If you’re into hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking or other elevation-centric sports, you’re likely already a fan of mountain towns—those charming, adventure-friendly locales tucked into the hills. But mountain towns are also great places to take it easy, too: From world-class food and libations to their unmatched tranquil beauty, they offer an ideal way to escape the daily grind and relax.
Below, we’ve rounded up of some of our favorite mountain towns across the U.S. and included a few more far-flung destinations for good measure (scroll toward the end of the list to browse those). When you’re itching for a trip that blends the best of rugged and relaxed, explore mountain towns and their epic trails, microbrews, lakes, and scenic views. For a real recharge, spend some time at altitude.
The Best Mountain Towns Around the World
1. Park City, Utah
The outside world may associate Park City with glitz—the Sundance Film Festival, luxe ski resorts, restaurants helmed by big-name chefs—but ask locals what they love most and it’s sure to be the trails. The hills that surround town hold an unprecedented 400 miles of loops, networks, and connector trails for hiking, trail running, or biking. Best of all, the easy-to-access trails virtually bring the Wasatch Range to you and then drop you off back by quirky Main Street.
Nowadays, High West Distillery in nearby Wanship gets all the buzz, but you can have an equally superb time at Park Silly Sunday Market, a summertime fest of crafts, food, music, and a bloody mary station with enough accoutrements to make your drink feel more like a paperweight. Since warmer weather means not worrying about being first in line to hit Park City’s 9,300 skiable acres, reserve your stay at Washington School House. The hotel is a stone’s throw from downtown, and also has a tranquil pool and an unreal free breakfast with bounty from the farmer’s market.
Getting There: Fly to Salt Lake City; drive 40 minutes east.
For more information, visit visitparkcity.com.
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2. Crested Butte, Colorado
The 130-year-old former coal mining camp is nestled in a bowl of high pasture, a cul-de-sac formed by jagged mountains etched with hundreds of miles of Jeep roads and killer singletrack. Rent a dual-suspension ride from Crested Butte Sports, and get a map marking fabled rides like 401, a 14-miler that starts near the ghost town of Gothic, climbs past Emerald Lake, and descends through helmet-high wildflowers. Alternatively, venture to Evolution Bike Park, which offers over 30 miles of lift-served singletrack, including the machine-built Psycho Rocks, which lives up to its stomach-churning title.
For après-bike, head to Montanya Rum distillery—turns out that rum ages best at altitude, and the water from the spring-fed aquifer it’s distilled with is as pure as the stuff gets. Sure, you could book a hotel, but camping at Paradise Divide offers car camping at 11,250 feet and wildlife sighting you won’t soon forget.
Getting There: Fly to Gunnison; drive 30 minutes north.
For more information, visit gunnisoncrestedbutte.com.
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3. Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna may rise only a few hundred feet above sea level, but the peaks of the Alaska Range—Foraker (17,400 feet) and North America’s highest, Denali (20,320 feet)—hover like white ghosts over the town’s thick fringe of spruce trees. In summer, Talkeetna bustles with international climbers gunning for some of the world’s most formidable summits. As the locals put it: The Gore-Tex is in bloom.
“We love it,” says Alaska Mountaineering School owner Colby Coombs. “Instead of the usual crowd at the Roadhouse, you might end up sitting at a table next to five guys from Greece.” Long hours of daylight mean no one’s in too much of a hurry, and night tends to look a lot like day. Live music pours out of places like Mountain High Pizza Pie and the Village Park. After hours, whatever that means here, the scene becomes mellow and shifts to The Tavern at the Talkeetna Inn, a beloved dive bar formerly known as the TeePee Lounge. Starting in mid-May, catch the Denali Star Train, which departs from either Anchorage or Fairbanks and stops in Talkeetna, and enjoy jaw-dropping backcountry views and a revamped food menu with an emphasis on local ingredients.
