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2018 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in AmericaAbout this List

Explore the best cities for outdoor activities based on weather, air quality, and access to parks, forests, and recreational opportunities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, NOAA, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Outdoor Activities
231 results

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Health & Outdoors

  1. San Francisco

    • City in California
    • 449
    1 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: San Francisco is a wonderful place for sightseeing and food! I love atmosphere and weather. Its pretty easy to get around with public transportation and having everything close by. Some food restaurants are open late night, just in case you crave a late dinner. It’s a very tech savvy place so everything is literally one click away. I would love to see some changes with downtown San Francisco since there are a lot of homeless people on the street. The city should clean up and make more shelters for the homeless and housing for low income people. For the most part, San Francisco is clean, beautiful, and easy to get around.
    Read 449 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 850,282 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Cambridge

    • City in Massachusetts
    • 44
    2 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Nearby Resident: Cambridge Massachusetts is a wonderfully vibrant and exciting city. I have lived in the text town over my whole life and I have gone to school and worked there for many years. Cambridge is the home of many colleges, which bring such a wide variety of people to the city which make it incredibly diverse. I really enjoy how many different areas there are in the city, there is something for everyone. Everywhere you turn there are amazing restaurants and shops to explore. Having worked in the school systems in Cambridge they are wonderful, which isn't much of a surprise seeing as though the city is known for their world-class education. I also love how many health-focused stores and restaurants there are as well having areas for outdoor exercise and encouraging bike riding over driving. The only downside to Cambridge is that all of these wonderful qualities make it a rather expensive place to live. However, I love this city and consider it be my home!
    Read 44 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 108,757 Population
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  3. Boston

    • City in Massachusetts
    • 446
    3 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Visitor: For the past 20 years, I have enjoyed visiting Boston from my original home in New Hampshire, and now, from my home in central Maine. As a native New Yorker, I love the hometown atmosphere, helpful people, ease of public transportation, and the cultural diversity. From late summer 20 16, I have spent weeks and months at a time seeking medical treatment in Boston. I have found the taxi drivers, police, and people on the streets to be kind and supportive, offering assistance as well as clear directions. I also love Chinatown, with fantastic herb stores, gift shops and authentic restaurants. I'm going back to Boston for follow-up appointments, and I am looking forward to spending more time in this wonderful city!
    Read 446 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 658,279 Population
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  5. Kent

    • City in Washington
    • 113
    4 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Coming down the street you notice every corner Hispanic and Thai restaurants and markets; the local downtown area houses buildings created in the 1800's still standing and being used today. During the summer is the greatest! Every weekend a farmers market opens up and for almost two miles downtown every small business and upcoming business and artists sell their wares and share their experiences and joy of living and working in this area. The local high school has been named the most diverse in the nation; between Grandma's Thai restaurant and a small local Japanese couple taking only cash for their amazing sushi rolls Kent has always been a wonderful place to live and enjoy. Outside of the cozy downtown you will notice a large 20 mile square area of professional businesses and a local Amazon warehouse offering many jobs opportunity's for any locals in the area.
    Read 113 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 125,492 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  6. Sunnyvale

    • City in California
    • 175
    5 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: I have lived in the city of Sunnyvale for the past six years, and I can definitely say that I absolutely love living in this city. There is numerous of fun activities to do, plenty of fun new restaurants to try, and activities that the community can participate in. As I have attended a public school in Sunnyvale, I can say that it was a great experience and compared to the experience of other students from nearby cities, I am glad that I attended school here. There is rarely any traffic and the commute from place to place can be easily navigated. The city is kept clean and is pleasing to the eyes. Although there is lots of construction currently happening, I am looking forward for the exciting new additions to the community.
    Read 175 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 149,596 Population
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  7. Portland

