SUBSCRIBE | NEWSLETTERS | MAPS | VIDEOS | BLOGS | MARKETPLACE | CONTESTS
TRY BACKPACKER FREE!
SUBSCRIBE NOW and get
2 Free Issues and 3 Free Gifts!
Full Name:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email: (required)
If I like it and decide to continue, I'll pay just $12.00, and receive a full one-year subscription (9 issues in all), a 73% savings off the newsstand price! If for any reason I decide not to continue, I'll write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing.
Your subscription includes 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Or click here to pay now and get 2 extra issues
Offer valid in US only.

Backpacker Magazine – August 2009

The Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid: The Winning 25

From Boulder to Juneau to Bozeman, see which cities made the cut for the best place to raise an outdoor kid, and why.

by: Jason Stevenson

(Photo by Justin Bailie)
(Photo by Justin Bailie)
(Photo by Kennan Harvey)
(Photo by Kennan Harvey)
(Photo by Kennan Harvey)
(Photo by Kennan Harvey)
(Photo by Jymn Meier)
(Photo by Jymn Meier)

Hometown Heroes
Three cities and two states with get-the-kids-out programs worth joining–or emulating

Albuquerque, NM
Program Each year, the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program enables 2,000-plus students to perform field research along the Rio Grande with University of New Mexico biologists.

Milwaukee, WI
Program The Urban Ecology Institute teaches 15,000 inner-city students about the environment and green jobs at riverfront parks.

Prior Lake, MN
Program Jeffers Pond Elementary wraps environmental topics into all core subject areas, thanks to an on-site naturalist and wetlands.

Minnesota and Wisconsin
Program Through the School Forests initiative, more than 450 student bodies manage outdoor "classrooms" in nearby woodlands and marshes, learning about sustainability and Leave No Trace.

Downtowns
The stats say "don't move here!"
Chattanooga 59% of residents exercise 30 minutes a week.
Corpus Christi Average heat index in July/August is 110°F.
Montgomery 61% of residents are obese, according to the CDC.
Oak Harbor, WA
Gets 1.5 hours of sunlight on average January day.
Pittsburgh
Great paddling, but #1 for soot and diesel exhaust.

Methodology
The stats and assumptions behind our rankings
To determine which U.S. cities offer the most fertile soil for raising outdoor kids, we crunched 38 different metrics, from the distance to the nearest national park to the density of Boy's Life subscribers. We looked at climate stats, outdoor education figures, and unemployment and obesity rates. We also polled BACKPACKER readers and editors–because you can't reduce everything to numbers. For a full list of metrics and sources, go to backpacker.com/outdoorkids.



Subscribe to Backpacker magazine
Sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter
Name:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
State:
Zip:
Email (req):
Reader Rating: Star Star Star Star Star

READERS COMMENTS

Star Star Star Star Star
http://www.jerseycaptain.com
May 12, 2013

cheap nfl jersey wholesale, new nfl jersey wholesale, nike nfl jersey wholesale
http://www.jerseycaptain.com/
2013 new nfl jersey sale, new nfl jersey cheap, nfl jersey 2013, http://www.jerseycaptain.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c125/
wholesale nike nfl jerseys, cheap nfl jersey sale, nfl Jersey wholesale, nfl jersey 2013 sale http://www.jerseycaptain.com/MLB-Jerseys-c94/
cheap baseball Jerseys, sf giants jersey cheap, baseball jersey for sale , wholesale mlb jerseys, mlb jerseys cheap
http://www.jerseycaptain.com/NBA-Jerseys-c77/
basketball jerseys cheap, nba jerseys for sale, wholesale nba jerseys, nba jersey cheap
http://www.jerseycaptain.com/NHL-Jerseys-c96/
wholesale nhl jersey, discount nhl jersey , cheap nhl jerseys, Australia basketball jerseys. Australia soccer jerseys

Star Star Star Star Star
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com
Apr 30, 2013