Note: Talkeetna’s immediate surroundings are so wild and full of bears that venturing off into the woods is actually discouraged. But long days allow you to do things the Alaska way: Catch a Talkeetna Air Taxi for a flightseeing tour of the mighty one, Denali, with the option of a glacier landing at base camp, or hop a floatplane into the Talkeetna Mountains wilderness for a guided hike – or a day of fishing near a remote lake.
Getting There: Fly to Anchorage; drive two and a half hours north.
For more information, visit talkeetnachamber.org.
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4. Warren and Waitsfield, Vermont
In the Mad River Valley, Holstein cows graze green pastures, big red barns stand beside white farmhouses, and covered bridges span the burbling Mad. Sister valley villages Warren and Waitsfield are places for sedate retro pleasures like lounging on a village green, ogling 19th-century architecture, or playing 18 at Sugarbush’s Robert Trent Jones Sr. course.
Locavores, rejoice: Restaurant menus here cite the source of lamb, farm-raised venison, and organic produce. American Flatbread, a Thursday-Sunday restaurant on a Waitsfield farm, does organic-everything pizzas that have locals queuing for hours; the BigPicture Theater and Café in Waitsfield features house-made maple-glazed donuts to-go with its program of folk music and art-house movies. Even the local taco joint, the Mad Taco, sources from area farms, smokes its own meats, and serves regional craft cervezas.
To work up an appetite, jump on your road bike. The smooth, sleepy lanes that roll past rivers and creeks full of fly casters are among the best in the country for cycling. Route 100 is pleasant enough, but for a challenge, go for a gap ride like the 50-mile Tour de Hump, which links Waitsfield, Appalachian Gap, and Duxbury Gap.
For a taste of Europe, stay at the Austrian-inspired Grünberg Haus Inn and Cabins. It exudes upper New England charm, and it’s located 20 minutes outside of Waitsfield (it’s pet-friendly, too).
Getting There: Fly or take an Amtrak train to Burlington; drive one hour southeast.
For more information, visit madrivervalley.com.
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5. Ketchum, Idaho
Ketchum sits beside the second-largest roadless area in the Lower 48—the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, which makes it one of the most isolated spots in the country. Heading into the wild is as easy as driving over Galena Summit to Redfish Lake, where the crisp blue water reflects the Sawtooth Range’s most impressive peaks. Stare at it from its wide, sandy beach or tour it on horseback.
In town, a strict building code keeps hillsides and ridgelines free of development, yet Ketchum remains surprisingly lively. The town has long been an escape for the rich and famous, who have a firm belief that isolation needn’t come at the expense of a good martini and a decent symphony (Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks have homes here). On any given evening, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon a free outdoor jazz concert in one of the town’s half-dozen parks or at the $35 million Sun Valley Pavilion. Hit the Roundhouse, a repurposed vintage ski lodge at 7,700 feet, for a pre-concert meal, and then stop by wine bar Enoteca for a drink and wood fired pizza afterward. When you’re ready to pass out, the Knob Hill Inn is equally beautiful in summer months as it is when “snowga” season is in full swing.
Getting There: Fly direct to Ketchum.
For more information, visit ketchumidaho.org.
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6. Red Lodge, Montana
Cradled in a valley just outside the northeast corner of Yellowstone, Red Lodge is a great base camp for exploring America’s best national park. Ninety minutes southwest is the Lamar Valley—wolf country—and Specimen Ridge Trail, a tough hike through a petrified forest that leads to a great view of Mount Washburn.
In town, take a guided cruiser-bike tour down the snaking Beartooth Highway, one of America’s most beautiful drives. Then get buzzed on a Ben Nail IPA on the sun-drenched deck at Red Lodge Ales Brewing Company, where rancher types and transplants, drawn to the town’s lack of pretense, will happily dish on their favorite fishing hole or secret hike. Sleep off a hangover as a guest of the Lazy E L Ranch, where you can arrange to have a local chef prepare first-rate meals for you and your gang.
Getting There: Fly to Bozeman; drive three hours east.
