This tiny community outside Durango is known for its family-oriented ski hill. Locals love this quiet and inexpensive winter playground in southwestern Colorado. A good part of Hesperus is lighted for night skiing, there's a tubing hill for kids and lift tickets hover around $25. Featuring crowd-less slopes and a full ski-school program, it's also a great place to learn how to carve turns. Between runs, a snack bar and warming hut await.

A few guest ranches and numerous cultural, recreational and historical sites are also close to Hesperus. Guided fishing trips, old-fashioned sleigh rides, dog sled tours and four-wheel-driving trails all originate around Hesperus, and guided hunting trips. Hunts range from horseback pursuits to drop camp, where local guides have a camp already set up for the hunters. From hiking along the Colorado Trail in La Plata Canyon, to exploring the cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde, to soaking in soothing waters at Trimble Hot Springs, there's an endless selection of surprises waiting here.