carbondale

Location: 170 miles west of Denver on Colorado 82
Elevation: 6181, Population: 5196

Resting in the giant shadow of 12,953-foot Mount Sopris, and halfway between steamy Glenwood Springs and chic Aspen, Carbondale is billed as the place where Rocky vistas meet crystal waters. There is a lot to do in Carbondale, from biking to kayaking to world-class fly-fishing.

For a detailed history of the area, head to The Mount Sopris Historical Museum, housed in a century-old, two-story log cabin, or come in October for the annual Potato Day Parade and Festival, a celebration of Carbondale's heritage.

Here, in what National Geographic's Adventure magazine calls The Ultimate Rocky Mountain Hideout, art galleries offer tasteful gifts, including some of the finest ceramics in the region. For a laid-back Western experience, try local guest ranches like the Avalanche or the Flying Dog. Like an eclectic menu? Chef Mark Fischer creates random acts of cooking, including mango-barbecued pork T-bones in his quirky, downtown Six89 Main Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Only a short drive away from Carbondale is the Redstone Inn Castle, a luxurious, Tudor style, turn of the 20th century mansion. Construction of this 42-room estate cost $2.5 million and the completed product rivaled grand homes in Europe. Tours are available during the summer.

Source: Colorado.com

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