For more information, visit redlodge.com.
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7. Truckee, California
Lake Tahoe, 1,600 feet deep, is the big draw in these parts, but gold-rush hub Truckee, 12 miles away, doesn’t suffer the same crowds as South Shore and Tahoe City. Plus, Truckee is within 10 miles of 10 other lakes: Donner, for fishing or swimming, and Prosser, glass-smooth in the morning and motor-free, for standup paddling.
Truckee is also a rising trail running destination, with events like the Squaw Mountain Run, Castle Peak 100K, and Sierra Crest Ultra Run held in the area. For the daredevil biker, tackle trails like Jackass or Yogi’s, knowing there will be downhill, lift-served mountain biking at Northstar California Resort when you need a breather (or if you simply prefer to take it easy). Reward yourself for setting new PRs with Skydive Truckee Tahoe or, you know, never leaving bed at log cabin-esque Cedar House Sport Hotel.
Getting There: Fly to Reno; drive 40 minutes west.
For more information, visit truckee.com.
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8. Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a mystical place with a deeply rooted Indigenous presence and imperfectly rendered adobe architecture. The rich red Sangre de Cristo Mountains, towering 6,000 feet above town on three sides, stand beneath an intensely blue sky. Unless you need a T-shirt, skip the central plaza—the Taos Inn, a block north, is the real heart of town. Hole up for a Cowboy Buddha margarita (none of that mix crap—we’re talking silver tequila, Cointreau, and real lime juice) and the grilled rattlesnake-and-rabbit sausage appetizer. Or, beeline to the newer Taos Mesa Brewing for a few beers washed down with their Frito pie.
Experience true Southwestern wilderness by hiking or trail-running on Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain in New Mexico at 13,161 feet, or rafting the Rio Grande Gorge, 800-foot basalt cliffs spanned by the dramatic Gorge Bridge. The Taos Box stretch is a full day of intense Class III and IV whitewater in a narrow canyon teeming with eagles, coyotes, and mountain lions. If you’re debating on where to stay, the answer is the Greater World Earthship Community, a collection of innovative sustainable homes that redefine off-the-grid living—some of which are available for rent.
Getting There: Fly to Santa Fe; drive an hour and a half north.
For more information, visit taos.org.
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9. Roscoe, New York
The Sullivan Catskills may be close to New York City, but you’ll feel like you’re on another planet. Kittatinny Campgrounds is the place to go for an active day—there’s paintball, rafting trips, and 3,000 feet of dual racing zip lines. Fly fishing enthusiasts will also enjoy the many offerings of Trout Town (Beaverkill is top notch), and an entire museum devoted to the sport.
Cap off your getaway by riding the singletrack at Pearson Park on Walnut Mountain to whet an appetite for round two of tastings at Catskill Distilling Company, Roscoe Beer Co., or Tuthilltown Distillery, the maker of buzzy Hudson Whiskey.
Getting There: Fly to New York City, drive two hours north.
For more information, visit sullivancatskills.com.
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10. North Conway, New Hampshire
This New England jewel is surrounded by the 660,000-acre White Mountain National Forest and endless hiking and bike trails (it’s also incredibly motorcycle-friendly). Tee off in one of the area’s 11 golf courses or trade clubs for canoes and float down the Saco River, where rafting, kayaking, and inner tubing are also options. In the winter, North Conway is all about ice climbing, but summer is equally alluring for climbing; you can book a guided trips or course with the International Mountain Climbing School. Nearby Omni Mount Washington Resort puts you in the shadow of the northeast’s largest peak (Mount Washington), or hole up at the Cranmore Inn Bed and Breakfast if you’re looking to stay closer to town.
Getting There: Fly to Manchester, New Hampshire; drive an hour and forty-five minutes northwest.
For more information, visit mtwashingtonvalley.org.
