...:((
I think that any mountain town that depends on tourism doesn't really give you the true mountain town experience. That being said,. Bonner's Ferry, ID has the real mountain town vibe.
This list was likely drawn up by some sort of national real estate brokers association. They are all the trendy mountain small towns in the U.S., although I would argue that Ashville is neither a small town nor located in the mountains. I've stayed in about half of these towns and am glad the mountain town I live in is not on the list, although is more trendy than I care for.
AH you forgot Blairsville Ga. What a grrreat little town with big southern charm. Beautiful Lake Nottely and Brasstown Resort are the best. Four real seasons but not a huge amount of snow to deal with in the winter. Summers are fair, lush and green and miles of wild meadow flowers. The fall leaves are stunning. The Scottish Festival is great as so the summer fresh vegetable market. Come visit and rent the many mountain cabins available. Better yet retire here and be a neighbor that you don't have to live crammed together. Land prices are still reasonable and building your dream home is what ever you want. 100 miles north of Atlanta up in the Appalachian Mountains with the highest peak at 6000 ft. Been living here 15 years and still not willing to leave.
Kind of a tourist trap? The town's whole purpose is to be a tourist destination, i.e. "trap". And I was just there recently and it was a dump. Shops with dirty worn-out carpet, grit and grime everywhere. We didn't go in one single store that didn't need a fresh coat of paint both inside and out and had tacky handmade signs everywhere. If Helen doesn't invest some money in itself soon it's not going to have much life left as a tourist trap.
I live right outside Park City Utah. It's beautiful here but it gets really crowded in the winter. Especially during th Sundance Film Festival. The narrow small town roads can't handle all the traffic.
Not a fan of tourist mountain towns. I go to the mountains to get away. If I want to pay outrageous prices, deal with congestion and people from the city, I may as well stay home.
True
Amen brother
Unfortunately, if I want to go to the Tetons from SE Idaho, I have to drive through Jackson Hole. At least they have food and gas.
Ya dude so true I agree. The mountains are a place of peace and beauty. Not meant to be full of motor vehicles and tourists.
Yosemite valley is starting to become affected by this and is slowly losing its beauty
SoonToBe Salad
Switzerland says hello..
When I hear mountains first thing that comes to mind is Colorado
Shawn Afshar Well mine will be different I will think of Alaska then Colorado then either Montana or Idaho will come to my mind.
Drake Zakra Oops sorry I will remember this the next time thanks for correcting me my mistakes as I am not an American so please forgive my mistakes am really sorry!
@Drake Zakra Ironic, too, because Idaho has more mountains than those other four states.
@@jojololo3694 the hierarchy Drake used is his opinion. You are not wrong to think of Idaho before others.
@Drake Zakra Funny. I just googled "mountain states" and got this: The Eight Mountain States of the United States
1. Wyoming
2. Montana
3. Idaho
4. New Mexico
5. Nevada
6. Utah
7. Arizona. Located in the southwestern United States, Arizona is a Mountain States and one of the Four Corner States. ...
8. Colorado. Colorado is one of the eight Mountain States. ...
They missed one of the best. Estes Park, Colorado is a Beautiful, peaceful mountain town. Located just 70 miles northwest of Denver, this is where you want to be towards the end of September to see and enjoy the annual Elk Rut. The area has many shops where local artists display and sell their work, and several great restaurants offer diverse dining experiences. The eastern entrance of the Rocky Mountain National Park is only 2 miles from downtown.
Dexter Williams
Beaver mountain!
SharkSport Thanks! I looked it up, looks like an amazing place to visit. We may get a chance to go There someday. My whole family loves the western mountains. Great places to go to get away from these brutally hot and humid Florida summers.
Topspeed350 You are RIGHT about that! We usually go after school is back in session. We went in early September last time, but didn’t see very many Elk. The late spring is also a good time, the late September is the best.
Me too my friend lived in Cheyenne for 4 years and loved going there each day I could get best kept secrete in Colorado
Lived in EP for a while, beautiful setting, lots of hiking trails where you can't hear a whisper from any machinery.
I used to live in the Shenandoah Valley and it’s by far my favorite of all the places I’ve lived so far. Loved it there! 💖⛰ Asheville is really beautiful too...I think of it kind of as an artsy town. Would love to see Bend, Oregon someday too! Looks and sounds like an awesome place! ☺️
Love Colorado, Been to many places. Beautiful state.
