With a population of fewer than 9,000 people, Mammoth Lakes is a picture-perfect example of a classic lake town. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, it’s famous for its ski areas, hiking trails, and the wonderfully weird rock formations of Devils Postpile National Monument. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also home to the silky cascade of Rainbow Falls, has a lovely, walkable downtown with wide pedestrianized streets, and is a gateway to Yosemite.

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