North America's biggest and most popular ski resort, Vail is an alpine village in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Long a favourite of serious skiers and jet setting celebrities, Vail now also draws a younger, hipper snowboarding crowd. Skiing is king at Vail Mountain and the Blue Sky Basin, but the area's vast splendor is perfect for hiking, biking, snowmobiling or scenery-gazing at any time of the year.

Have you ever wanted to experience elevated city life? Then step on up to The Mile High City! Denver gives you the best of both worlds with mountain adventures and city excitement. Access to the majestic Rocky Mountains is a breeze and only an hour drive away, making Denver your perfect basecamp. During your stay, check out the award-winning dining scene with 26 Michelin-rated restaurants that will have you dining like a star. But, the fun doesn’t stop there! With a thriving and diverse arts and culture scene, live music at bucket-list concert venues, and championship level professional sports, you can truly do it all in Denver. Elevate your next getaway, and find Mile High City recommendations below!

Everyone knows Aspen as a top-notch winter resort town. But outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy it in the summer, too, when the mountains become a perfect setting for hiking, biking and horseback tours. Some may be surprised to find it’s a top romance destination—but after all that outdoor exercise, who wouldn’t want to repair to a luxurious hotel room or a cozy, firelit bar?

Despite its name and reputation as a world-class ski resort, Snowmass is not just a one-season Colorado wonder. More than 3,000 acres of terrain parks and halfpipes woo skiers and snowboarders, but 40 miles of hiking and biking trails keep active travelers on the move when the snow melts. The mountain town's boutiques and casual eateries complement the festivals, free music events and rodeo held each summer. When the flakes fall again, a groomed cross-country ski trail links Snowmass to Aspen.

Live music is the essence of Austin, but it isn’t even close to the whole story. With spectacular entertainment districts, ubiquitous culture and top-notch restaurants, Austin allows you to create your own soundtrack. Austin boasts more than 250 music venues, the world’s first James Beard Award-winning barbeque pitmaster, an eclectic arts scene and the unique migration of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Take a look around and put the Live Music Capital of the World on your playlist.

At the crossroads of the Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers, Wenatchee is tucked away in a rugged valley full of natural and manmade wonders, from challenging golf courses to rocky trails. The Wenatchee Valley's numerous orchards, fruit stands and annual Apple Blossom Festival have garnered the area the title of "Apple Capital of the World." With the snow-capped Cascades to the west and the mighty Columbia to the east, the Wenatchee area offers no shortage of activities for the adventurous traveler.

Make sure to pack your wellies, because Snowdonia National Park is one of the wettest spots in the U.K. Besides being soggy, it’s also pretty impressive. A fairly easy hike takes you to the top of Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales (topping any peaks in England, too), where peregrine falcons nest in the jagged cliffs. The park also has the largest lake in Wales, Llyn Tegid. It has its own Loch Ness-style monster—called Teggie, of course—though some figure it’s just an unusually large pike. This Snowdonia’s wonders can also be found on a smaller scale. Keep an eye out for the Snowdon beetle, which has rainbow stripes down its back.