Telluride sits in a box canyon so dramatic that the setting alone justifies the journey. Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks on three sides, this former mining town has reinvented itself as a world-class ski resort and festival destination.
The Telluride Film Festival draws Hollywood to this remote corner of Colorado each September. But summer brings Bluegrass, Blues & Brews, and a dozen other festivals that transform the town. In winter, expert terrain and relatively uncrowded slopes attract serious skiers.
A free gondola connects historic Telluride to Mountain Village, the modern base area 1,000 feet above. It's the only free public transit of its kind in North America—and the views are spectacular.