If you're struggling to find an innovative new way to kick-start your fitness habits, you may want to consider where you live. It turns out that some cities have a healthier environment and produce more fitness-minded residents. These top cities are among the best in the country for those seeking a fit lifestyle.
Portland, Oregon—Where Bicyclists Rule
Bicycling.com ranked Portland second in the country for its bike-friendliness. Traffic signals have bike-only areas, and bicycle parking is widely available. National Geographic called it one of the best cities in the country for hiking as well, with a range of trails that can cater to any skill level. With several picturesque parks to explore, it's easy to stay fit outside the gym.
San Francisco, California—For Healthy Eating
Bicycling.com named San Francisco the sixth most bike-friendly city in the country. With a bike shuttle across the Bay Bridge in rush hour and room for bikes on the commuter rails, cyclists find it easy to get around. National Geographic highlighted San Francisco as a great spot for hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and climbing. Mount Tamalpais State Park is just 20 miles north of the city. The San Francisco-Oakland area is also home to the healthiest eaters in the country with residents consuming an average of 35.9 servings of fruit and vegetables each week.
New York, New York—For Fit Foot Traffic
Ranked eighth on Bicycling.com's list of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, areas like Central Park make New York a welcoming spot for cyclists. New York City is a great spot for trail running as well, with Central Park and Pelham Bay Park offering miles of picturesque options. Most residents commute on foot, making this one of the best places to live without a car. The Newark-Long Island area even ranks second in the country for the healthiest eaters.
Salt Lake City, Utah—Where Gyms are Everywhere
Salt Lake City offers a variety of activities for fitness freaks. The city ranks sixth in the country for most gyms and fitness centers, with 41 total. This works out to about 36.5 gyms per million people. National Geographic named this one of the best U.S. cities for hiking trails. Stunning 10,000-foot peaks are just 20 minutes from the city, so you're not confined to urban spaces if you want to stretch your legs.
Washington, D.C.—Fitness Along the Potomac
Washington, D.C.'s bike-sharing program was among the first in the country. With 10 miles of signed routes and 11 miles of bicycle lanes, the capital is continuously making it easier for people to get around by bike. Men's Fitness ranked Washington, D.C. in the top eight cities for trail running in the U.S., with 830 miles of existing or planned trails. National Geographic highlighted it as one of the best cities for a hike thanks to nearby trails along the Potomac River.
If you're looking for a new city to call home that will cater to your fit lifestyle or help you improve your fitness habits, these locations are all smart picks.
My daughter lives in NYC, and when I visit her we walk everywhere. She leaves me in her dust!
ReplyDeleteI figured San Francisco would be a big fitness place! Thursday the weather is finally warm enough that I walk my son to school, I'm excited about getting outdoors again and being more active.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I'd classify myself as a fitness freak, but these destinations do sound wonderful. I'm not surprised that San Francisco made the list.
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends lives in NYC and every time I go see her I swear I lose 10 pounds after all the walking we do!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great list. I'm not overly into fitness, but I'd love to see most of these places anyway!
ReplyDeleteBeing from California - and living in the Mountains - I so like your list of ideas around the country - we are hikers, back packers and mountain bikers - out of shape now - but jogging will help that quickly! Enjoyed your info - :)
ReplyDeleteThis is great to know! I'm in Canada so I won't be certain I'll get to these cities but good to know none the less!
ReplyDeleteI know something who went to New York City recently and they talked a lot about all the walking. I imagine it would be fun to live there, but yes, there would be a lot of walking.
ReplyDeleteNYC did not surprise me! Lol, there's pretty much no other reasonable way to get around! LOL.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has been talking about Portland recently. It really does sound like a great city.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a large scale version of my neck of the woods. I would probably feel at home there.
ReplyDeleteI've lived in/near two of those cities.. SF and DC. They're both really great for fitness at anytime of the year.
ReplyDeleteThese all sound like great places. I love San Francisco. You can get a lot of exercise with all the hills.
ReplyDeleteI would love to go back to NYC. I loved the atmosphere there. I could see myself living there.
ReplyDeleteSF always seemed like a great city for fitness from what I heard about it!
ReplyDeleteCalifornia is huge on fitness! Dallas is pretty big on fitness as well...but we are also big on food haha!
ReplyDeleteLost 10 pounds when I was in NYC! Love that most people there just walk…
ReplyDeleteIf given a chance I would choose California,San Francisco, the closer to the ocean much better.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see San Fran. I know I could deal with a bit of healthier eating myself
ReplyDeleteI love San Francisco. It's one of my favorite cities in the whole US! Although I always seem to GAIN weight when there from all the delish food.
ReplyDeleteI love San Francisco, were my husband traveled there and it would have been nice.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool post. Something to keep in mind if I'm traveling.
ReplyDeleteI live but a train ride away from New York and I had no idea it was ranked so high for bike riding. Unfortunately for me, I never learned how to ride a bike, which is a little embarrassing but true.
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool that Portland is bike-friendly. I never appreciated the strides that areas take for bicyclists before until I started doing it myself. It can get really scary when you don't feel 'protected' by special lanes and such.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great list, Maple Grove, MN is a great city for biking, I think they were number 1 a few years ago. I love all these cities for being able to get outside.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the things I love about living in California. The state overall is really healthy conscious and makes it easy to be fit and well.
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean about New York and the foot traffic. When I went to visit I could not walk more then 15 steps without having someone right behind me.
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