With 300 days of sunshine each year, there’s never a bad time to visit Boulder, Colorado. Bike lanes abound, the local trail systems are accessible and world-class, and outdoor adventurists flock to this charming place for mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and even tubing—all found within minutes of the city center.

Boulder is surrounded by over 30,000 acres of city-owned open space, maintaining that rural, mountain-town feel. But Boulder’s beauty isn’t limited to its mountain vistas; Boulderites stay active, rocking that ‘just finished hiking glow’ year-round. Pearl Street, Boulder’s trendy downtown hub, offers Al Fresco dining against the iconic Flatirons backdrop with too many top craft beer locales to count. The University of Colorado at Boulder is only adding to the appeal of the city with Coach Prime’s continued college football ascension and a new winning record.

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or simply looking to flock to a beautiful city nestled amidst nature, Boulder needs to be on your list.

The luxurious St. Julien pampers its guests with a world-class spa and stunning mountain views. The A-Lodge Boulder offers a range of rustic cabins, glamping, and affordable hostel-style stays at the foothills of the Rockies, with easy access to hiking, biking, and climbing trails. Hotel Boulderado, a timeless classic, embodies old-world charm and is conveniently nestled on Pearl Street for easy access to best-in-class eateries, live music, and mountain vistas.

If Michelangelo, Toni Morrison, and H.E.R all collaborated to come up with a single destination, the creation would be Cannon Beach. A slow but purposeful seaside town of about 1,500 residents, Cannon Beach is structured around its abundant natural beauty. 

Start with one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks, the colossal Haystack Rock, a towering basalt sea stack that overlooks colorful tidepools and flocking seabirds up and down the shoreline. You can also get the view from above at Ecola State Park, stretching over nine miles of lush old-growth trees and ferns that have been featured in movies like ‘Twilight,’ ‘Free Willy,’ and ‘The Goonies.’ 

There are plenty of things to do in Cannon Beach for indoor dwellers as well, with dozens of art galleries, boutique shops, and fresh farm/boat-to-table restaurants. For eager beerologists and hopheads, Cannon Beach is a stop along Oregon’s North Coast Craft Beer Trail, so you can get a few good pints and a souvenir glass mug upon completion of the beer quest. 

If you will be visiting with a car, Cannon Beach is the perfect jump-off point to exploring more of the beautiful Oregon Coast. Whether cruising north or south, make a pitstop at one of the fishing ports dotting Highway 101 for a taste of some of the region’s best-tasting and sustainably caught albacore tuna directly from the fishermen.

Luxury in Cannon Beach means the best picturesque views and the winning prize goes to the Ocean Lodge. The 45 guest rooms of this beachfront property were uniquely designed by architects Ed Abbot and Michael Skidmore. Warm-baked cookies and wood-burning fireplaces in the room are just a few of the small touches that make the property one for the books. You can still make good memories on a budget though, and Puffins Place Cabana is that sweet spot in-between. The vacation rental is only a block from a private trail leading to the ocean and can accommodate up to four adults. 

Boasting a scenic location in the Selkirk Mountains on the West Arm of Kootenay Lake, Nelson’s stunning natural landscapes make this city in southeastern British Columbia a prime destination for outdoor pursuits. Its network of forested paths, steep mountain trails, and craggy limestone and granite cliff faces draw enthusiastic hikers, mountain bikers, and rock climbers in the summer months, while the winter months welcome hordes of powder hounds who race downhill at the Whitewater Ski Resort. 

Nelson also holds the title of BC’s heritage capital, thanks to its 350 historical sites and meticulously restored heritage buildings that date as far back as 1895, and to which the town owes much of its storybook charm. On a self-guided heritage tour, climb aboard historic Streetcar #23 and stroll along the tree-lined Front Street and Baker Street to uncover Nelson’s beginnings as a silver mining boom town.

Little known to many, Nelson is home to more restaurants per capita than major metropolises like Toronto and San Francisco, making this a fast-rising foodie hotspot. Visitors can gorge on a wide range of culinary offerings like thin crust pizzas from Beauties Pizza, slurpable bowls of ramen from Red Light Ramen, and craft beer and smoked barbecue dishes from taphouse Broken Hill, set within a heritage building.

Lakeshore Boutique Inn beckons those looking for a tranquil retreat. Situated a five-minute drive from the center of Nelson, the property boasts a covered sundeck, 11 bedrooms, each equipped with a cozy queen size bed, and a private beach on Kootenay Lake from which guests can savor sweeping views over Orange Bridge and Elephant Mountain.

Those who prefer to be situated in Nelson’s historic city center should bed down at Cloudside Hotel. Although housed in a heritage villa dating back to 1900, the eight rooms, suites, and apartments at this centrally located property offer modern amenities in a stylish setting.