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11. Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Most come to this Colorado town for its hot springs—the world’s deepest—but they’re missing the nearly 3 million acres of San Juan National Forest and the Weminuche Wilderness Area. Make your first pitstop the Turkey Springs Trail System, which is comprised of 14 interconnected singletrack routes with loops, rocks, short steep pitches, and side slopes. If you’re craving whitewater, head out on the San Juan and Piedra rivers. Or, take it easy enjoying nature at Pass Creek Yurt and wash off the day (and, we hope, a hike on the Continental Divide Trail) in a solar-powered shower.
Afterwards, you can create your own beer crawl between Pagosa Brewing Company, Red Leg Brewing Company, and Riff Raff Brewing Company, the latter of which brews beer using local spring-fed geothermal heat.
Getting There: Fly to Durango; drive an hour east.
For more information, visit visitpagosasprings.com.
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12. Manchester, Vermont
The Green Mountain State may get plenty of winter love, but in summertime it’s a hiker’s nirvana. Manchester proves particularly ripe for adventure: Kick the dust up on Lye Brook Falls or Mount Equinox trails, the latter of which brings you to the highest point in the Taconic Range, which runs from southern New York all the way up to Vermont. Rest your weary legs at the Kimpton Taconic, which provides some cool in-room offerings for hikers like walking sticks and survival kits (hand wipes, poncho, first aid kit, etc.), along with on-site mountain bikes. Once your limbs are adequately exhausted, indulge in leisurely pursuits like an aerial restorative yoga class at Heart of the Village Yoga followed by a meal at The Crooked Ram.
Getting There: Fly or take an Amtrak train to Burlington; drive two and a half hours south.
For more information, visit manchestervermont.com.
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13. Chattanooga, Tennessee
There’s no way around it: Chattanooga is a town for active people. Nestled between two mountains at a bend in the Tennessee River, the city of 182,000 has a competition going on most every weekend, including both a full and a half Ironman, along with plenty of hiking, whitewater kayaking, and fishing for the more laid-back. While the outdoors are a big fraw here, the top-notch food, drink, and hotels are no afterthought, either.
Don’t miss stirring up some foam via kayak on the rapids of the Tennessee River Blueway, hang gliding at Lookout Mountain, and tackling the cracks of the Tennessee Wall, an epic crag on the rim of the Tennessee River Gorge. You can also head out for a great three-mile run on Bluff Trail, which hugs the scenic edge of Lookout. And when you’re spent, there’s fried chicken and a long beer list waiting for you at Champy’s.
Getting There: Fly direct to Chattanooga.
For more information, visit chattanoogafun.com.
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14. Roanoke, Virginia
A contender for the mountain biking capital of the East, Roanoke offers a first-rate selection of challenging trails ranging from Carvins Cove (lots of switchbacks) to Mill Mountain Star Trail, which takes you to the world’s largest free-standing illuminated neon star.
When you’re done after a long day in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the historic Hotel Roanoke offers in-room massages to relieve tight muscles, and the 24/7 Texas Tavern has been filling hungry stomachs since 1930.
Once you’re rejuvenated, hike the three trails at the “Triple Crown” along the Appalachian Trail. Consider that part one of your training for the annual Blue Ridge Marathon, a springtime race with over 7,430 feet in elevation change.
Getting There: Fly direct or take an Amtrak train to Roanoke.
For more information, visit visitroanokeva.com
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15. Casper, Wyoming
With a slogan like “the mountain town for the wild at heart,” you know you’ll want to pack extra Advil for both physical and booze-related ailments. In Casper, it’s a difficult choice between climbing or kayaking Fremont Canyon, but we’ll go with the former—all the better for viewing the insane burnt orange reflection of the jagged rocks in the water below. (Swing by local adventure outfitters like Mountain Sports or 307 River Sports for gear.) Come meal time, steer the crew towards Silver Fox, a laidback steakhouse with tasty baked scallops. After recovering from your food coma, enjoy a beverage at locally owned favorite Moonlight Liquors.
