San Diego

San Diego No. 5 of 100 ‘Most Adventurous Cities in America': Magazine

According to "Men's Health" magazine, America's Finest City is also among the most adventurous cities in the nation

With shorelines and outdoor opportunities galore, San Diego is ranked the fifth “most adventurous” city in America – out of 100 cities – according to a study released Thursday by a popular magazine.

“Men’s Health” took a look at the 100 most populous cities in the United States, focusing on whether or not cities offer great outdoor experiences including hiking, fishing, water sports, and snowboarding.

Turns out, with bountiful beaches, great weather, and picture perfect views, San Diego snagged the No. 5 spot on the list. The study praises San Diego’s 40,000 acres of public land spread out over 400 parks and 26 miles of shorelines as a haven for outdoor activities – from kayaking through the sea caves of La Jolla to surfing in Del Mar or Black’s Beach.

“Men’s Health” said the rankings were based on criteria such as the percentage of people taking part in sports in the past year (backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, etc.). Also factored in: the percentage of people meeting activity guidelines laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Researchers also factored in the percentage of individuals who engage in vigorous activity five or more days a ways, per CDC guidelines, the ratio of parkland to city size, the number of recreational businesses in a city, the percentage of recreational expenditure for households and the Recreational Consumer Price Index, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

San Diego is certainly in good company. The top 10 “Most Adventurous Cities in America” include, in order:

  1. Anchorage, Alaska
  2. Austin, Texas
  3. Madison, Wis.
  4. Minneapolis, Minn.
  5. San Diego, Calif.
  6. Raleigh, N.C.
  7. Virginia Beach, Va.
  8. Boston, Mass.
  9. Seattle, Wash.
  10. Fargo, N.D. 

For the full list, click here. The July/August issue of the magazine – which hits stands on June 27 – has details on how to take advantage of outdoor offerings in the top above 10 adventure-filled cities.

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