Outdoor Meccas:

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

Gainesville, GA  |  North Conway, NH 

North Conway, New Hampshire:

Population: 2,069

Median Home Price: $193,000

Nearby Activities: Hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, ice climbing, rock climbing

The Scene: North Conway is the Northeast's only true mountain town. Its residents celebrate Mount Washington—site of some of the most volatile weather in North America—by paddling the Androscoggin River, ice climbing in Huntington Ravine, and tallying Presidential Range ascents. 

OPTIONS: Ski Wildcat Mountain or Cranmore, or explore the valleys around the Presidential Range on horseback.

OUTFITTER: The trainers at Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School (www.emsclimb.com) will teach you the skills you need for rocking out on the White Mountains.

GOOD EATS: The Hoffman Weiss, a home-brewed unfiltered wheat beer, rolls sweet and spicy on the tongue at Moat Mountain Smoke House & Brewing Co.
(www.moatmountain.com). Have it with the ribs in this old mansion-turned-skiers'-hangout and inn. The Metropolitan Coffee House and Fine Art Gallery (www.metropolitancoffeehouse.com) has the feel of a European cafe, but with comfy couches to sink into with a book.  

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!