Not a local’s favorite thing to see, their small mountain community, quiet little paradise featured in a major news publication, but this is not the first time Salida, Colorado has been featured and I couldn’t resist highlighting it myself after reading the article. It is informative for anyone searching for a small Rocky Mountain ski town and was written by a great writer who used to live in Jackson Hole, Rachel Odell Walker.

10 highlights from Salida, Colorado, NY Times article, The Outdoors Life With No Attitude

• Local friendliness

• Outdoor lifestyle: “There’s fishing and boating in on the Arkansas River, cycling, skiing, hunting and the more passive pastime of soaking in the local hot springs. There are also three federal wilderness areas within about 30 minutes of town”

• Ski mountain 20 miles away: Monarch Mountain averaging 350 inches of snow annually.

• Less pretense than some of the other more well-known ski resort towns.

• Kayaking on the Arkansas River

• Pleasant climate

• 12 art galleries and the Steamplant Theater and Event Center

• Average real estate sales price about $300,000 (article has more stats)

• Described as “old-fashioned town laid out in a grid with walkable neighborhoods.

• This last one will be a “pro” for some and a “con” for others! More remote and less amenities than some of the other ski towns.

Every ski town east, west, Rockies really has its own unique style and personality and will obviously appeal to different people for different reasons. Job market, cost of living, accessibility, character, ski mountain all varies from town to town. The bottom line is that if you love and want to live in the mountains, with some searching around, you are bound to find your own little slice of paradise, that special place that’s going to be just right for you!