Cheap nfl jerseys wholesale http://www.yourjerseyhome.com sale nfl jerseys wholesale,Nike Baltimore Ravens Jerseys . Australia basketball jerseys. Australia soccer jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/Nike-NFL-Jerseys-c124.html Nike nfl jerseys cheap
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NFL-Jerseys-c68.html discount nfl jerseys, throwback nfl jerseys, nike elite nfl jerseys, game limited nfl jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NCAA-Jerseys-c114.html college ncaa jerseys cheap
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/MLB-Jerseys-c94.html cheap mlb jerseys, baseball jerseys sale, cool base MLB Jerseys, 2012 world series San Francisco Giants Jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NBA-Jerseys-c77.html wholesale nba jerseys, cheap nba jerseys, Revolution 30 Swingman NBA Jerseys, Hardwood Classics NBA Jerseys
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/NHL-Jerseys-c96.html discount nhl jerseys,
http://www.yourjerseyhome.com/Soccer-Jerseys-c118.html discount soccer jerseys

Joe
Oct 25, 2012

I'm disappointed nothing in Utah was listed. And not from the "I live there and think its the best" point of view. Within 30 minutes of anywhere in the Salt Lake valley you have access to thousands of miles of hiking, mountain biking, off-roading, hunting, 3 blue ribbon trout streams, 5-6 world class ski resorts. Expand your area to a 4-5 hour drive and you've got Moab, Yellowstone, Zions, Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Slot Canyons, Desert, Salmon River ID, Wind Rivers, Green River(arguably the best fly fishing river in the world) you name it. SLC SHOULD have been in your top 5.

josh
Sep 21, 2010

I'm a high school student living in Upstate New York, near Glens Falls. I found it funny that this town is on the list because I was researching colleges and Burlington, VT and Boulder, CO are big places of interests for me. I think because I live in this type of surrounding that I am more attracted to living around here.

Peter
Jul 17, 2010

Um, nice list but some of us are not dot-com millionaires.

Bambi
May 07, 2010

I live in Wheeling, WV and am very happy to see us on this list! We have 4 children - cost of living here accomodates larger families (jobs don't earn as much, but housing etc is a LOT less than the rest of the country, and jobs aren't extinct) The outdoor space is BEAUTIFUL, although many don't take advantage of it (hence the high #'s of obesity in adults in children) I SEE THE TREND CHANGING! Am involved in community work to get people walking/biking - and there is quite an enthusiastic "movement". Working to connect the last 6 miles of trail to the Allegheny - and we'll have the longest continuous trail in the country. Public schools are ok, and are trying to improve - academics as well as healthy communities. LOTS of great programming for kids through the parks, and opportunities galore for lower income folks. West Virginia University is only an hour away (Pittsburgh too) so healthcare and research are improving, ongoing, and accessible.

Wendy
Apr 28, 2010

Park City is beautiful, but real estate is incredibly expensive and employment is scarce.

Jenifer
Mar 19, 2010

We were thrilled to see Durango make the list. It is also a great place for students looking to get a degree in Adventure Education at Fort Lewis College. If you would like to learn more about it visit their website http://explore.fortlewis.edu/adventureed/index.asp

Connie
Mar 05, 2010

I live in Utah and am very surprised that Utah did not make this list in any way! I also live in Juneau, Ak for the summers and can't say that it is that great. Most of the local people I know from there are not the outdoor type at all!!! The people that do most of the hiking and playing are visitors, except maybe in the winter. It is a town of drugs, drinking and sex!
Utah on the other hand has so much more to offer. Park City is amazing, but even Salt Lake City is a great place to raise on outdoor kid!!!

Clif
Sep 21, 2009

Matt, that's the median home price not avg income.

Matt
Sep 03, 2009

Just FYI: the average income in Wheeling is closer to around $30,000. I don't know anyone who lives in Wheeling that earns $80,000 unless they live in 'Wheeling'...areas around Oblebay and Wheeling Jesuit.