Colleen from Canada
Colorado is definitely Gods country
Drug country now 👎
Keith You don’t really know that do ya? Yes weed is legal, that’s it.
Colorado is the land of sin & dope.
Not according to Blake Shelton. haha
Hippies are ruining Colorado
I'm surprised by how many of these places I've already visited. Beautiful video! ...Roy
Sedona, AZ is filled with pompous people and even though it’s beautiful I can’t take the people for more than a weekend.
Hey! Have you ever heard of Washington State or North Idaho? I guess not. That's OK because you won't be drawing the crazies here. Thanks.
You are already there
Yup. Don't tread on Idaho. I agree.
North Idaho. Is that kinda' like Upstate Idaho ??
Too late
Yup been there- awesome
Thank you, Just Lovely, More of this please, Me Likey!
You missed Truckee/Lake Tahoe. And I spend part of the year in Colorado. The only negative aspect to living in Truckee is the exposure to people from the SF Bay Area.
Mark Kasselik Oh c’mon! Leave them alone, live your life and you’ll be just fine. They’re not gonna bite you lol.
Do you mean minorities or gays 🤔
Yuk. Watch out for street poopers. Coming soon. Homeless live off big tips from rich techies from San Fran.
Northern Range Tahoe ain’t though. Nevada side of Tahoe is nice
Westcliffe,Colorado is another Beautiful Place to Visit n Live. I Have lived there during the early 90's when it was still small n quiet n even today it has grown somewhat but if one has a chance to visit please do so you will not be disapointed.
All great but I would have added Telluride, CO. Such an amazing town!
Telluride is great. Richie rich town. Beautiful but not for all.
@@ganymeade5151 yep, it's been Californicated just like Sedona. Both are beautiful places, but they've been taken over by the super rich.
Telluride is one of the cutest towns I have visited
I also like Flagstaff Arizona and Globe Arizona
True but if you’re like the rest 99% of America you can’t afford it.
Me and a friend flew there in a twin engine plane. Telluride is awesome.
They forgot about Glenwood springs Colorado, beautiful scenery, great people.
YES
Almost 20 years ago, I used to live in Idaho Falls, ID with my dad then lived in Caldwell, ID where I owned a house for 14 years. Now, moved south in Prescott Valley, AZ in past 3 years ago to be closer to my mom's house in Prescott, sometimes it rains in August, too.
Gaitlinburg is surrounded by beauty,but a tacky tacky Coney Island town geered for the tourist crowd
frizbeee I live near there. Well Put.
Gatlinburg is like a blight upon that breathtaking natural beauty.
Gatlinburg, just don't go there, cheesiest town ever.
We had a cabin on the hill between Wears Valley and Townsend. Very peaceful. Easy to get to Gatlinburg for our one obligatory visit and close to all the wonderful hiking in the National Park. It’s a convenient and inexpensive way to visit.
I love Walland, Tn. Its the quite side of Pigeon Forge and Gatlingburg. I love the mountains
All tourist attractions. Happy that you did not mention my neck of the Rockies.
Lake Tahoe is technically not a single town but should be on the list
My son is going to Colorado springs beautiful natural environmental
I am surprised that there were no towns mentioned in the Ozark Mountains. Eureka Springs, Arkansas is one of the most beautiful and down to Earth places that I have ever been and I have been all over this nation.
Ouray has a great public natural spring that runs about 105 degrees. Nice to relax when its around zero degrees outside. Your hair will freeze solid.
elli003 There are great hot springs all over CO. Another great one is in Pagosa Springs, CO. It has one of the deepest too.
Ive done the springs throughout Florida, want to do Colorado next. Thanks guys!
@@ambriadaniels-dovolis7496 Yeah, but all of them are cold, right?
How could you plug Asheville, NC and overlook Flagstaff, AZ, with it's 12,300'+ San Francisco peaks, snow capped about 9 months each year. Flagstaff is 6,910' asl.
Colorado, Arizona and Asheville NC are my favorite mountains.
Nice video. I can't believe all the negative comments below.
I can.
Nice that Shenandoah County made the list. I live in Warren County, near the confluence of the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River. Moved out here a couple years ago. I love it here in Front Royal, very different from the madness of the DC suburbs.
Al Myska it's getting crowded up there too. Winchester and even into West Virginia is getting that way.
