Two days ago, we made an unplanned lunch stop in Sandpoint, Idaho and ended up staying. According to census figures, this happens quite a lot. In fact, only 30% of Sandpoint residents were born in Idaho.

A noticeable percentage of the town's 7,000+ population is under the age of 35. I’m not sure why—there’s no college or university here—but Sandpoint IS home to Idaho’s largest ski resort. It’s also drop-dead gorgeous, surrounded by the Bitterroot, Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains and perched on the shore of 43-mile-long Lake Pend Oreille. No surprise then, that Sandpoint was once named the nation's "Most Beautiful Small Town" by Rand McNally and USA Today.

I was swayed by a chance encounter with the charming proprietress of a swank resale boutique. Somewhere between chatting about New Zealand and meeting her friend who had had plans to open a bike hostel nearby, I decided to stay. When I asked if there was a campground in town, they both pointed in the general direction of the waterfront.

Sandpoint’s city beach RV park is located just a block from downtown and operated by the Best Western next door. Our “urban” campsite wasn’t much to look at, but it came with mountain and water views, access to the resort’s pool and spa amenities and a vibrant downtown at its doorstep—offering bike trails, galleries, brew pubs and no less than three thai restaurants.

That made my day, but I was still mystified as to how this historic timber and railroad town attracted such a young and creative population. So I did a little research. Sandpoint residents, I learned, were quick to take action against white supremacist Neo-Nazi groups that moved to set up headquarters nearby in the 90s. Sandpoint was also the first city in Idaho to pass an ordinance prohibiting discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Add to that a robust visual arts community plus year-round, world-class recreation options attracting visitors with money to spend.

Does that explain it? I'm not sure. It’s frustratingly difficult to identify the factors that make a town vibrant, memorable and successful—but simple to recognize.

Explore: Equal parts historic and hip, Sandpoint offers river views, public art, food, drink and ample opportunity for retail therapy—all in a compact, bike, pedestrian and boat friendly downtown.