I too am a mountain lover which is why I live near Seattle. The mountains around here are gorgeous--Mt. Rainer, the Olympics, and the Cascades. Any of these would be great for you to visit. The places mentioned in Canada are beautiful too, as are the mountains in Montana (though it gets really hot there in the summer).

Come to Alaska if you want to see beautiful mountains! I've lived here 45 years and wouldn't live anyplace else. It's beautiful.

Lake Tahoe is gorgeous in the summer! There's so much lake and mountain area that remains unspoiled by the casino areas. I'd suggest exploring Emerald Bay, Sand Harbor (they have fabulous Shakespearean plays on the beach), and even some of the neighboring smaller lakes. The mountains are beautiful, and the new Tahoe Rim Trail is amazing.

HI! I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR RESPONSES! YOU'RE RIGHT SEATTLE IS AWESOME ALSO. WE WERE THERE TWO YEARS AGO AND IT SNOWED ON US ON MT RAINER. WE LIKE LIKE HIKING - NO CASINOS - DRIVING THE MOUNTAINS LIKE IMOGENE PASS IN COLORADO. VERY OUTDOORS STUFF. I HATE TO HEAR THAT ABOUT CANADA. WE LOVE TO BE IN A SMALL AMERICAN TOWN DURING THE 4TH OF JULY. OURAY HAS AN OUTSTANDING PARADE, FIREWORK DISPLAY & FIREMAN WATER FIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO FIND ANOTHER TOWN LIKE THAT. CATHY

Cathy-I would not let one man's opinion of Canada keep me from vacationing there. The Banff/Lake Louise area is just beautiful. I am sure they do not want to jeopardize their tourist trade. Post over on the Canada board if you have any further questions or want opinions if Canadians are anti-American these days.

Another vote for New Hampshire's White Mountains-specifically Franconia Notch!

Cathy, I'll bet the mountains of WNC would suit you perfectly... sounds like you're in the mood for a slice of Americana with some great outdoor opportunities thrown in as well.

There's a bevy of charming towns to choose from around here in the Asheville area, including Hendersonville, Saluda, Brevard, Black Mountain. All of them offer great restaurants and unique shopping, especially if you're in the market for art and antiques. Also, in Brevard there will probably be concerts at the world-renowned Brevard Music Center, while in Hendersonville you can take in a show at the wonderful Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock, which is just south of town, and a nice little place to visit in its own right.

For outdoor opportunities, I recommend a visit to Hickory Nut Gorge, east of Hendersonville. There you'll find the villages of Gerton, Bat Cave, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure, all worth a look in their own right, but certainly worth visiting if you'd like to visit the beach at Lake Lure, or go walking or hiking in Chimney Rock Park, a 1,000 acre nature preserve. Other excellent outdoor pursuits can be found in Dupont State Forest, which straddles the line between Henderson (Hendersonville) and Transylvania (Brevard) counties... not to mention all the waterfalls you can visit around Brevard, and the numerous other state and federally owned lands near here -- Dupont's not the only forest worth a look!

We've got scenic drives, especially between Saluda and Hendersonville, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is accessible in Buncombe County, home to Asheville and Black Mountain, north of Hendersonville.

Last, but definitely not least, if you feel the need for an urban fix, there's Asheville, a magnificent, unbelievably beautiful city, full of art, funky locals, interesting shops and fascinating sites to see, like the Biltmore Estate, the Asheville Urban Trail, the North Carolina Arboretum, and dozens more!

If you look up Asheville on here, you'll find a wealth of information, but if you'd like more information on Asheville, and especially if you'd like to hear more about any of the small towns I mentioned, let me know. I can help you out.