Number 7 Hilton Head Island, SC It is little wonder
this popular island community of just under 37,000 people can be
inhabited by 150,000 or more during the high season. Conveniently
located between Charleston and Savannah, Hilton Head Island boasts many
visitors who come for the Atlantic beaches and all the fun that goes
along with them. Others try to avoid the sand altogether -- or at least
the sand traps. Since 1967, Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort
has posed a challenge with holes requiring shorter, precise shots. Take
heart: Even the pros have to be on their A-game when the Verizon
Heritage Tournament plays here in April. If you need a change of pace,
unwind on the water with a yacht rental.
See and be seen: Go to the Harbour Town Golf Links in April, and the Sea Pines Resort in the spring through fall.
Number 6 Cherry Hills Village, COIf you have any doubts about the quality of life in this Denver suburb,
consider this: The average household income in 2000 was about $190,000
and the median house value was $893,000. As a visitor, you will notice
an absence of retail businesses as you drive through the town, further
underscoring the echelon of your surroundings. Cherry Hills Village has
played host to the PGA, the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open golf
championships. The village is rather enthusiastic about the game. Even
the municipal courses in the area play better than some
private clubselsewhere. If you can manage an invite from a member of Cherry Hills
Country Club (annual dues are around $100,000), you'll be in golf
nirvana.
See and be seen: Go to Cherry Hills
Country Club any time of the year. This is where professional
championships are held and some of Denver’s best golfers come to play.
Number 5 Key West, FLThis is probably as close as you will come to leaving the continental
United States without ever having to show your passport. Just 106 miles
from Cuba, this so-called Conch Republic is as much about history and
beauty as it is a state of mind. “Permanent vacation” may be one way to
describe it, but it is better experienced than imagined. How you get
there is a matter of time and preference. Obviously, boating is an
option, whether on your own craft or a rental. Driving U.S. Route 1(the
Overseas Highway) through the Keys can be relaxing if you are not in a
hurry; expect a five-hour drive from
Miamias most sections are only two lanes with plenty of traffic and heavily
enforced 45 mph to 55 mph speed limits. If nothing else, Key West has a
commercial airport. Once there -- especially in the western Old Town
district -- you will understand why Jimmy Buffett made a career singing
about places like this.
See and be seen: In January,
attend the Acura Key West international boat regatta, which is where
royalty and the wealthy mingle with Conchs and Parrotheads in
greater-than-usual numbers.
Number 4 Jackson, WYIf ever a place could clear the mind while replenishing the soul, the
austere beauty of Jackson, Wyoming, stands a strong chance. A common
misnomer, Jackson Hole applies only to the valley between the Teton and
Gros Ventre ranges, not to the town of Jackson itself. What else should
you know about The Last of the Old West? Well,
Harrison Ford,
Sandra Bullockand Dick Cheney have residences around here. The other 8,600 or so
residents are blessed with outstanding skiing facilities, including the
Snow King Resort, which is located in the middle of town, plus the
Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole Mountain resorts nearby. If powder is
not your playground of choice, you can indulge in fishing, hunting,
mountain biking, horseback riding, hot-air ballooning, and more. When
you’ve had your fill of the outdoors, the area offers a number of
luxury lodges and spas. You will undoubtedly leave Jackson whole again.
See and be seen: If
visiting the world’s largest ball of barbed wire doesn’t do the trick,
try going to Old West Days in late May. If you ski, the place to be is
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Subject: Fine Living Top 10: U.S. Resort Towns 
Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:07 pm
