Best Towns 2016: The Contenders
The 60 towns that will go head-to-head in a winner-takes-all contest to find the best place to live in 2016

Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+.
These towns stand out for their great access to trails and public lands, thriving restaurants and neighborhoods, and, of course, a good beer scene. Starting on April 25, you’ll be able to vote on which you think deserves to win.
But first, we’re asking our readers to nominate their favorite towns, in a nine-day long wild-card contest that ends on April 22.
Beach
Bolinas, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Bellingham, WA
Cape May, NJ
Wilmington, NC
Ketchikan, AK
Ludington, MI
Miami, FL
Milwaukee, WI
Duxbury, MA
Islamorada, FL
Fairhope, AL
Yachats, OR
Bayfield, WI
Pacific Grove, CA
River
Milford, OH
Phillipsburg, MT
St. Louis, MO
Portland, OR
Salida, CO
New Orleans, LA
Nevada City, CA
Livingston, MT
Boise, ID
Bend, OR
Gunnison, CO
Charlotte, NC
Leavenworth, WA
Sioux Falls, SD
Harper’s Ferry, WV
Mountain
Silver City, NM
Salt Lake City, UT
Durango, CO
Jackson, WY
Sun Valley, ID
Steamboat Springs, CO
Sedona, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Bishop, CA
Waynesville, NC
Waterbury, VT
Marquette, MI
Jim Thorpe, PA
Staunton, VA
Talkeetna, AK
Culture
Cleveland, OH
Ojai, CA
Taos, NM
Atlanta, GA
Princeton, NJ
Austin, TX
Seattle, WA
Denver, CO
Amherst, MA
Chapel Hill, NC
Brunswick, ME
Hanalei, HI
Aspen, CO
Savannah, GA
Beacon, NY