Best Cities for My Types of Recreational Opportunities (appointed, house)

[I. B. Trippin]

Hi!

As I further refine my search for my best place to live, recent circumstances have made me aware of the critical need for plenty of outdoor recreation. What are the best U.S. cities for recreation opportunities, specifically, walking, running, hiking, biking and swimming, year round? I am somewhat interested in other activities too, but those in the previous sentence are my "must haves" Also, I strongly prefer a coastal location, though a place with dense forests and hills or mountains would also be good if there were a nearby lake of significant size. The best city, for my purposes, will be the one which has the highest level and number of my above-stated criteria in very close proximity to the city, itself. In other words, I want to be able to walk out my door and have access to at least one of these activities within a half mile and with the others reasonably close at hand. Ideally, there would be a mix of topography, including coast, forest and maybe some hills, but I would be willing to travel within reason for one of my criteria, as long as one of the others was very close by. For example, though I've never been there, I'm told that Deland, FL is a place with close proximity to the activities I want with nearby forests, lakes and trails, while also only a 25 or 30 mile drive to the coast. On the other hand, I was disappointed on a visit to Corpus Christi, TX to find that access to the ocean is a minimum 30 mile drive away from the city. By the way, I think Brownsville, TX might present a similar problem. Yes, there is a very pleasant, scenic walk available along Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi but you have to live in an adjacent neighborhood in order to have easy access to it and it appears that it may be too narrow to comfortably accommodate several walkers, runners and bikers, simultaneously, and within a relatively small section of walkway. To be fair, during my short visit, it never got that crowded. Asheville, NC looks good with its pristine forests, mountains and lakes but would the colder climate cut into my outdoor activities too often? Galveston, TX is currently at the top of my list because the ocean and beaches, along with all the recreation opportunities they provide are only 2 1/4 miles from the center of town. I like the fact that many of the beaches are relatively secluded and overcrowding is usually not a problem. The prevalent ocean breezes help to mitigate the stifling misery of the South Texas heat and humidity. It also helps that Houston, with its strong job market, is nearby.

I've done some search engine exploration on this subject and have gotten some pretty good results, except that the criteria used to compile the results often include number of acres of park land, number of parks, number of skateboard parks, number and size of zoos and number and size of concerts and festivals. And just because a city has walking trails doesn't necessarily mean that those trails can be accessed in most areas of the city. Don't get me wrong, I think that many of these things are important and contribute to the quality of life of a city but they don't necessarily reflect my priorities.

Of course, by definition, the place I'm looking for has a mild to warm climate. The West Coast and Pacific Northwest would be ideal, except for their ridiculous cost of living, though Portland, OR is on the bubble for consideration as its cost of living information on City-Data is borderline- acceptable. Nevertheless, for practical purposes, I think it is best to confine my search to the South.

So, I'm seeking the experiences and insights of my fellow City-Data members. Are there any other places you're aware of, which match my criteria well? Are you able to offer any additional information on places I've already mentioned, either positive or negative?

Though I've never been to either, I'm particularly favorably impressed with Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC for their picturesque proximity to the ocean, scenic neighborhoods and surrounding topography. But I wonder, are they just desirable for their natural beauty, historic architecture and lush atmosphere or is there also lots to do in terms of scenic walking, running, hiking, biking and swimming, as well?

Thank you very much to all who respond. I greatly appreciate your thoughts on my search.

[MtnLion512]

You've been duped if someone in Corpus told you the ocean was 30 miles away...you're literally a few minutes away from miles and miles of public beaches. Also just curious where you plan to do scenic walking, hiking and biking on the gulf coast? Great for going to the beach, but...maybe I'm misunderstanding what sort of outdoor activities you're into. Another observation is most of the places you've listed are pretty humid, which isn't very conducive to outdoor activity. Your list of activities seems mountain-oriented-- I first thought of Seattle & the Pac NW, but if you don't have to have coastal certain Colorado/NM cities have outdoor activities right around the city. From my old house in west Colorado Springs I could walk to Garden of the Gods, and was a few minutes drive from primo singletrack and some of the most beautiful hiking you'll ever see.