    • City in Oregon
    • 640
    6 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Portland has been the only home I've ever known. It's where I've established myself as a person, as a student, and as a leader. Portland has many amazing qualities as a city and its beauty never fails to captivate me. However, Portland is a city massively affected by the epidemic that is Gentrification. Portland is a very sought after city with more and more people moving in and displacing minorities from historically African American neighborhoods. This is somehow I'd like to see change. Low income housing is something I feel very strongly about and would love to see more of!
    Read 640 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • A+
      Outdoor Activities
    • 620,589 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Seattle

    • City in Washington
    • 465
    7 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Works Here: I am living here for college. This city is awesome. There are so many diverse food options! If money isn't an issue, you'll never have to eat the same thing twice. The city gives a great sense of community and unity in support of diversity. Seattle is a very environmentally conscious and green city, and the vibrancy of the flora and fauna are stunning. It supports a healthy lifestyle with many biking trails and lanes, great paths for running, and wonderful fresh markets with lots of healthy, balanced foods. If you go to the right grocery stores, the prices are reasonable. It is like most cities- expensive- but has a high minimum wage.
    Read 465 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 668,849 Population
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  11. Berkeley

    • City in California
    • 93
    8 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Berkeley is a wonderful city full of an interesting, open-minded and intelligent group of people. The city is very culturally diverse and open to accepting anyone from anywhere. The food scene is to die for and if organically grown is what you live by, look no further than Berkeley grocery stores, farmers markets and more. One small down side would be the lack of club life (for the younger folks), there are however many perfectly adequate bars as well a little college student scene on Telegraph Avenue. Overall, I highly recommend living here or going to school here if accepted!
    Read 93 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 118,585 Population
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  12. Bellevue

    • City in Washington
    • 56
    9 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: It's such a beautiful city with lots of racial diversity and great public schools. It's known to be quite safe and family friendly, which plenty of parks and little beaches by the lakes. It's close to lakes, mountains, bike trails, and forests - all these Pacific Northwest delights, perfect for the outdoorsy person.

    The downside is housing prices are skyrocketing. People living here are more affluent than average - some are even being priced out of the market. Many immigrants (often from Asia) buy real estate here. Many people are very health conscious. The population is increasing and there is lots of construction. Commute times are increasing quickly as well. Job opportunities are good if you have the skills like computer science, engineering, or business because the greater Seattle area has so many tech companies.
    Read 56 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 136,718 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Oakland

    • City in California
    • 231
    10 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Oakland is a diverse, resilient, and vibrant community. The city’s love for art and social justice is evident- there are murals on every block! Folks instill the beauty and power of art into their children and build social gatherings around it (i.e. Oakland Art & Wine Festival, Mural Festivals, Art Walks, and more!). It can be expensive to live here. The Tech Bubble has yet to burst, and unfortunately many Natives are slowly being pushed out farther and farther into the East Bay. Still, the folks who remain here aren’t going down without a fight. They support local businesses and they care deeply about EVERYONE in their city. They are the nicest people you will ever meet.
    Read 231 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 412,040 Population
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  15. Irvine

    • City in California
    • 231
    11 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Irvine is probably one of the safest, cleanest, and greenest cities in CA (if not, in the US)! It is located in Orange County, so it's really easy to go up to LA area or drive down to San Diego. Irvine is home to a lot of high-ranking schools like the University of California Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California (USC), and campuses of California State University Fullerton (CSUF), University of La Verne, and Pepperdine University. This city is really beautiful with streets dotted with flowers and trees. It is very quiet and all neighborhoods are well-maintained. There's a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities.
    Read 231 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 246,992 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Torrance

    • City in California
    • 148
    12 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Torrance is very safe and friendly. Not very diverse because the city has a lot of Asians but everyone is friendly! Schools are very competitive with each other but overall they are all a family. There is sometimes traffic in Torrance on major streets with freeways but there are also streets that often time are not busy at all. The job opportunities are low currently. Haven't seen many places hiring. The food that can be found in Torrance have got to be the best. From ramen or tacos, it's all delicious.
    Read 148 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 147,307 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Hayward

