Some people prefer the beach, some prefer the city, and some prefer flat lands and farm country.
Me, I prefer high altitude, critter-filled, skyscraper high, mountains.

I mean, I don't get me wrong I like all those other places just fine but every time I see a couple of high towering mountains, my heart does a little backflip in my chest.

Whether it’s eating coast Appalachia or the Rockies way out west I'm drawn to those suckers. The best towns I've lived in have been mountain towns. They just bring this sense of serenity to everything nearby, like guardians watching over all things below them.

With mountains comes a list of fun things you can do. You can climb up them and see the world stretched out at your feet. You can hike around and find waterfalls, run into hundreds of different wildlife, and capture some of the most breathtaking views that will leave all of your friends wishing they were with you to see it too.

During the winter you can see the magnificent snow caps that that cover the mountains in white. You see people flocking to ski towns to get of taste of the powdery goodness that has taken over. I know people who live in mountain towns solely for the sports that wintertime brings. The mountains are literally right for every season and each one brings a different lifestyle with it.

You also get a wide variety of people in mountain towns. Some people retire there; spending out there last year’s happily hidden away in the mountains. You have wanders and tourists just passing through to see the beauty around them. Free spirited college students flock to them in the hopes of living out their dreams or to just enjoy their prime in an environment that matches their style. You have people from all walks of life that share their stories with the mountains.

For myself, the mountains hold some of my fondest memories and most treasured relationships. They've seen my best and at my worst, and as mountains do, they continue to stand tall and remind me to do so as well. Mountains aren't just big heaps of Earth to me, they're a home and a place where I always feel welcome. So as much as I may enjoy visiting the beach for a few days out of the year when the mountains start calling, I always want to go. Because there is no place quite like my perfect little mountain towns.