Bear Valley is an unusual spot. Nestled in the Central Sierras between two iceberg wilderness areas, it unfolds at an elevation of about 7,100 feet, which allows this resort to open relatively early in the season for winter activities and close late. More importantly, though, it's one spot in California with snowy winters and sunny summers—a fact the teams here uses to its full advantage.

In the winter, owners Paul and Dianne Petersen make 3,000 acres of snow-carpeted terrain into a cross-country ski resort with 38 groomed trails, two of which are kid-friendly. (There's enough elevation to the terrain for gentle downhill, too, as well as sledding and tubing.) When warmer weather arrives, the outdoor enthusiasts transform the area into something else entirely: a destination for biking, kayaking, and standup paddleboarding. The lucky person who spends a full year here could master five or six outdoor sports.