Getting There: Fly to Denver; drive four hours and fifteen minutes north. Alternatively, take a connecting flight to Casper-Natrona County International Airport.
For more information, visit visitcasper.com.
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16. Bryson City, North Carolina
The southern gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryson City sticks close to its roots with lots of killer hickory-smoked barbecue and bluegrass music. The charming town is completely wrapped by dense forest and still has its old-fashioned ice cream fountain, Soda Pops; its mountain-crafts shops selling corn-shuck dolls and sourwood honey; and a big, chugging passenger train that runs right through town twice a day.
But in Bryson, you also find a kayak on every roof rack. Outside town is the Deep Creek section of the park—great for trail running, kayaking, day hikes to a trio of waterfalls, and tubing. Nantahala Outdoor Center is the paddling-rafting nexus of the southeast (if not the country), with a paddling school and float trips on the Nantahala River. The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad excursion may sound a bit touristy (it is), but the 4.5-hour roundtrip is a more laid-back way to see the backcountry. Skip the hotels here and a book a cabin like Shooting Star Ridge. It’s outfitted with fire pits, a hot tub, mountain views, and the blessing (or curse?) that is WiFi.
Getting There: Fly to Atlanta; drive three hours north.
For more information, visit greatsmokies.com.
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17. Rapid City, South Dakota
The home of Mount Rushmore is also ripe for adventure, with the Black Hills Mountain Range boasting Black Elk Peak, the highest summit in the U.S. east of the Rockies. Lace up and pack extra grub for the Harney Peak Trail, where the northern approach presents a worthy challenge for more experienced hikers.
For lodging, grab an Airbnb—there are plenty of options in town and in the surrounding area. From there, it’s a quick drive to Badlands National Park and Custer State Park, a mecca for bison viewing. And since we’d be remiss to not send you to Mount Rushmore’s 60-foot faces of Washington and the gang, do that.
Afterward, sit back at a local haunt and raise a glass to the state’s incredible landscape with a signature South Dakota red beer; an unlikely but restorative combo of tomato juice and beer.
Getting There: Fly direct to Rapid City.
For more information, visit visitrapidcity.com.
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18. Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Colorado’s most genuinely Western mountain town has Rocky Mountain beauty and unpretentious authenticity. Beneath Sleeping Giant mountain, the 12,000-foot Flat Tops, and the sharp, solitary summit of Hahns Peak are working cattle ranches spread over undulating green hills that give the town a feeling of big-sky spaciousness.
Downtown, with its century-old red-brick buildings, has an old-school soda fountain (complete with cream sodas and a jukebox) and shops like F.M. Light & Sons, a 100-year-old Western-wear store. Locals head to the pro rodeo on weekends to eat barbecued ribs and watch big names from all over the country compete.
If you’re not in town for a race, marathon, or triathlon, chase thrills at Emerald Mountain, where you can conquer 8.8 miles of singletrack and soak up some unforgettable valley views. Soak sore quads afterward at Strawberry Park Hot Springs, a set of secluded stone pools full of 104-degree mineral water. If you’re visiting in late summer or early fall, trade the hotel for dispersed camping on Buffalo Pass and thank us later.
Getting There: Fly to Denver; drive three and a half hours northwest.
For more information, visit visitsteamboat.com.
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19. Lewisburg, West Virginia
The bucket-list mountain biking challenge here is the Rocky Ridge Trail from the top of Kate’s Mountain. Dropping 1,500 feet in less than two miles with no switchbacks, it makes anything else in the sprawling Greenbrier State Forest look easy. Book a room at the General Lewis Inn, which dates to 1834, or The Greenbrier, another historic property dating to 1778 (pictured above), where you can take a spin at skeet shooting or falconry.
When the mood strikes, head to Smooth Ambler Spirits, where a handsome wooden bar is the perfect spot to sip gin or whiskey, and windows let you get a peek at the production side. Still thirsty? Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company and Hawk Knob Appalachian Hard Cider & Mead beckon.
