mountain towns

11.14.2014

when i think of mountain towns, i picture a quiet urban center nestled in the rugged scene of a sprawling panorama. craggy mountains with jutting peaks serve as the original skyline to small cities of the west. but their beauty isn’t just natural. hidden in remote locations, many mountain towns have been able to maintain their authentic architectural integrity and history. from ghost signs to neon americana, mountain towns are as mysterious as they are romantic. i wonder what it must've been like as a passenger on the old northern pacific railway. dozens of mountain towns dotted the route from st. paul to seattle, each of them with their own bright stip to allure new guests. the conductor would announce the next stop and weary travelers would peak out the windows to see the distant orange phosphorescence of the next stop. would the curiosity be enough to attract me to stop over or maybe even change my destination? they may not have the bustling pace of larger urban cities, but they buzz with the same electric energy. and when sky blue deepens to indigo and darkness has swallowed the soaring mountains that in the light of day seemed unconquerable, the sun's glow is replaced by the light of vintage neon signs.

p.s. you should visit oftreesandhues and taravictoria for more beautiful perspectives on urban sights

20 comments:

rebecca said...

Lucinda, this is gorgeous; your words as well as your images. I LOVE the last line, so so beautiful. And I agree, the few mountain towns I've been lucky enough to visit have been incredible in their vistas and charm. I need to go out west more! :)

Christine D. | The Plumed Nest said...

i love these photos and i love your reflection and perspective on mountain towns. i love small towns because the history is just so alive, you can feel it immediately. and there is something to that that is so unique and special.

Unknown said...

So cool - got lost in your words! I haven't been to many small towns, none like the ones you describe, but I'd love to see it for myself some day :)

gillian claire said...

I am so inspired by mountain towns as well! We haven't been up to too much traveling / exploring in the past year since we moved out West but I'd love to do more. To me it's these little random spots that are so interesting and I perfer them to bigger more exciting places. Love the photos. :)

Hannah Smith | fox and willow said...

great shots! and I love your writing style!

Petra said...

I love train trips and reading this makes me want to pack my bags and go. i love the mountains too.

lucinda said...

hi rebecca, thank you! you're spot on with the charm, mountain towns are inexplicably nostalgic. :)

lucinda said...

so right christine. i thought about you and your visit to burke when i was writing this. the history that remains in the buildings/landscapes/people of these small towns is mysteriously imbedded in them. so cool and beautiful. xo

lucinda said...

hi kie! i hope you get the chance to visit a historic town like this one, they're really fascinating. ;)

lucinda said...

ah! you're lucky to live in the west - i hope to get out there permanently one day. i am with you on finding the remote spots more alluring than larger cities. hopefully you'll have some more opportunities this year to explore the ones near you! xo

lucinda said...

thank you for the nice comment, hannah, i love hearing that! xo

lucinda said...

oh yes! train travel is so romantic. unfortunantely it isn't quite as "dreamy" here as it used to be (or as it still is in europe, lucky you!) but they still run some of the old routes that you can take as vacations - i'd love to take the transcontinental some day! :)

Amy@eatsleepdecorate said...

Love these photographs! Make me want to hop on a plane and head to the nearest small mountain town. Thanks for such great inspiration!

Ursula said...

You're so right. Have you ever been to Revelstoke in BC? It's a cute mountain town that has tons of old buildings, brick homes and this really cool vibe. I love small towns that have some character to them.

lucinda said...

well, you know you always have a place to stay if you ever decide to do so! ;)

lucinda said...

no, i've actually never even been to BC, only Quebec and New Brunswick. sounds so charming though, i've got to see more of canada - it's definitely on my wanderlist

Kaylan said...

stinking gorgeous writing!!!

Erin said...

As a city mouse through and through, 'mountain towns' evokes movie sets with plywood saloons and dusty trails. Is that terrible? My references are so out of touch with reality, I know. Love these photos. You could do a whole series of movie theater marquees and I'd never get bored. xo

lucinda said...

ah! thank you, friend!

lucinda said...

hahaha! not at all, to each their own! i had the same sort of references too until i saw some mountain towns for myself, so i get totally get you. ;)

 

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