Yes, I think that's inevitable. As housing prices and congestion in the DC area continue to increase, the sprawl will continue creeping westward. Winchester is a hot spot for that now, but Charles Town WV and Front Royal are also seeing it.
I prefer the warmth of small town America over the hustle and bustle of big city America. Nice video. Thanks.
McCall Idaho on beautiful Payette Lake should be considered.
Ssssshhh
That was a great tour, I think that small towns are awesome I love places were architecture is created by individual preferences, somehow built as I have view in movies or articles, but believed that it could exist only in the past.
There is no mention of any of the Lake Tahoe towns any of which has so much more to do than most this video mentioned! First of all Lake Tahoe and the mountains surrounding it is spectacular all year long. With 10 Ski Resorts, Edgewood Golf Course, Five Star Hotels/Restaurants and hundreds of mountain trails life is always interesting living here!
Bruce, Lake Tahoe is in California! We Hate California and Jerry Brown. (D)
Shhhh! Don't tell anyone abt Tahoe! gah!
Also Tahoe is stupid expensive.
@@OceanDriveSpeeder It's also in Nevada, so you can like the Nevada side.
Durango and Telluride in Colorado worthy of mention. Park City/Heber/Midway Utah is pretty nice also.
They missed a real gem: Silverton,CO
Colorado could easily have its own top 20. Great State to live in, and great State to travel in.
Traveling with Rick -for sure...also Telluride, and Durango.
Telluride is ok to visit but would never want to live there due to how stupidly the town is ran.
Durango is great to visit. It has the best free museum ever, the Railroad one. I took the narrow-gauge trip to Silverton last year. It was a great trip with scenic views all the way. Durango has great bars and a fantastic Himalayan Restaurant, The Himalayan Kitchen. If you are in Durango, don't fail to eat there. Salida is also a wonderful town to visit. Stay in the Salida Inn and Monarch Suites Motel. Friendly Family ownership and great accommodations. Eat at Currents, they have a good selection of fish daily. Moonlight Pizza is over-rated.
+Traveling with Rick- I could not agree more. Durango > Silverton via the narrow-gauge. Great trip!
You may as well have not even mentioned Taos, NM. You showed a picture of the Pueblo Reservation. That;s all well and good but Taos is a beautiful town with lovely shops and art studios as well as good restaurants. It is the seat of the ski resort .
I don't know why they fixated on that one image of Taos. More than the pueblo. This is the western edge of the green part of New Mexico.
Love this video!
Saranac lake should be on this list. Short drive from lake Placid, Historic Winter Festival,great village walk along the river, nice lake side beach,and park,near mid size and world class Alpine and Olympic level Cross Country skiing. It is a smaller and friendlier Lake Placid. Paddlers paradise too.
Congratulations for your national holiday on 4th July USA from your friends in Germany
Jackson NH
Lincoln NH
Franconia NH
Carroll NH
Crawford NH
North Conway NH
Trout Lake WA
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS REGION IS JUST A WONDERFUL AREA...THE FORT COLLINS AREA AND ITS SURROUNDING PARKS NORTH OF COLORADO ARE GORGEOUS.
If any town makes this list, I'm not interested. Want a place that hasn't been "discovered."
Eric the Red then, you should go to Patagonia, or Antartica. Howvever there are lots of undiscovered mountains on Mars, Venus and underneath the Earth's water. Massive mountains are waiting undiscovered beneath the oceans.
I live in a Rocky mountain town that know one on here knows about. 108 permanent residents. It's seasonal but we live here year round
Brenda Wright what town is that?
@@reneeraw6927 Cloudcroft New Mexico
@@GenAfterNextTactics thank you!
Title of the video should be "Top towns in Colorado"
great video i like
Thanks for the visit
What about Truckee, California. It is the gateway to the the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is located at the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas are a short driving distance from Truckee. The Truckee/Tahoe area is very popular area for fishing, backpacking, boating, bicycling and hunting. There is something there for just about anyone. Numerous excellent restaurants are located in the Truckee area.
Very beautiful
Missed several (Telluride, Aspen, Vail, Big Bear, Park City and most of these are for tourists and have crowds and attractions and souvenirs and hassle. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge is the worst. Miles of traffic, mini golf, movie theaters, go-karts, Elvis and Dolly Parton museums. The ski towns more expensive but much better views, mountains are 10,000ft. and are less crowded while focused on skiing in the winter, outdoor activities in the summer. Anywhere in the West is better than anywhere in the East.
iamnotfernando : If you want to do the Smokies, but, like me, can’t take Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, get a cabin in the Wears Valley/Townsend area. It’s quiet. You can always run to the Kroger in Pigeon Forge, or the IGA in Townsend, for supplies.