    • City in California
    • 128
    13 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Hayward is a welcoming city. It is home to my university, California State University - East Bay (CSUEB). It serves a diverse community that cares about the environment and works to keep the city green. The Keep Hayward Clean and Green organization lends a helping hand by voluntarily picking up trash and waste around the city. CSUEB students also take a part volunteering for that effort as well every October for Make a Difference Day. The city has potential to thrive given the downtown area is undergoing a transformation by bringing new and fantastic things, such as a new library and an enhanced shopping center. Currently, there are many housing properties in development. However, given the city rests directly on a fault line, it is extremely earthquake prone and there is a need to remodel and retrofit older housing complexes, as evident in appearance. Other than this, the city is beautiful!
    Read 128 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 154,507 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Manchester

    • City in New Hampshire
    • 230
    14 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Former Resident: New Hampshire's largest city is definitely not lacking in amenities and entertainment! Up and down Elm Street, South Willow, South River, and many other places, the streets are lined with bars, restaurants, clubs, and shops, with incredible variety to keep anyone interested. From the regular big name shows and sporting events at the SNHU arena to the dozens of fine shops and food options at the Mall of New Hampshire, classic and contemporary titles showing at the Palace Theater to summertime farmers' markets in several locations, Manchester has something for everyone.
    Read 230 Reviews

    • B-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 110,231 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  21. Reno

    • City in Nevada
    • 815
    15 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Reno has so much to offer and yet is an underappreciated city! The downtown area features the river with creative shops and independent restaurants. The craft beer scene is bursting with new breweries. Lake Tahoe, with world class skiing, swimming, camping, hiking, is less than an hour's drive away. Pyramid Lake also holds a quiet desert charm with ancient petroglyphs, paleolithic land formations, and recreation away from Tahoe's crowds. The neighborhoods are becoming increasingly bike friendly and the city is small and easy to navigate while still offering everything you could expect of a much larger area.
    Read 815 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 237,121 Population
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  22. Provo

    • City in Utah
    • 1,134
    16 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Provo itself is a beautiful, cozy and very safe place to live. My experience in Provo has overall been a great experience. It has a variety of healthy and delicious food options, has historical sights and beautiful history in the town center, not to mention the BEAUTIFUL LDS temple that was recently build next to the NuSkin building. Provo is located close to the freeway for easy access to traveling and is a relatively clean city. The people are very friendly and respectful of the place that they live. That being said, Provo is a college town! Despite the high amount of college students, Provo has still been able to maintain a good name, positive environment, growth mindset and a fun place to live. I'd love to see more updated parks added to the city, though there are many old parks and also many running trails and hiking trails that make it a great place for a diverse group of individuals.
    Read 1,134 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 115,718 Population
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  23. Salt Lake City

    • City in Utah
    • 413
    17 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: I stayed in Salt Lake City after graduating college for a number of reasons. I love the small city feel that doesn't have too much traffic (unlike so many other big cities) but that still lets you experience the perks of living in a city. So many touring shows and cultural experiences travel through SLC still, and I love the arts, so that's important to me. We get all 4 seasons every year. The skiing is the best in the world. The UofU is a great school on so many levels. The job opportunities are everywhere. The housing is very affordable compared to other U.S. cities. And it's really clean, even downtown!
    Read 413 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 191,446 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Santa Rosa

    • City in California
    • 321
    18 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: I've been living in Santa Rosa for my entire life and have enjoyed everything about Santa Rosa! First things first, Santa Rosa is a joyous city that features activities all year round. For example the Fair that comes near the end of every summer, or the Wednesday Night Markets that occur near downtown. Another great thing about Santa Rosa is how close it is to other great places; such as Napa, San Francisco, Sacramento and the coast. Santa Rosa is a great environment for families to enjoy the warm weather in the summer, and the chilly days of winter.
    Read 321 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 173,165 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Los Angeles

