The most active cities I have ever lived in were Boulder CO and Salt Lake City UT.  I love these places.  You can ski, snowboard, mountain bike, rock climb, kayaking, run, etc.  I loved living in Utah it has everything you would ever want to do in the outdoors within 15-30 minutes of most major cities.  Boulder is nice as well but the snowboarding is a little far away. Colorado is always at the top of the list for active people.  I read in Health Magazine that Fremont CA was ranked as the healthiest city.  I don't know if that helps but good luck in decided where to move.

San Diego is really nice - just was out there a bit ago!

Another nice active city is New Orleans...it's come a long way since Katrina and there's lots of biking, golf, etc.  Not sure if that's what you are looking for but it is also a good vacation spot, especially since they definitely appreciate tourists!

We at National Geographic Adventure magazine are presently working on a cover story on this very topic!  Our September issue will be about "Where to Live and Play Now." If anyone out there has tips and recommendations, we'd love to hear them.

Mary Anne Potts

Online Editor

www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure

adventure@ngs.org

If you like a smaller town with lots going I would suggest looking at some college towns.  I live in State College, PA and it is wonderful in my opinion.  Lots of active people - all ages and abilities running, cycling, mountainbiking, kayaking, hiking, etc.   Plus with Penn State University here, you get NCAA sporting events and decent entertainment - bands, etc. and lots going on at the university.  Another plus of college towns is that they seem to be very new-person friendly because of the constant turnover of students and faculty so it is easy to get plugged in to the local running, biking, etc. clubs.   You also get access to excellent athletic facilities, elite-level runners and coaches - many of whom are very willing to spend time with mid-packers and provide advice, encouragement, etc.

Everything is close and you lose no time to commutes - unless it's a football weekend.  My family has found that we have engaged in far more activitites - athleting, cultural and academic since we have moved here because the cost is lower, they are more convenient and we seem to be more aware of what's going on.

The downsides (for some) are that we are in the middle of lots of farm country in PA so the next larger cities are a good drive away.  I happen to love this, but some really prefer access to a major city.  The airport is small, so when I fly for business I ALWAYS have a connection.  And for some, it can be disconcerting that you can't go anywhere without seeing someone you know.  Again, I find this comforting, but some prefer to be more anonymous.

I'm sure that there are other college towns like Madison, WI, Anarbor MI, Greensboro SC, etc. that would be similar in their advantages or better based on your size/weather preferences.

I personally hate Boston - there is nothing to do there, active or inactive. The winters are brutal and you might be able to run for 2 months on flat land, but who cares??? You can do that anywhere. My choice would be San Diego or Arizona. Both places are great for outdoor activities.

Austin, Texas is a great place if you are looking to surround yourself with fitness-minded individuals. One of the greatest cities in Texas boasts a remarkable number of fitness centers and sporting good stores. Also, Austin has an abundance of healthy dining options. In 2004, a program called Austin in Motion was started in order to get Austin to be the fittest city in America within several years.  The program was more then just a verbal agreement and many Austinites jumped on board and followed a specific program in order to become fitter citizens of the city. I think Austin is a great city in general and has lots to offer in all aspects of life. I encourage you to check it out!

Austin is definitely a cool town. Home of Michael Dell, Lance Armstrong, Whole Foods Inc. and the TV show "King of the Hill." I've been there many times. Particularly enjoyed Barton Springs, the "bat bridge" and the party on 6th street. Technically, though, I'm a rival ( I went to the University of Oklahoma)!!!