Ouray, Colorado

Ouray bills itself as the "Switzerland of America" because of its setting at the narrow head of a valley, enclosed on three and a half sides by steep mountains. A visitor can float in the Ouray Hot Springs swimming pool (open all year) and gaze at the slopes above.  Ouray is the winter ice-climbing capital of the U.S. The world's first artificial ice climbing park, expanding on natural falls, consists of dozens of frozen waterfalls from 80 to 200 feet high framed along more than a mile of the Uncompahgre Gorge.   The water is supplied by a sprinkler system developed and maintained by a volunteer organization and supported by donations from local businesses, gear manufacturers and climbers. The Ouray Ice Park is free and attracts climbers from around the world. The annual Ice Festival is a weekend-long extravaganza of contests, exhibitions and instruction with many of the world's top ice climbers.  An indication of the quality of this small town is the statistic that two-thirds of Ouray’s original Victorian structures are still in pristine condition.  The entire main thoroughfare is registered as a National Historic District. Ouray has also become a popular destination for motorcyclist as it marks the beginning of the Million Dollar Highway.