San Juan Skyway, CO

Alps and Outlaws

Start in Telluride, a Victorian mountain town that's also a National Historic Landmark. In spring and summer, this glitzy ski town (elevation 8,750 feet) near the north end of this route is jumping with outdoor adventure, sports, and festivals celebrating the Wild West, wine, jazz, and more.

Pick up a free walking tour map at the Visitors Center. The whole downtown area is only five blocks wide and 10 blocks long, so you can tour it in 1-2 hours. Among the highlights: the spot where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank in 1889. The Gondola is another great freebie. The 12-minute cable car ride ends at Mountain Village, a ski resort area perched on a mountaintop high above town.