Logan, Utah

While Utah usually conjures up pictures of desert and rock, Logan is nestled in the heart of the green Cache Valley, a famous dairy region. It's never lost its rural Utah appeal, with its old-fashioned Mormon Tabernacle and ultraclean city square. But however much residents may love the town, they are quick to admit they're here mainly for the view. "Any day when I'm feeling frustrated, I just step out my front door and look at this beautiful mountain valley and instantly feel better," says Adrienne Akers, 59, who recently left her university research job to start a new business. She and husband Jim, 62, a consultant, have come to relish the plentiful opportunities for hiking and biking in the nearby Wasatch and Wellsville mountain ranges. Plus, they enjoy skiing. Beaver Mountain, a little-known gem, has all the great snow of other Utah resorts, but less of a crowd. "I've gotten attached to all the outdoor things I can do here," says Jim. "And it's all amazingly close." … Back to Article