In the past, when people moved to the city, the general thought was that they would be giving up their love for nature. But today, many cities have shown that this isn’t always the case. You can live in a big city and still enjoy the outdoors, so don’t think you only need inside workout gear if you live in a city. Get ready to find your next outdoor adventure with this list of the best cities for outdoor activities.
Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
You’ve probably never heard of Chesterbrook, but it’s one of the best places to live in the country with just under 5,000 people. Located in Chester County, PA, Chesterbrook is a suburb of Philadelphia. It provides the best of both worlds with the convenience of living close to the city and the feeling of living in a small town.
There are plenty of things to do outdoors like horseback riding and the Treehouse World Adventure Park that the kids will love. Also, you get the benefit of exercising outside without feeling like you’re doing it. Zipline through the trees, jump on trampolines and get a workout in while you’re playing.
Tie on your favorite pair of hiking boots and go camping, fishing and hiking in French Creek State Park. Hiking is a great way to exercise in the great outdoors. Another great park for exercising outside is Marsh Creek State Park, where you can hike, paddleboard or go kayaking.
Chesterbrook is a beautiful place to live and work where there are many choices for exercising outdoors.
San Francisco, California
With under a million people, San Francisco is a place many people dream about living. If you move to this city, you’ll find places to work out outdoors. For instance, Golden Gate National Recreation Area has more than 80,000 acres of green space by the water.
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area surrounds the city and includes 196 miles of hiking trails with majestic scenery like the towering redwoods, beautiful vistas and craggy shorelines. You’ll never get bored hiking here.
Go kiteboarding or windsurfing at Crissy Field and walk on the sand at the dog-friendly Fort Funston. You’ll find plenty of parks to play tennis, golf, basketball and more.
Plus, San Francisco is never too cold or hot, so it’s the perfect weather for exercising outside.
Aurora, Colorado
With a population of around 350,000, Aurora, Colorado is a great place with a city atmosphere but not the crowds that big cities have. Aurora typically has over 300 sunny days, which makes it the perfect place to live and exercise outside.
This location has 98 miles of trails, more than 8,000 acres of wide-open space and 113 parks. Go hiking or biking on the trails or camp and view wildlife in Colorado wilderness.
You can also enjoy paddle boarding and boating, as well as fishing at the reservoirs. There are plenty of places to swim, too. And don’t forget the winter sports! People love skiing and snowboarding in Aurora.
Boston, Massachusetts
With around 700,000 people, Boston, Massachusetts definitely has the feel of a big city but has plenty of outdoor spaces to exercise. Surprisingly, statistics show that approximately 27 percent of commuters walk to work here, and some even bike.
You can join open-air exercise classes up and down the Charles River Esplanade–and many are free. Some classes you’ll find are Zumba, yoga and tai chi. Many people like to go walking or running along the Esplanade.
The Blue Hills Reservation has 125 miles of trails and 7,000 acres of outdoor greenery. Hike the 635-foot-high Great Blue Hill and look at incredible views when you get to the top.
Go kayaking or swimming at one of the Harbor Islands or take a walking historical tour around the city. Boston offers plenty of ways to get fit outdoors.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis has a big city feel with around 420,000 people. While there are a lot of days where the temperature is below 32 degrees, those cold winters motivate people to play outside when the weather is nice.
Minneapolis has plenty of parks. In fact, all residents live within six blocks of one, and almost all of them have skiing trails that offer plenty of outdoor exercise in the winter. These parks also have many hiking and biking trails so you can enjoy nature while still exercising.
The city also has 22 lakes within the city limits, so you can go swimming, skating, sailing, kayaking and more. And when winter comes, there are plenty of places to ice skate.
Bicycling magazine called Minneapolis one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States because it has 46 miles of commuter lanes for cyclists and 84 off-street trails. It also has the most golfers per capita of any other city in America.
When it snows, the city clears the streets quickly so walkers and runners can get in their daily workouts.
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is located just outside the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., and has approximately 160,000 people living there. AAA named this city one of the 10 Most Walkable Cities in the U.S. The popular Mount Vernon Trail ends at George Washington’s famous home and is perfect for hiking and learning history.
You can visit Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home and walk many civil war sites. Cameron Run Regional Park has a wave pool and waterslide, which is the perfect place to go with the family so you can play while working out.
Alexandria also has boat, bike and walking tours of historical sites.
If you’re looking to move to a city that has plenty of ways to get exercise outdoors, check out one of these locations. You’ll find plenty of ways to get fit so your exercise routine won’t get boring.