This is an different suggestion, but based on 25 years here, consider south central PA, Harrisburg area. Not major mountains but astoundingly beautiful. Picture a wagon wheel. We are in the center. Highways leading everywhere. Three hour drive to NYC, 1.5-2 hr to Baltimore and DC. Four hours to Pittsburgh. Seven hour drive to Michigan and Boston. Yet I live 5 miles from the Appalachian trail and next to a farm with its own farmer's market.
We are surrounded by farmland, yet boast some of the best school districts in the state, and have multiple colleges nearby. State income tax is 3.07%, and retirement income, IRA distributions, 401K distributions, and SS income is not taxed at the state level at all. When we moved here in 1999, I had no idea how amazing this area is. When we moved here, even Starbucks was almost non-existent. Now we have multiple ethnic restaurants everywhere, and great festivals in the summer. We have a Nepali community mostly populated by MDs, PhDs, and the like, and the ethnic food of their culture is amazing. We have an annual Greek festival. Three festivals on the Susquehanna River during the summer holidays-Arts, Music, and Kipona festivals
We can see the ski resort from our house-facing south. Turn north and we are looking at state gamelands. Beautiful colors every fall. If you love rollercoasters and amusement parks, Hershey Park is one of the best in the world. Snow is welcome and handled beautifully by our state and local governments.
We don't have Colorado level mountains. We have two world class medical centers competing for our business, 10 minutes from our house. PM me if this is of interest to you. Also, if your family is located in the USA east, this ia considration. If to the west, maybe not.