“Nearest highway: U.S. Highway 285. You’re bringing: Your college buddies, teenage kids, and/or athletic wife Suggested length of stay: Five days Tucked into the upper Arkansas Valley, a million miles from Vail and Aspen in proximity and price, Salida, Colorado is the prime dump spot for Arkansas River rafting, and in July and August, when the water levels and temps are just right, the kayak starts calling. You’ll need a guide, obviously; we recommend Eddy Line Anglers, who’ll take you roaring down class-three rapids while dropping a few flies in hopes of hooking a brown-trout lunch. Back on dry land, hikers can head to one of the nearby fourteen-thousand-foot-plus peaks — there are fifteen of them, but go for Colorado’s highest, Mount Elbert; you can practically see New Jersey — and then finish your day at Amica’s with crispy wood-fire pizza and microbrews. Book a room at the Gazebo Country Inn — ask Sandra for a back room with a view of Methodist Mountain — and then sleep the sleep of the just.” —TED VELIE