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."

• Vibe: Pastoral with mountain escapes
• Population: 48,000
• Median housing price: $143,860
• Average commute: 16 minutes
• Average number of sunny days: 219 per year
• Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Wandering among the wildflowers on Riverside Trail in the Logan Valley
• Simple fun for less than $10: Heading to the Caffé Ibis, a tiny roasting house, and savoring a custom-blended coffee 
• Who knew?: Travel writers call Logan's Bear Lake the Caribbean of the Rockies, because of its bright turquoise color and white-sand beaches

All demographic information provided by Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net. For black-and-white reprints of this article, call 866-888-3723.