LCC
Aug 29, 2009

I live in Franklin, NC, in Macon county, about an hour west of Asheville and, depending on the route you take, about 45 - 60 minutes from Brevard. The Appalachian Trail runs right through Macon county. (Franklin is one of the first few resupply stops for most north bound AT thru-hikers and a regular "town day" location.) Macon county is loaded with hiking trails, including the AT and the Bartram Trail, and has 10 peaks over 5,000 ft. The Great Smokies are also less than an hour away, entering through Cherokee, NC or Bryson City, NC. There are plenty of camping, fishing and white water activities near by. It is within 45 minutes of the Nantahala river for rafting, an hour from the Chattooga and about two hours from the Occoee. Franklin is located 2-2.5 hours north of Atlanta, and just under an hour to some decent skiing and snowboarding in the winter (Cataloochee in Maggie Valley) (The Boone/Banner Elk ski areas are about 3 hours away) and yet our year round climate is on the mild side. Although we do usually see a little snow in the winter, the coldest temps only last a day or two at a time. Our usual winter highs are in the 40s to low 50s with some days in the upper 60s. Summers typically see highs in the low 80s with a few days creeping up into the 90s. Housing can run the gamut depending on where you look, but most family type housing will run from $175,000 to $250,000 with some lower and some higher. There are theaters, golf courses, great restaurants, a family fun center with games, go-carts, lazer tag and bowling and a brand new fine arts center with weekly events including big name concerts, local theater troup productions and comedy nights. Franklin in also only about 40 minutes from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.
All in all...a great place to live!

LCC
Aug 29, 2009

I live in Franklin, NC, in Macon county, about an hour west of Asheville and, depending on the route you take, about 45 - 60 minutes from Brevard. The Appalachian Trail runs right through Macon county. (Franklin is one of the first few resupply stops for most north bound AT thru-hikers and a regular "town day" location.) Macon county is loaded with hiking trails, including the AT and the Bartram Trail, and has 10 peaks over 5,000 ft. The Great Smokies are also less than an hour away, entering through Cherokee, NC or Bryson City, NC. There are plenty of camping, fishing and white water activities near by. It is within 45 minutes of the Nantahala river for rafting, an hour from the Chattooga and about two hours from the Occoee. Franklin is located 2-2.5 hours north of Atlanta, and just under an hour to some decent skiing and snowboarding in the winter (Cataloochee in Maggie Valley) (The Boone/Banner Elk ski areas are about 3 hours away) and yet our year round climate is on the mild side. Although we do usually see a little snow in the winter, the coldest temps only last a day or two at a time. Our usual winter highs are in the 40s to low 50s with some days in the upper 60s. Summers typically see highs in the low 80s with a few days creeping up into the 90s. Housing can run the gamut depending on where you look, but most family type housing will run from $175,000 to $250,000 with some lower and some higher. There are theaters, golf courses, great restaurants, a family fun center with games, go-carts, lazer tag and bowling and a brand new fine arts center with weekly events including big name concerts, local theater troup productions and comedy nights. Franklin in also only about 40 minutes from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.
All in all...a great place to live!

Becky
Aug 27, 2009

Asheville is great! I have lived here over 15 yrs. There is so much to do around here. We have Bent Creek, Tsali and DuPont close by for awesome mtn. biking. Nantahala is a little over an hour away. GSM Nat. Park is close enough for a day trip. I was in the park just yesterday with my parents. It was their 55 wedding ann. They wanted to see Catalooche valley. We were on an easy trail just a few hundred yds. up the trail and came face to face with a big bull elk. We moved off the trail for him to pass. It was fantastic! The Green River Gorge is close by as well for some wicked fun kayaking. I recommend it 100%. Not to mention downtown Asheville is a great place to eat and unwind after a long day on the bike. My husband and I usually go to Barley's Tap Room for pizza and beer.

bcrollo
Aug 23, 2009

Gotta say that after 33 years in the Pacific Northwest, PARK CITY UTAH IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO RAISE OUTDOOR KIDS. 300 days of sunshine, 4 seasons, only a few hours Yellow Stone, Moab, Bryce Canyon, Zion or a few more hours to great Colorado adventures, Glacier, or The Grand Canyon. Plus top ranked schools in the nation. Kids have access to trying out all the winter olympic sports for free in 4th grade. 5th and 6th graders get a free pass to ski all 13 of Utah's ski resorts! Hundreds of miles of trails right out my door for hiking or biking and we can walk to the ski lift! My kids don't know how good they've got it!

