Bear Valley | $1.6 Million

A Norwegian-style chalet built in 2008, with one bedroom and two bathrooms, on a 0.4-acre lot

Inspired by a 14th-century Norwegian farmhouse on display at a Scandinavian museum, the current owner built this house using wood from old-growth redwood trees and hired Norwegian artisans to do much of the interior detailing. The location, in the Sierra Nevada, attracts skiers looking for powdery snow and challenging slopes. Bear Valley is considered more remote than ski areas closer to Lake Tahoe, and many residents use snowmobiles to get around in the winter. During the summer, the scenic hiking trails are a big draw.

The Bay Area cities are about three and a half hours away. Sacramento and Reno, Nev., are about a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

Size: 1,350 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,185

Indoors: The driveway is long and ends at a footbridge leading to the hand-carved front door.