Aspen and Vail sit in holes and are not beautiful towns. Vail is nothing but a long strip of condos. No reason for them to be on this list.
Wow people, lighten up. Change is happening everywhere, there are no constants. Enjoy that you had it nice at least once in your lifetime.
Right! A lot of the comments do seem unfriendly and snotty here.
Ive been blessed to have spent time in 8 of those 20..... there are so many more out there it's hard to pick just 20......but Ouray was certainly different.... nearby was Durango and Silverton also very nice......Jackson may be my favorite because i love photography but it's expensive and has become very touristy the past 20 years......... they are all beautiful however
lincoln New Hampshire should be on here. Its an amazing mountain town in the white Mountains with great ski areas and Tramways
Real mountains are in the west, not the east.
Attention all whiners.... Tourists and rich people flock to the best places. Good luck finding some amazing place that isn't full of rich people and tourists. It doesn't exist except in the minds of those who do mental gymnastics, convincing themselves that where they live is so awesome because everyone there is poor and no one wants to visit.
Well said. Why would rich people and tourists want to go anywhere other than the best places? Seems obvious that you would find them in Jackson, Aspen, and Telluride because of what those places have to offer.
It’s amazing how there are zero California towns in this video. Unimpressive to say the least. I suppose they ran out of money at the Sierra.
Should be named "Tourist Traps". Thought it would be little known "quaint" towns nice to live in. Exception would be Sitka, which is not so full of tourists due to the difficulty of getting there. Cruise ships do stop by though.
You are right about tourist traps. Lake Placid NY is also. But there are a couple of things people should know. LP is a great little alpine town with lots to do but lots of tourists. Instead, go 8 miles down the road to Saranac Lake. Much quieter with restaurants but if you need more drive over to LP. Also, there are more beautiful lakes in the area than anywhere else in the US except Wisconsin and maybe northern Minnesota.
exactly! ive lived in quaint towns in the eastern sierras in california. none of which are on this list. half the list seemed like it was just the ski towns of colorado
I've been to a few of these western towns.....they left out the best one--Kalispell, Montana and another, Leadville, Colorado and lest we not forget Mammoth, California......but one of the best is Susanville California.
I cant speak for much on the list other than the Colorado towns. Crested Butte is definitely a tourism destination with the costs to go with. All the other ski towns mentioned are definitely high costs tourism destinations.
#1 Ouray would be the exception.
I lived on the Western Slope for awhile and Ouray and Silverton were my two favorite towns. I havent been back since 2011 but last time i was there, we stayed at a really nice hotel right on the river and Box Canyon where the ice climbing park is located. The room was around $100 a night. This place was no W but it wasnt a Motel 6 either. View was worth $200 a night.
It may have changed since i was there last but i kinda doubt it.
About 7 miles north (550)towards Ridgeway you can take a right on county rd 10(i think) and head towards owl creek pass. Its on around 13 miles but you better have full tank of gas and around 3-4 hrs but that drive has some of the most beautiful places on earth. Silver Jack reservoir, etc.
brooks weiss And there are plenty of those gorgious little known places too!
In Taos, that's not Spanish architecture, but Taos Pueblo, the oldest structure in the US and home to the Taos Indians - who dislike the Spanish for what they have done to the Indians in the Southwest - the very ones you are now insulting. They still live there.
"Insult" is a bonafide use of language. Stop being anally retentive. And wrap your head around your language and all its possibilities.
Yeah "insulting" isn't the right word man.
The real gem is on the other side of Taos mtn, which is Eagles Nest Lake which is ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
@@davidkingraiders7294 - Yep, the drive on US 64 east from Taos to Cimarron is great. Most people think New Mexico is a desert. I have criss-crossed that area many times, usually get rained on. Can't believe how that area dried out and burned in the summer of 2022 in the Mora valley almost to Las Vegas.
Beautiful! However, how could you miss Jackson whole, Wyoming? 😯
Awesome town.
Is it similar to an ass-whole ?
Jackson WY is the town, Jackson Hole is the name of the valley the town is in.
Gros Ventre is pronounced "Grow Vont".