[kyle19125]

You might want to consider Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It has everything on your wish list except for the ocean access obviously, but you did mention lakes/rivers were a suitable substitute. Chattanooga has extensive water recreation available on the Tennessee River or at Lake Chickamauga just north of town. There are hundreds of miles of well-utilized bike trails in and around the city, as well as walking/hiking venues. Sitting at the base of the southern Appalachian Mountains there is an abundance of recreational opportunity there, as well as considerable forest acreage. Despite being a four season climate it never really gets too cold to enjoy the outdoors as snow is minimal and temperatures rarely go below freezing for any sustained period. The city has been through a renaissance of sorts as downtown neighborhoods have been going through a revitalization with a considerable number of younger residents moving in. Across the river from downtown, North Chattanooga has become a thriving area with a more progressive vibe also. The city was recently ranked among the Top 10 most affordable places to live in the US.

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
River City Company
Play With Us
Welcome to NorthShore Chattanooga!
Bike Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee Visitors Bureau - Chattanooga Outdoors

[creeksitter]

If you open yourself to winter swimming at an indoor pool the possibilities are endless. Locate near a clean lake for summer swimming and in the southern half of the US you can usually exercise outside year round.

[daydreamin71]

IMO Asheville seems like a very good choice. Where I live it gets far colder than it does in Asheville and there are people outside all year long biking, hiking, etc. And like the previous poster said, if you open yourself up to indoor pools, that gives you so many more options. Personally, I have never thought of Florida as a good place for hiking (I've never thought hiking in sand is any fun).

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by wag more bark less

You've been duped if someone in Corpus told you the ocean was 30 miles away...you're literally a few minutes away from miles and miles of public beaches. Also just curious where you plan to do scenic walking, hiking and biking on the gulf coast? Great for going to the beach, but...maybe I'm misunderstanding what sort of outdoor activities you're into. Another observation is most of the places you've listed are pretty humid, which isn't very conducive to outdoor activity. Your list of activities seems mountain-oriented-- I first thought of Seattle & the Pac NW, but if you don't have to have coastal certain Colorado/NM cities have outdoor activities right around the city. From my old house in west Colorado Springs I could walk to Garden of the Gods, and was a few minutes drive from primo singletrack and some of the most beautiful hiking you'll ever see.

Thank you, wag more bark less. I was hoping someone would clear up what I thought might have been a misunderstanding on my part regarding the proximity of Corpus Christi to the ocean and the recreational opportunities associated with it. On my one visit to the area, I was trying to see too many places in a relatively short period of time and didn't give Corpus Christi the time it deserves. I was there for two days and divided my time between exploring the place, researching the housing market, studying the job market, trying to get a feel for the people and general atmosphere and checking out the beaches and Corpus Christi Bay. Seems I missed out on some of the points of most importance to me, in the process. So, using the place where S. Shoreline Blvd. becomes Ocean Drive, as a starting point, how do I get to these "miles and miles of public beaches" without getting on State Hwy 361 or the JFK Causeway or whatever it's called?

I know that to many people, scenic walking, hiking and biking must necessarily involve forests, mountains, (or at least hills) and similar shifting terrain and it appears that the more seriously one takes their walking, hiking and biking, the more this is the case. However, for me and many others, the ocean is the most scenic destination of all, especially when framed with beautiful beaches where we can do some walking, hiking and biking. Nothing provides a better impetus to exercise than the beautiful scenery one encounters while strolling along an uncrowded beach. It is my understanding that, around on the Atlantic side, there are forests and hills that extend to the water's edge and are quite beautiful in combination with the scenery of the ocean, hence my mention of places like Deland, Savannah and Charleston.


Actually, the humidity is a health requirement for me. Nevertheless, I do know that, when combined with the intense heat of many Gulf Coast communities, it is stifling and compounds the difficulty of exercise. Ideally, I would be in a place without temperature extremes but as I have discussed, that is not possible for me and given the choice between too hot and too cold, I choose too hot. Having said that, places like Galveston and Corpus Christi are known for their prevailing ocean breezes, which cool things off considerably. Still, there would be some climatic adjustment on my part, to say the least. Beyond that, I believe I could minimize the effects of the heat/humidity by confining my activities to the cooler times of day in the summer.


