What is home? A state of mind? A front-porch view? A couple of acres to call your own? Whether you’re retiring, relocating, or looking for room to grow, American Cowboy has found the places where Old West charm, open rangeland, and outdoor activities come together like nowhere else.

Ellensburg, Wash.
Life in the middle has never been so sweet. The historic community of Ellensburg in the heart of the Kittitas Valley is in the center of Washington State, 110 miles east of Seattle and 170 miles west of Spokane. While agriculture, ranching, and the Western lifestyle helped define Ellensburg, the town has grown to become a business and entertainment hub for the region as well. Residents here are active, and regularly venture into the nearby wilderness to horseback, fish, hike, raft, and snowmobile. Farms and ranches around the Kittitas Valley are highly regarded for their cattle and are one of the country’s largest producers of Timothy hay. You can establish a spread of your own among the sagebrush for around $5,000 an acre; developed acreage with utilities is $30,000 per, with average home prices at $220,000. The Ellensburg Rodeo is the city’s signature event and has been for more than 75 years. It’s the centerpiece of the annual Kittitas County Fair and is one of the top events for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In February, the Spirit of the West Cowboy Gathering is held here and features cowboy poets and musicians. Throw in 300 days of sunshine and four distinct seasons, and it’s time to call the moving company.

Billings, Mont.
Although it’s Montana’s largest city and a booming center of commerce, Billings retains a small-town feel. And Billings still lives the West every day through livestock auctions, agriculture, farming, and ranching. Seen from atop the local sandstone cliffs known as the Rimrocks, where the plains meet the mountains, the wildlife, open vistas, and spectacular scenery feel close to the heart. Yellowstone National Park is also nearby.

Hermiston, Ore.
An outdoor playground awaits in eastern Oregon, where the natural beauty of the Columbia River is ideal for horseback riding, water skiing, jogging, hiking, hunting, fishing, or plain old peace and quite. Hermiston is centrally located between Portland, Spokane, Wash., and Boise, Idaho, and hosts the Farm-City Pro Rodeo each August.

Roseburg, Ore.
A three-hour drive from Portland down the scenic Oregon coast brings you to Roseburg and the Land of Umpqua, with its museums, mid-19th century historic district, and covered-bridge buildings. The scenic beauty of nearby Crater Lake National Park and the Rogue-Umpqua
National Scenic Byway complement this charming town.

Red Lodge, Mont.
A former rowdy saloon town-turned quaint gateway to Yellowstone National Park via the Beartooth Highway, Red Lodge is still a working agricultural town. And from the site of the Sundance Kid’s bank robbery in 1897 to the traditional Home of Champions Rodeo, mining, bootlegging, and pioneer history come alive on the town’s every corner.

Sandpoint, Idaho
History, the great outdoors, and the unparalleled natural beauty of northern Idaho converge here, two hours northeast of Spokane, Wash. A true gem in this Gem State, Sandpoint has recently been touted in several national publications as a top retirement destination. The art scene and antique shopping are vibrant, and there’s no lack of skiing, hiking, and horseback riding.