bcrollo
Aug 23, 2009

Gotta say that after 33 years in the Pacific Northwest, PARK CITY UTAH IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO RAISE OUTDOOR KIDS. 300 days of sunshine, 4 seasons, only a few hours Yellow Stone, Moab, Bryce Canyon, Zion or a few more hours to great Colorado adventures, Glacier, or The Grand Canyon. Plus top ranked schools in the nation. Kids have access to trying out all the winter olympic sports for free in 4th grade. 5th and 6th graders get a free pass to ski all 13 of Utah's ski resorts! Hundreds of miles of trails right out my door for hiking or biking and we can walk to the ski lift! My kids don't know how good they've got it!

Tricia
Aug 13, 2009

I am from the Jackson area and agree that it would be an excellent place to raise kids. However, the housing pricing is way outdated here as well. Let's keep in mind that the $495,000 price listed would barely get you a 20 year old 1000 sq foot condo. For those of us who want a little more space - we travel the mountain pass into Victor, Idaho. Many of the families enjoying Jackson Hole as their stomping grounds make Victor & Driggs, Idaho their home.

Julie
Aug 11, 2009

I live in Durango, and the cost of living in Durango is exorbitant! The data listed is outdated. Durango has a current population of 16,000 (with a many out-of-town vistors since it is a resort community), and the median house price today is $439,990. Good luck trying to find a house for less than $350,000. If you do, it will be very small, old and require a lot of repairs. It is a great place to raise outdoor kids if you come here with existing wealth. Durango has few employers, and in this economy the jobs are scarce. The jobs that have recently become available are not paying enough to live here. Do solid research before you make a decision to move to here. Many people move here and find within a year or two that they have to move out, because they can not afford to maintain a good standard of living here for their families. It's a great place to visit and backpack for a week or two but not to live here and try to maintain a good standard of living. As others have said about Juneau, Durango is expensive to fly in and out of and it is so remote that the closest big city is Albuquerque 3 1/2 hours drive away.

Teresa
Aug 07, 2009

I was born & raised in Juneau & still live here. It is a great place live. There are always going to be pros & cons living anywhere. Drugs are everywhere in this world not just Juneau. We have had a awesome SUNNY summer here. The rain is nice & refreshing too. Lots of things to do like fishing, hunting, hiking team sports the list goes on. The lower 48 has nothing on
Alaska.

Cathy
Aug 07, 2009

Yes, Juneau is wet and expensive, but where I lived in downtown Juneau, you could walk from those expensive homes straight to a network of hiking trails, ranging from easy to very difficult. Plus, there's kayaking and fishing in the summer and cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter, all very easy to get to.

View all comments

ADD A COMMENT

Your rating:
Your Name:

Comment:

My Profile Join Now

Most recent threads

Rocky Mountains
Glacier Shuttle Options in Sept.
Posted On: Jun 20, 2013
Submitted By: hikerjer
The Political Arena
What was he thinking?
Posted On: Jun 19, 2013
Submitted By: Cmazzac

Go
View all Gear
Find a retailer

Special sections - Expert handbooks for key trails, techniques and gear

Editors' Choice 2013
412 trail-tested products

Boost Your Apps
Add powerful tools and exclusive maps to your BACKPACKER apps through our partnership with Trimble Outdoors.

Carry the Best Maps
With BACKPACKER PRO Maps, get life-list destinations and local trips on adventure-ready waterproof myTopo paper.

FREE Rocky Mountain Trip Planner
Sign up for a free Rocky Mountain National Park trip planning kit from our sister site MyRockyMountainPark.com.

Follow BackpackerMag on Twitter Follow Backpacker on Facebook
Get 2 FREE Trial Issues and 3 FREE GIFTS
Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
The Best Trails in America
YES! Please send me my FREE trial issues of Backpacker
and my 3 FREE downloadable booklets.
Full Name:
City:
Address 1:
Zip Code:
State:
Address 2:
Email (required):
Free trial offer valid for US subscribers only. Canadian subscriptions | International subscriptions