Seattle, Portland and the Pacific Northwest are certainly on my radar as they are cool without being cold for most of the year and certainly are meccas for outdoor activities and scenery. However, the cost of living is prohibitive and the temps are still a bit too cool for my tastes. Colorado is beautiful and another mecca for outdoor recreation but too cold and mountainous for my tastes.


Thanks for your help and suggestions.

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

You might want to consider Chattanooga, Tennessee.

It has everything on your wish list except for the ocean access obviously, but you did mention lakes/rivers were a suitable substitute. Chattanooga has extensive water recreation available on the Tennessee River or at Lake Chickamauga just north of town. There are hundreds of miles of well-utilized bike trails in and around the city, as well as walking/hiking venues. Sitting at the base of the southern Appalachian Mountains there is an abundance of recreational opportunity there, as well as considerable forest acreage. Despite being a four season climate it never really gets too cold to enjoy the outdoors as snow is minimal and temperatures rarely go below freezing for any sustained period. The city has been through a renaissance of sorts as downtown neighborhoods have been going through a revitalization with a considerable number of younger residents moving in. Across the river from downtown, North Chattanooga has become a thriving area with a more progressive vibe also. The city was recently ranked among the Top 10 most affordable places to live in the US.

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
River City Company
Play With Us
Welcome to NorthShore Chattanooga!
Bike Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee Visitors Bureau - Chattanooga Outdoors

Hi kyle19125!

It is amazing how often this area comes up in my various searches, message board inquiries and wanderings. It's definitely gotten my attention!

Thank you for the links. This area really does have a lot to offer! Didn't realize just how close it is to Atlanta. In a way, I need a big city for the jobs but really feel like I would probably enjoy a small to medium-sized city more. Chattanooga is just about the right size.

In a recent discussion with another CD member about their suggestion of Knoxville, I think we established that, though it is nearby, the City of Knoxville is somewhat physically removed from its actual recreation areas, where on the other hand, Chattanooga encompasses many of its recreational venues. Did I understand that right?

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by creeksitter

If you open yourself to winter swimming at an indoor pool the possibilities are endless. Locate near a clean lake for summer swimming and in the southern half of the US you can usually exercise outside year round.

Hi creeksitter

Thank you for the suggestion. In totality, it really makes a lot of sense and gives me more flexibility and options than I thought I had on this issue.

There wouldn't necessarily be affordable access to indoor pools everywhere but I'll bet I could find a lot of places that fit the bill. Worst-case scenario, I could get a treadmill or something for days that I couldn't exercise outdoors but it probably wouldn't get enough use to make it worth the cost. I'll mention something here that I probably should have brought up in my reply to wag more bark less. While it is of absolutely critical importance that I get plenty of exercise for my physical health, it is at least, every bit as important for my mental/emotional health. Walking and hiking, in particular, do something for me that I'm at a loss to adequately explain. Somehow, they put me in a different frame of mind where I can gain a better perspective on things and even solve problems that had me puzzled for awhile.

[I. B. Trippin]

Originally Posted by daydreamin71

IMO Asheville seems like a very good choice. Where I live it gets far colder than it does in Asheville and there are people outside all year long biking, hiking, etc. And like the previous poster said, if you open yourself up to indoor pools, that gives you so many more options. Personally, I have never thought of Florida as a good place for hiking (I've never thought hiking in sand is any fun).

Hi daydreamin71

Yeah, Asheville has stood out to me for a lot of reasons. I used to think it was too small, too isolated, too expensive and too cold but my recent research has proved those assumptions to be invalid.

LOL! Not all of Florida is made of sand. There are other types of soil. Not that I've ever been to Florida but on paper, it seems to match most of my criteria well. Also, for my purposes, at least, hiking is not just a mountain activity.

[I. B. Trippin]

Thanks to all who have responded, thus far.

Augusta, GA has been coming up a lot in my searches on this subject. I've always thought of Augusta as a golf town but according to these websites there is so much more in the way of recreational opportunities and scenic beauty.

Does anyone here have personal knowledge of that area and its recreational opportunities? Can you corroborate the info in the articles I'm reading?