If you're in love with the great outdoors, then Pagosa Springs, Colorado, is the hometown of your dreams. Located in the Southwestern region of Colorado, this quiet town sits admist some 3 million acres of wilderness. The great Rocky Mountains and miles of forest land surround Pagosa Springs, giving the impression of a remote locale. And yet, several of Colorado's major metropolitan centers are just a short drive away. And while you might associate life in the Rockies with hard winters and gloomy, housebound afternoons, you might be surprised to learn that Pagosa Springs is blessed with an average of more than 300 days of sunshine annually. So while snow might be on the ground, the weather still invites residents to venture outdoors for a little recreation. In addition to white Christmases, Pagosa Springs residents are treated to an abundance of fall color, mild summers and pleasant springtimes. No matter what time of year you visit this town, you'll be met with friendly weather and several options for how to spend your time outdoors. And be assured: One look at this landscape, and you'll never want to head indoors.

With the spring months on the horizon, Pagosa Springs already is looking forward to such regular pasttimes as rafting, golf (Pagosa Springs is home to a world-class, 27-hole golf course), hiking, mountain biking and fishing, as well as camping and backpacking. Navajo Lake is where boating enthusiasts pursue their hobby during the warmer months. If you're planning a trip to Pagosa Springs during ski season, you'll want to select Wolf Creek as your mountain of choice. Located just a short distance from Pagosa Springs, Wolf Creek is revered for its abundance of snow and its diversity of skiing -- from downhill to cross-country to snowboarding. Snowbiling is also available here.

Regardless of the time of year you visit Pagosa Springs, you'll want to experience a taste of the region's rich history. Located near Pagosa Springs are the Mesa Verde and Chimney Rock historic sites, which offer visitors guided tours of ancient Indian ruins. Or, hop aboard a train for a ride through the wilderness landscape; adjacent towns offer scenic tours throughout the year.

No visit to Pagosa Springs would be complete without a trip to its natural mineral hot springs -- a pleasure to be enjoyed during all four seasons. And throughout this quaint town traversed by the San Juan River, you'll discover plenty of eclectic retail shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. As you venture throughout its surrounding neighborhoods, you'll notice a large number of lakes, which provide a beautiful setting for its residential areas. And speaking of residential areas, Pagosa Springs natives are known for their small-town charm and their live-and-let-live attitude. Residents place a premium on nature and wellness, an outlook defined by the surrounding landscape and by the health enthusiasts that flock to the town's hot springs throughout the year, a natural resource once heavily used by the town's original Indian population.

This vast wilderness offers a near-limitness array of housing options for the prospective resident. If you're considering a move to Pagosa Springs, you'll be surprised at the number of Realtors who have elected to base themselves here. The local housing market is active enough to keep them all busy; an increasing number of permanent and seasonal residents are taking up residence here. Choose from riverfront property or a secluded mountain retreat; a log home, ranch-style or glass-filled contemporary; a sprawling mansion or estate in the woods; a parcel of land on which to build your retirement home; an A-frame, quaint cabin or ranch. Condominiums are quite popular, as well, and are offered at reasonable prices -- many of them priced in the low $100s and below. Timeshare properties are a popular choice for seasonal residents.

Pagosa Springs offers a piece of the dream to everyone, regardless of your budget. Home prices vary within an extremely wide range, from $100,000 all the way up to $1 million-plus, depending upon such factors as acreage and mountain- and riverfront views. Before you consider any residential real estate purchase, however, you'll want to investigate a number of variables which are unique to this area, such as road maintenance quality and the importance of property owners' associations. Local REALTOR® Jim Smith outlines these factors in detail on his Web site.

Whether your visit here is seasonal or permanent, Pagosa Springs will captivate you with its snow-capped mountain peaks, its dense forests and the small-town charm of its residents. With a natural playground as its backdrop, Pagosa Springs welcomes visitors from all socioeconomic walks of life. It's an attitude supported by the diversity and relative affordability of its housing.

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