Pendaries Golf Resort, Rociada

Players at Pendaries Golf Course forage for pars and birdies in mountainous highlands blanketed by ponderosa pines. The 18-hole course ranges in elevation between 7,500 feet and 8,000 feet, which not only makes for some dramatic mountain views, but might also net golfers a few extra yards on their drives thanks to thin mountain air and eagles who mistake golf balls for dropped eggs. As players concentrate on navigating the hard dogleg turns and blind approaches into undulant greens, their attentions may also be pulled toward the horizon, where the white peaks of the Sange de Cristo range loom over the expansive Rociada Valley.

Though certainly the crown jewel of Pendaries Village, the course is only a part of the experience there. When they're not playing golf, players can stay at the course's lodging and explore a wide spectrum of diversions offered by the 5,000-acre village. Once a home to grist-mill businesses and horse breeding operations, the resort offers outdoorsy activities such as fishing, disc golf, and hiking to destinations such as Upper Maestas Canyon and Gascon Point, elevation 11,600 feet. The old grist mill, meanwhile, still stands, giving guests a glimpse into the state of technology in 1875, when log cabins were standard and cowboys had to cook their Hot Pockets over an open flame.