In the heart of southwest Montana’s Gallatin River Valley— halfway between trendy Bozeman and the majesty of Yellowstone National Park—lies the still-unspoiled town of Big Sky, population 1,245. This idyllic area, once explored by Lewis and Clark, is now the destination of choice for modern settlers looking for an old-world, ranch-oriented lifestyle, but one that gives up nothing in the way of modern conveniences and amenities. Just such a place is Spanish Peaks, a 5,700-acre private residential and recreational development that is blessed with one of the best Tom Weiskopf- designed golf courses anywhere. A simple horseback ride from Yellowstone National Park, Spanish Peaks is a place for golf, fly-fishing and skiing, to be sure, but in the bigger sense it is a place to enjoy all the best life has to offer.

The Club at Spanish Peaks— Big Sky, Montana
spanish-peaks.com (877) 995-3104

Less than two hours northwest of Denver International Airport resides an intimate mountain resort community ready to make the hustle and bustle of the every day disappear. Surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains, towering pines, rolling meadows, clear lakes and clean air, you’ll discover a Colorado few will ever experience. Here, an unhurried pace invites you to reconnect with nature, family and friends. Welcome to Fox Acres, an exclusive, residential hideaway encompassing 460 pristine acres set against the Roosevelt National Forest. This spectacular community has created the perfect balance between luxurious homes and pampering amenities with an easygoing charm. Picture yourself in this alpine paradise playing on the championship golf course, casting your line in one of the many stocked lakes, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or simply relaxing in this majestic setting.

Fox Acrea—Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
foxacres.com (970) 881-2191

In the wide world of golf, Hawaii’s Big Island is both magnificent and unique.s One course tops a lava-spewing volcano; others, carved from ancient flows of brown and black lava, look like green ribbons curling through the dark rock; several others nuzzle down to the Pacific surf. It is an island that, once visited, remains in your dreams. If that category includes you, a Big Island home might be a perfect option. And there are none better than those found at Hualalai. Situated along the Big Island’s sunny, west-facing Kohala Coast, Hualalai Resort offers world-class residential and vacation opportunities. Property owners have access to a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course—where the PGA Champions Tour stages its televised season-opening tournament and the luxurious amenities of Hualalai’s 243-room beachfront Four Seasons Resort, frequently named the best resort in the United States in travel magazine polls.

Hualalai at Historic Ka‘upuhelu—Big Island of Hawaii hualalairesort.com (800) 983-3880

Upon seeing Santa Lucia Preserve for the first time, Bob Kavner was nearly speechless. “I found a place that man has never dominated, where the landscape and the wildlife were virtually undisturbed,” Kavner, now a homeowner at The Preserve, recounted. Among its many advantages—the stunning beauty of the land, the top-notch amenities and a community of likeminded people—Kavner considered the location to be ideal: to the west are Carmel, Pebble Beach and Monterey; to the south is Big Sur; and to the east is Carmel Valley. How much better does it get? He was also impressed by the fact that one of the stated principles of the development is keeping the 31 square miles that comprise Santa Lucia Preserve intact and as nature intended. Thus, the residential real estate community, with a highly acclaimed Tom Fazio-designed golf course as but one of the amenities, is limited to a total of 350 homes. Most notably, however, 90 percent of the 20,000 acres has been preserved as open space.

Santa Lucia Preserve—Carmel, California
santaluciapreserve.com (877) 626-8200