The well-preserved, storybook mining village of Silverton is a designated National Historic Landmark and the perfect example of how these towns reinvented themselves after the mining boom: There are plenty of shops and restaurants to explore, as well as several historic sites to see. The town's location offers lots of options for enjoying the surrounding San Juan Mountains and the Weminuche Wilderness, including Jeep tours, rafting, horseback riding and hiking in the summer, as well as winter pursuits on Silverton Mountain (the state's highest and steepest ski area) or the family ski experience at Kendall Mountain, and endless trails for backcountry snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.