Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado

Considering the quality of nearby attractions, this lively low-key university town in southwest Colorado remains remarkably under-visited.

It's main draw-card is its location between two very different landscapes. Drive west and you'll find yourself in the piñon and juniper scrublands and at Mesa Verde National Park which protects a series of incredible 14th century Native American towns and palaces as archeological remains.

But drive north and you'll quickly find yourself amid the immense peaks of the San Juan Mountains where tiny colorful mountain towns dot lonely roads that encircle a vast areas of wilderness. The potential for almost every possible outdoor activity is almost limitless and several top-flight ski resorts dot the range.