Getting There: Fly to Charlottesville, VA; drive two hours west. You can also fly to Charleston, WV, and drive an hour and forty-five minutes southeast.
For more information, visit greenbrierwv.com.
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20. Grand Marais, Minnesota
Tucked beside the Sawtooth Mountains in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Grand Marais has it all. First up, fuel your adventures at Angry Trout Cafe, housed where an old fishing shanty once stood. Then, embrace your inner Nick Offerman at The North House Folk School, where you can hone your wood carving, fly casting, and sailing skills. Get outdoors at Judge C.R. Magney State Park, where a rugged trail drops you off at a series of waterfalls. Mountain bikers can stop at the Superior National Forest ranger station at the edge of town for maps and trail information.
For lodging, consider a stay at The Hungry Hippie Farm and Hostel, a converted barn perched in the hills above Lake Superior. It’s a short drive from Voyageur Brewing Company, which is also worth a visit.
Looking for more lakeside adventures? Check out our lake vacations guide.
Getting There: Fly to Duluth; drive two hours to the northeast.
For more information, visit visitcookcounty.com.
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21. Denali National Park, Alaska
There’s no town associated with Denali—it sits deep in the Alaskan backcountry—but as the tallest mountain in North America, it gets an automatic spot on this list. Denali might be one of the trickier spots on this list to get to, but the trek is worth it for the area’s unspoiled beauty and diverse array of wildlife. Be warned: You’re more likely to see caribou, wolves, sheep, bears, and moose than the mountain itself—thanks to frequently cloudy weather, it’s only visible about 30 percent of the year.
If you’re not ready for a full backcountry hiking trip, take the path more traveled with Savage River Loop or Mount Healy Overlook—both popular, less strenuous hikes. Or get above it all with a helicopter tour, which will give you a bird’s eye view of the stunning Denali Glacier.
Getting There: Fly into Anchorage. Take the Alaska Railroad north from Anchorage to access the park. Talkeetna, listed above, is another good home base for visiting the area.
For more information, visit nps.gov.
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22. Bend, Oregon
When you’re thinking of nature in Oregon, chances are your brain is pulling images from this mountain town. Get out on trails like Green Lakes, Sparks Lake, and Big Obsidian Flow to soak in the great outdoors.
If hiking isn’t your thing, or if you need a post-hike brew, you can also hit the Bend Ale Trail, a carefully plotted route that will allow you to sample some of the best microbreweries in the region. Before you call it a night after all that drinking and exercise, don’t forget to grab some candy and a flick from the only Blockbuster still in existence. (Yes, really!)
Getting There: Fly into Roberts Field Airport; drive half an hour to Bend. Fancy a road trip? Portland is only 3.5 hours away.
For more information, visit visitbend.com.
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23. Vail, Colorado
Vail’s reputation as a top-rated ski resort still holds. (With 195 trails and 32 chairlifts, and 354 inches of average annual snowfall, you’ll stay busy.) But even if you’re more interested in the après-ski life than the act itself, there’s still plenty worth checking out.
We recommend a close inspection of the elaborate cocktails and food options at Fall Line Kitchen. (Four words: tenderloin mac and cheese.) If the weather is great, take a walk in the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. If it’s not, hunker down at Gravity Haus, where you can book a massage, sit in a hot tub, and you—guessed it—eat even more at their decadent in-house restaurant and coffee shop before crawling up to your room for the night.
Getting There: Flying into Denver will still leave you with a two-hour drive, so aim to land at Eagle County Regional Airport, which is serviced by both American and United Airlines.
For more information, visit discovervail.com.
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24. Aoraki, New Zealand
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park feels like proof that Lord of the Rings is real. Visit the iconic filming locations and get your hobbit on by visiting the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Sir Edmund Hillary used Aoraki as a trial run before summiting Mount Everest—if you have serious alpine climbing chops, give it a shot.