    • City in California
    • 681
    19 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Great place to live with good opportunity for employment and large personal growth! Traffic is legendary, and shopping can be like a religious experience in ritzy areas or numerous malls. It's the other aspects that can make it worthwhile to negotiate this unique metropolis. Great museums, DTLA's resurgence driven by Staples Center initially, sports of all types, dining to please all wallets, scenic vistas, cultural events, and so much m
    Read 681 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 3,918,872 Population
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  28. Spokane

    • City in Washington
    • 555
    20 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: It is a Quickly growing community! Everyone supports each other and helps in whatever way they can. Around town is the perfect amount of historical buildings along with newer, more architecturally interesting buildings. There is something for everyone! There's great coffee, great food, great experiences, and most importantly, great beer! It doesn't feel like the second largest city in Washington State
    Read 555 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 212,078 Population
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  29. San Jose

    • City in California
    • 558
    21 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: San Jose is an absolutely beautiful, diverse, and peaceful place to reside! The food and the people are great and the whole vibe and aura is like no other place. Our communities unite when necessary and serve as a support system for each other. It is definitely a warm and welcoming place that I wouldn't change for the world. Any person would be fortunate to live in such an amazing city. We also have many other wonderful cities in our outskirts for tourists and simply just to enjoy a day out in the town. If you love meeting people and learning about various cultures, this is the place for you!
    Read 558 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 1,009,363 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Salinas

    • City in California
    • 285
    22 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: I was born and raised in Salinas. This city has a lot to offer and is not to far from the Monterey Coast. Some of the many things I love about Salinas include the history, the agriculture surrounding our city, and the weather. I love reading about John Steinbeck, a former Salinas resident. I love to purchase fresh produce that's grown not to far from me to help support small businesses, and the weather is always perfect. One thing that I would like to see changed is our education systems. Investing more in students can benefit our future and city.
    Read 285 Reviews

    • C-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • C
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 155,889 Population
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  32. Thousand Oaks

    • City in California
    • 268
    23 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: My experience with Thousand Oaks is that I'm a local resident of the city, from the people to the atmosphere, to the weather the city in a nutshell is fantastic! I've lived here for nearly fifteen-years and haven't looked back. A slight downside to living in Thousand Oaks is the lack of nightlight, meaning it isn't a great place for having fun late out. Lastly, something I think I'd like to be changed in Thousand Oaks is for better local transportation systems to be implemented on a regular basis, rather than a transportation system with very scarce hours.
    Read 268 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 128,623 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Burbank

    • City in California
    • 246
    24 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Burbank is a great city to grow up in, and a great city to raise a family. Very safe neighborhood with a small-town feel, but close enough to Los Angeles and other cities that you still get city-living-perks. All public schools are staffed with incredible educators and hands-on administrators. City center has multiple movie theatres, large mall, chain restaurants, family-owned restaurants, and boutiques. Access to work is basically unlimited; many major motion picture and television companies are based in Burbank, CA and are constantly looking to hire. Other fields of work like hospitality, retail, engineering, and childcare are also in high demand for hire. Diversity is really high compared to other cities in the area. Healthy living is heavily promoted, from farmer's markets to bike paths and public access to gyms, tracks, and pools. Overall, Burbank is an incredible place to live! Anyone would be lucky to be a resident of this amazing town.
    Read 246 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 104,583 Population
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Vancouver

    • City in Washington
    • 228
    25 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America

    Current Resident: Vancouver is a pretty big city full of fun and exciting things to do! There are amazing dog parks to walk your dog, out standing food places (Mexican food is my favorite) which you will never regret going. There are amazing bar and grill where you can have a great time with friends and family, or just wanna have a fun night out! Everyone you come in contact with you will build a relationship with and remember their face where ever you go. Everywhere you go there are always a friendly face waiting to greet you or just be your friend! Everyone is welcome at our city. So don't be shy!
    Read 228 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • B-
      Public Schools
    • A
      Outdoor Activities
    • 169,982 Population
    View Nearby Homes
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2018 Best Cities for Outdoor Activities in America
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