Portland, Oregon
Outside Online has an interesting Top-25 article about the Best Towns to live in for access to aoutdoor adventure, affordability, and some other characteristics. In their words:
Where do you end up when you want a community with incredible access to the outdoors, affordable homes, and solid jobs? Some very surprising places. Introducing the top 25 towns in America for cycling, paddling, running, surfing, skiing, and—because you might want everything—all of the above.
Among the Top 25 are Boise, Idaho; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Portland, Maine; Charleston, South Carolina; and Boulder and Denver, Colorado (as two separate entries). Check them out here, and then let me know what you think.
Any of my readers live in any of these places? Why should we all move there (or not)?
(Ed. Note: Her Side will be back to regularly scheduled programming starting Tuesday, September 7. Thanks for sticking around!)
(Ed. Note: Someone kindly pointed out to me that the photo above is actually of Portland, Oregon, not Portland, Maine. In my defense, it was labeled as Maine at the place from whence I obtained it. Still, my apologies to citizens of both towns!)
© Her Side of the Mountain, 2010.
Her Side of the Mountain 
Well, I keep some of my vacation spot secrets, but I vote for Boise. Small college town within micro drives of epic scenery. It doesn’t have the grand peaks of northern Idaho, but all of Idaho is worth exploring. That’s all I’ll say.
I grew up in Chattanooga TN and did love it, but Portland, OR is number one in my heart. In Oregon we have rainforest, desert, snow, beach, basically, we have everything.
Two things I do miss about the outdoors in Chattanooga 1) Awesome rock climbing. 2) The ability to swim outside year round. The water can get pretty cold up here in Oregon.
Glad that you’ll be back soon.