Outdoor Meccas:

Durango, CO  |  Bend, OR  |  Bishop, CA  |  Ely, MN  

Gainesville, GA  |  North Conway, NH 

Bishop, California:

Population: 3,643

Median Home Price: $379,900

Nearby Activities:Climbing, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, fly-fishing

The Scene: Owens Valley ranchers and Buttermilks boulderers share paradise three hours from Yosemite, two from Death Valley, and half an hour from the Sierra Nevada.

OPTIONS: Route 395, the main artery between Reno with Los Angeles, runs straight through this cowpoke town, home to Mule Days, a weeklong celebration of pack-mules that draws rodeo lovers from around the country. Hike, climb, bike, and ski the Eastern Sierra range and Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48.

OUTFITTER: Sierra Mountain Center ($675; www.sierramountaincenter.com) leads three-day guided climbs of 14,505-foot (4,421-meter) Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48.

GOOD EATS: La Tacqueria Las Palmas (+1 760 873 4337) is a famous post-bouldering chow spot.

30 More Places to Live and Play:

Boise or Bust!

Outdoor Meccas  |  Adventure Cities  |  Small Towns

Cultural Hubs  |  Beach Towns  

Adventure's September 2006 issue features 31 amazing adventure towns; chaos at the top of Mount Everest; an inside look at surfing California's Lost Coast; 11 fall weekend getaways near you; the best high-tech footwear, world class adventure travel; hiking the Alps, and more!