For the rest of us mere mortals (no judgment), there’s the Hooker Valley Track, a 6.2-mile trail that features some seriously cool suspension bridges. You can also hike to the Mueller Hut, a backcountry dwelling that not only offers views of nearby Mueller Glacier, but some of the best dark skies in the region. (For more celestial viewing, visit Mount John Observatory.)
Grab dinner and a bed for the night at The Hermitage Hotel, an iconic local destination since the late 1800s.
Getting There: Fly into Queenstown Airport (which handles domestic flights from Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch), and then settle in for a road trip. The park is three hours from the city via Highway 80 and State Highway 8.
For more information, visit doc.govt.nz.
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25. Zakopane, Poland
Flanked by the Tatra Mountains, Zakopane is known as the winter capital of Poland. Snowboarding and skiing? Yeah, they’ve got that—and thanks to a still-decent exchange rate, you’ll pay a lot less for your adventures.
After you unwind in the Chochołowskie Thermal Baths, be sure to try some post-ski oscypek, a smoky sheep’s milk cheese made exclusively in the region. Catch the local vibes by staying at Grand Hotel Stamary, a four-star hotel commissioned and built in 1905 by opera star Maria Budziszewska.
Getting There: Fly to Krakow. For a shockingly cheap option, grab a FlixBus from Krakow to Zakopane.
For more information, visit poland.travel.
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26. Cape Town, South Africa
Located at the foot of Table Mountain, Cape Town is technically a mountain town, but you won’t exhaust yourself climbing South Africa’s most iconic peak. The short(ish) hike to the top is great for the less athletically inclined and anyone interested in spotting the dassie, an animal that looks like a rat but is actually closely related to elephants. (Nature is awesome.)
Alternatively, take the cable car if you’re more about embracing epic views of land and sea than appeasing your Fitbit. Get your heart pumping with an off-road scooter ride, or embrace your dignified side with a high tea served mountainside at the WIFI Lounge.
Getting There: Fly into Cape Town.
For more information, visit capetown.travel.
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27. Kirkjufell, Iceland
It’s difficult to find a spot in the Icelandic wilderness that isn’t jaw-dropping, but Kirkjufell is a highlight among highlights. The most photographed mountain in Europe (or so locals claim), it looks equally epic covered in snow as it does under the northern lights. Take a moment (or few hours) to appreciate it, photograph it, and picnic by it and the nearby Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall.
Since this is pretty remote, there isn’t much else to do—but that’s exactly the point. When you’re ready to call it a night, head to Hótel Búðir, a three-star accommodation that also features one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in western Iceland.
Getting There: Kirkjufell is located a little over two hours from Reykjavík. Make the most of your trip by driving—there are plenty of stellar views along the way.
For more information, visit guidetoiceland.is.
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28. Mount Fuji, Japan
What other mountain has inspired haikus, paintings, and 3,776-meter pilgrimages to its summit? If you’re eager to get to the top, plan your visit for July through September, when the trails are open to hikers. If you prefer a significantly shorter climb, 400 steps will take you to the top of Chureito Pagoda and to a stunning view of Mount Fuji—especially during sakura season, when you’ll be surrounded by a sea of pink blossoms.
Find your center, or just compose a verse or two, at Fuji Five Lakes, a body of water located at the base of the mountain that offers opportunities for boating, windsurfing, and other sports in addition to moments of reflection.
Go ahead, make a night of it. Fuji View Hotel offers exactly what its name implies, along with in-house hot springs and a restaurant featuring both Japanese and French cuisines.
Getting There: Fly into Tokyo. Take the Fujikyu Railway Line from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station to Mount Fuji. The ride will take about two and a half hours.
For more information, visit japan.travel.
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If you’re into hiking, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking or other elevation-centric sports, you’re likely already a fan of mountain towns—those charming, adventure-friendly locales tucked into the hills. But mountain towns are also great places to take it easy, too: From world-class food and libations to their unmatched tranquil beauty, they offer an ideal way to TravelMen’s Journal
