From National Geographic Traveler Article (see link below):Home both to ranchers in white cowboy hats and sporto types in fleece, quaint Carbondale is set at the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers and is anchored to the south by 12,953-foot (3,948-meter) Mount Sopris. The classic Rockies town is also home to new-school cool: A 13,000-square-foot (1,208-square-meter) skateboard park just opened, and a white-water park is in the works.

Pros: Beautiful, great mountains, biking, skiing, small community
Cons: Far away from population centers and jobs, cold in winter, expensive, not close to airport, no surfing