OUTSIDE MAGAZINE 49
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H Mike Hess Brewing
IMPERIAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA
CLOSE TO: SURFING
Mike Hess is a pillar of San Diego’s robust
craft-beer scene, and the new outpost in the
funky border town of Imperial Beach is heavy
on post-surf vibes. Just north of the pier and
steps from the Pacific Ocean, the open-air
taproom gives way to a beer garden. While the
region has a reputation for busy breaks and
occasionally grumpy locals, Imperial Beach is
low-key, with crowd-free lineups and shifting
sandbars that keep the surf firing year-round.
If you can’t find a decent swell near the pier,
head south along Seacoast Drive, where
breaks can be found at the end of every side
street. San Diego is an IPA kind of town, but
for your après-surf meal, pair something light
and crisp, like the excellent Claritas Kölsch,
with a bite courtesy of the popular Mexican
restaurant City Tacos. Try the Mahi al Mango,
or get weird with a Mexicali—a taco with
steak and mashed potatoes.The Nugget
Mountain Bar
DURANGO, COLORADO
CLOSE TO: SKIING
The Nugget Mountain Bar is a lesson in reverse
gentrification. The owner converted his for-
mer vacation cabin, located a half-mile south
of Purgatory Resort, into a bar. It still has a
ski-cabin vibe, with the requisite upstairs loft
transformed into a lounge. But the action is
at the U-shaped bar on the main floor, where
there’s a solid chance that owner Kevin Wrightwill invite you to partake in a shot ski. You’re
also guaranteed to get sucked into Klackers, a
communal dice game. Order a burger from the
food truck parked out front, and be prepared
to make friends fast—the Nugget is a place
where people aren’t tetchy that you’re skiing
their mountain. It’s easily accessible by car, but
if you know your way around Purgatory’s back-
country, you can ski in. Or call Wright for a ride.
He’ll pick you up and take you home. Seriously.The Hub and
Pisgah Tavern
PISGAH FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA
CLOSE TO: MOUNTAIN BIKING
The idea behind the Pisgah Tavern was pretty
simple: Sam and Jordan Salman, owners of
the Hub bike shop, wanted customers to have
a place to drink a beer while the mechanic
worked on their ride. The tavern originally
consisted of three keg taps and four barstools
alongside the repair pit. The concept has since
grown, and there are now eight local drafts,
a beer garden, and food trucks that rotatecasual fare. You can’t beat the location—right
at the entrance of Pisgah National Forest,
where you can rip world-class technical single-
track like the Black Mountain Trail and pedal
straight into the Hub for a post-ride tune-up
and a little hydration. If you’re looking for more
flow and fewer roots, head ten miles southeast
to DuPont State Recreational Forest, where
the Ridgeline Trail offers three miles of roller-
coaster speed.Tesuque Village Market
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
CLOSE TO: HIKING, SKIING, MOUNTAIN BIKING
After a day playing at Ski Santa Fe or hiking
or riding the nine-mile Winsor Trail, head to
Tesuque Village Market. Known by fans as
TVM, this general store meets bakery meets
restaurant and bar is located just a few miles
north of Santa Fe, in the hamlet of Tesuque.
Settle in with local artists and athletes on the
covered porch and order from a long list of
New Mexican food. The fajitas and enchiladas
are tough to beat, and the green chile stewClockwise: the Nugget
Mountain Bar; Mike Hess
Brewing; cocktails at
Tesuque Village Market