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<\/p>\nOne thing we can all agree on is that spending time outdoors is an amazing way to unwind from the day-to-day grind. However, a weekend-long hike or a long trip to a national park is often challenging in our busy lives.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, we looked at the best places for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors \u2014 without having to travel too far out. Specifically, we ranked the best places to live for outdoor enthusiasts based on their park area, sports courts, number of clear days per year, air quality and more. We then split the list by population at the 500,000-resident mark in order to include nature lovers and trekkers from bustling metropolises and smaller cities alike.<\/p>\n
Living in one of the largest cities in the U.S. doesn\u2019t mean you have to kiss outdoor activities goodbye. In fact, modern cities expertly blend the towering high-rises and busy shopping centers that define high-density urban clusters with sports fields, green spaces and trails that offer relief from all of the urban bustle \u2014 without having to go outside city limits.<\/p>\n
While air quality and walkability are among the most common challenges for those looking for outdoor enthusiasts in large cities, the following locations counteract those issues with ample green spaces, inner-city nature trails and sports amenities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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If you love the outdoors, but still want to enjoy all of the perks of big-city living, Washington, D.C.<\/a> should be high on your list of places to live. The city offers no shortage of fresh air entertainment options. Notably, the nation\u2019s capital was the highest-scoring city in the Trust for Public Land\u2019s ParkScore index, with 98% of its residents living within reach of a park and as much as 24% of the city\u2019s surface being green spaces.<\/p>\n In addition to great walkability and comparatively good urban air quality, Washington, D.C. also incorporates more than 100 trails within its urban park system. That amounts to about 25 miles of trails for every 10,000 residents \u2014 the highest share on the list \u2014 on top of great air quality and walkability.<\/p>\n There\u2019s more to San Francisco than just coding and water cooler chatter. From the Golden Gate Park with its botanical gardens all the way to San Bruno and Lake Merced, the northern California powerhouse has plenty going for it in terms of outdoor relaxation, making it the country’s second-best place to live for outdoor enthusiasts that also want to stay connected.<\/p>\n In particular, San Francisco<\/a> is famous as a highly walkable city (with Walkscore.com ranking it as the most walkable in the U.S.), especially in neighborhoods such as Chinatown and downtown-Union Square. The City by the Bay also boasted the second-best air quality out of all of the large cities on our list, as well as the second-highest number of clear days per year (160).<\/p>\n With almost 8.5 million residents \u2014 by far the most in the nation \u2014 New York City<\/a> was the third-best place to live for outdoor enthusiasts. This should come as no surprise, with so many things to see and do in the city that never sleeps.<\/p>\nSan Francisco Boasts Extensive Green Spaces & Some of the Best Air Quality Among the Top Large U.S. Cities for Outdoor Activities<\/h3>\n
America\u2019s Biggest City is 3rd-Best Large City for Outdoor Activities<\/h3>\n