5:39 He didn't miss it
Disappointed that Leavenworth Washington wasn't on the list.
michael tipton Do they let you build a normal house in Leavenworth? It is absolutely beautiful, but it may be too much of a theme town or a toy town.
Talk about tourist traps, that's it.
@@robertthomas8653 just in downtown. There's lots of places around the outskirts which isn't Bavarian themed
@@benluecken2839 I know. I used to live in Washington and have been in Leavenworth countless times. But to me it's pretty much a tourist trap and just a place to pass through and not stop.
Robert Thomas yeah I have been there multiple times as well. It is very touristy around Christmas and Oktoberfest but for someone who’s never been there it’s definitely worth a stop. But I agree, it’s not as cool after going there multiple times a year like I do, though still a fun place to stop every once in a while
Really good list
Glad you got Sedona AZ in . You forgot Flagstaff AZ, a real snow town at the base of Mt Humphry , the highest mt. in AZ, at over 12000 ft. Good skiing .
Neither one town in the Great Smoky Mountains nor the Ozark mountains were mention. Wonder why? Stunning up there, especially in the autumn.
C Truth - Gatlinburg was on the list, “Gateway to the Smoky Mountains”.
I lived and worked in the western U.S. all my life. I'm a forester by education and would love to see the fall colors in the east. I would go nuts trying to identify trees.
I want to live in the mountains one day!
Dubai Yes North Korea No AKA Austin Stitzel they’re amazing
Bring your check book!
There is so many good mountains in America. So many left off the list.
You forgot the world's most biggest, greatest and the best mountain town of all!
South Park, Colorado
No Shit!
Crested butte new slogan: go away we’re full
I rode a bicycle from Gatlinburg to Clingman's Dome summit, I was passed by 100,000 cars in 1-2 hours. It is so crowded and busy like New York city, mountain towns are too crowded now. Hard to relax, the planet is getting way too crowded. It is not fun to hike with 1000s of people all around you.
I’m surprised you even survived that! People around there aren’t really accustomed to dealing with cyclists on the road. The Smokies are stunning, but Gatlinburg is tacky. Even worse . . . Pigeon Forge! 😱🤢
Wonderful video. I have been to a few of these wonderful towns and they are the best. Never had a problem with traffic in any of them; because I went slightly off season and got lower rates. Warning: The turbulence can be very rough for the entire ride going into any mountain town in a prop plane during change of seasons. Prop is $200 cheaper; jet is much smoother and usually not available until high season. Prop planes not best for children or adults that fear flying.
Jackson Hole is expensive as hell.
Fuck ya
World Economic Summit held in Jackson Hole. We missed it by a week; thank goodness. Jackson Hole is awesome. Since it is so far north, sunset colors last until 10 pm when it finally gets dark and you can see the beautiful night sky.
Which is why the workers live in victor or Driggs, ID (which are now very expensive too). It's also very, very busy during the tourist seasons.
Yup. The billionaires are kicking out the millionaires. Happy that my neck of the Rockies weren't mentioned.
@@lowlifeangler you definitely live up to you're name that's for certain! Btw the reason it's so expensive is because of famous people moving in. I fear cody will follow the same trend because of Kanye West and the Kardashians. Thank goodness I bought my house already.
So sorry, hard to believe Incline Village, Nevada was not on the list? Beautiful and on the North shore of Lake Tahoe....gorgeous!!
Matter of opinion, but yeah Crested Butte area is nice. I liked Gunnison, CO better just down the valley. They certainly had a totally different "spirit" about the two considering they are only roughly 28 miles apart.
Lived in Breck for a while before getting out to a less populated mountain town. Breck/Frisco/Silverthorne is wildly overcrowded nowadays. Really hard to enjoy yourself there if you enjoyed it 10 years ago. Just not the same.
10:15 That's the picture you decide to show for Taos New Mexico?? That's an awesome town with beautiful winter mountain scenery and you chose to show a boring dirt house for 30 seconds.
Pioneertown takes some beating YeeHa!!Greetings from Wales, UK
I’m not even going to comment what should be on there. I wouldn’t want to spill the secret.
Lake city Colorado.. Should be on this list
One of my favorite towns ever
Awesome video!
I would add Logan Utah. It has the advantage of having a University, Theater and Opera and is not over run with tourists. Affordable too. Easy access to the outdoors of Cache Valley canyons and Tetons, Yellowstone, Southern Utah Parks are just 6 hours beautiful drives away.
