Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City lasted 17 days but the Utah capital and its surrounding regions continue to enjoy the legacy of the games: an improved infrastructure, a permanent training site and, perhaps most importantly, global recognition.

Salt Lake City has a ski-based tourist economy--visitors can access seven ski resorts in less than an hour’s drive from its international airport. Banking and transportation are strong industries, too, and the tech sector is growing. The city is also making a name for itself in the arts. SmartAsset.com, a personal financial web tool, put Salt Lake in second place on its 2015 list of top cities for creative professionals, the only western city in the top ten. The site points to Salt Lake’s museums, music, ballet, festivals and screening locations for the renowned Sundance Film Festival as factors that draw a high concentration of creative pros.

Southeast of Salt Lake is Park City, a one-time silver mine boomtown that has been enjoying a rebirth as a luxury resort and in-demand second-home destination. It is a place that, despite its influx of celebrities (Los Angeles is a quick flight), anonymity is still possible--except, perhaps, during the paparazzi-packed Sundance Film Festival that takes place every January.

Second homes account for the overwhelming majority of real estate transactions in Park City and its environs. Lofts are available in the heart of historic Old Town where an authentic western aesthetic is entrenched. Other property options include ski-in/ski-out condominiums, ranch homes and opulent mountain mansions in private communities throughout Deer Valley, The Colony at White Pine Canyon and Promontory. Some residences are perched on plots with views of three different mountain resorts.

Despite the inviting powder, it’s not all about skiing in these parts. Horseback riding, hiking, golfing and blue-ribbon fishing make the short list of four-season recreational activities.