Best Towns 2012

To help select America's most progressive, adventurous, and livable river towns, we turned to a trusted source: More than 20,000 readers in 10 finalist towns engaged in a mostly friendly and always opinionated competition to determine the cities that are the most serious about recreation and environmental stewardship.

Best Towns 2011

Adventure amenities make a lot of towns seem dreamy. What sets these 19 burgs apart is their nod to reality: affordable homes, solid job prospects, and vibrant nightlife. Start packing, for these are the finest places you'd ever want to call home, from a Midwestern mountain-biking hub to a Seattle-area hang-gliding mecca.

Best Towns 2010

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—from Portland to Charleston—for cycling, paddling, running, surfing, skiing, and—because you might want everything—all of the above.

Best Towns 2009

Healthy. That's the word we kept coming back to. And we don't mean a fit or skinny population; we're talking about a city's cultural vibrancy, economic well-being, and overall quality of life. Presenting our picks for the 10 best cities in America, from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Plus: Our 10 favorite small towns.

Best Towns 2008

Your town got you down? We've got your escape plan right here. These 11 stars of America's 21st-century Renaissance—from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire—are riding a wave of civic reinvention and fresh ideas. Plus: The quick scoop on the nine other towns that made our list this year.

Best Towns 2007

And you should, too. We serve up the premier small town and big city in every region of the country, with an inside line on jobs, homes, and the greatest places to play. Want to stay on the West Coast, then check out Santa Cruz, California. Prefer the East? You'll want to look into getting a place in Portland, Maine. Or at least visiting.

Best Towns 2006

By Mike Grudowski

Wanna live where the action is? The goal: Trails out the back door, a serious Saturday-morning peloton, whitewater just up the road, and neighbors eager to join in. Our source: The best adventure athletes in America, who tell us where they live and why. The result: 20 places where locals work, train, and play hard. Start packing now.

Best Towns 2005

By Mike Grudowski

Think Utopia doesn't exist. Maybe not yet—but these 10 towns—from Littleton, New Hampshire, to Charleston, South Carolina—are making a play for perfection with adventure-friendly innovation and cool ideas for building smart communities. Plus: The hottest concepts in urban revival, combating sprawl, and better hometown living.