Some of the eastern cities should’ve counted because those are hills not mountains
If you've been to one Colorado mountain town(and there are plenty),you've been to them all.
jessie supreme LOL,which one do you live in?
I've traveled through much of Colorado and I would disagree.
Very nice selection but Telluride was overlooked!
Not USA but right across the border is Rossland Canada. Crazy cool little Mt town.
Beautiful....tks
There's a hundred more decent places, but don't more here. Too many Chicagoan and CAs already ruining this place
They flee their crap and then try to turn here into what they ran away from.
Yup! What happened to Florida! All of Florida! I'm a native and trying to get out! Argggg!!!!
Colorado...lo and behold beauty across this majestic state! This is Bat Country!!!!
Chris Hinch
I'd give anything to move from the UK to a mountain town in Colorado
Very nice places i always like to see mountains..thanks
OMG What happend to Aspen Colorado?? Why is that nice town not on this list?? I`ve been several times there, and some others here you did show,!! I Liked Taos New Mexico btw a lot too! The good thing is i saw some Aspen trees on your video, into very nice colours they change, and the sound of them when the wind blows is stunning!! Too bad they wont grow in The Netherlands, took some shoots with me, but did not want to stay here...:((
Red Lodge Montana. You missed a gem
Neetha Desilva I believe ya and Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho.
No asian indians please
Absolutely!
Eureaka springs ark. A great and pretty little town of a couple thousand people.
@@howardmitchell6400 But dude, it's in Arkansas!
I think that any mountain town that depends on tourism doesn't really give you the true mountain town experience. That being said,. Bonner's Ferry, ID has the real mountain town vibe.
This list was likely drawn up by some sort of national real estate brokers association. They are all the trendy mountain small towns in the U.S., although I would argue that Ashville is neither a small town nor located in the mountains. I've stayed in about half of these towns and am glad the mountain town I live in is not on the list, although is more trendy than I care for.
interesting views of mountains
Winthrop Washington , home of Sun Mountain Lodge. A cowboy town like Jackson.
Cowboy town?????? Now that's hilarious.
They forgot N. Idaho
Shhhh!! Dont let them know!!
You missed Whitefish Montana. A definite top five pick.
Vail Colorado and surrounding areas ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Three Sisters snow mountains in Bend Oregon really awesome
I heard they were going to change the name of Bend to Little Cali, Oregon!
I can't believe you left out South Lake Tahoe, Ca!!!!
AH you forgot Blairsville Ga. What a grrreat little town with big southern charm. Beautiful Lake Nottely and Brasstown Resort are the best. Four real seasons but not a huge amount of snow to deal with in the winter. Summers are fair, lush and green and miles of wild meadow flowers. The fall leaves are stunning. The Scottish Festival is great as so the summer fresh vegetable market. Come visit and rent the many mountain cabins available. Better yet retire here and be a neighbor that you don't have to live crammed together. Land prices are still reasonable and building your dream home is what ever you want. 100 miles north of Atlanta up in the Appalachian Mountains with the highest peak at 6000 ft. Been living here 15 years and still not willing to leave.
i live 10 miles from helen ga! a nice little town with a bavarian theme but kind of a tourist trap!
Kind of a tourist trap? The town's whole purpose is to be a tourist destination, i.e. "trap". And I was just there recently and it was a dump. Shops with dirty worn-out carpet, grit and grime everywhere. We didn't go in one single store that didn't need a fresh coat of paint both inside and out and had tacky handmade signs everywhere. If Helen doesn't invest some money in itself soon it's not going to have much life left as a tourist trap.
Aww man, you can't leave out Red River, New Mexico
Woof Gatlinburg? That’s like the Myrtle beach of the smokies
Sedona Arizona is awesome. First Place although all sites were Amazing!
Lamas, UT is pretty nice. I’ve never lived there but I have visited a few times so idk what living there is like.
Wow Colorado 😍😍😍😍
Yeah I don't know there's a lot more cute little towns in Colorado although Ctrested Butte is really awesome
Beautifull USA!
I haven't been to most of these towns but it's hard to imagine any of them topping Lake Placid. I hope to visit them all. I love the mountains!
william Hamilton avoid Asheville NC unless you are a hippie or a crackhead
william Hamilton I am so lucky to live in lake placid
I live right outside Park City Utah. It's beautiful here but it gets really crowded in the winter. Especially during th Sundance Film Festival. The narrow small town roads can't handle all the traffic.