Health & Fitness: The Top 10 Places to Take a Walk

Love to walk? You might be living in one of the nation's 10 most walker-friendly cities.

The American Podiatric Medical Association has released this year's list of top walking cities in the country.

"Walking is truly a great exercise that can be enjoyed almost anywhere," said Dr. Harold Glickman, APMA president. "These 10 cities and their residents embody a passion for walking that sets a great example for the rest of the nation."

The winners are:

1. Portland, Ore.: With cool summers and relatively mild winters, walkers in Portland can hit the streets and trails year round.

2. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Colorado Springs scored extremely high in both the general physical fitness index and the percentage of adults who participate in sports.

3. Madison, Wis.: Madison, which ranks fourth in miles of trails per square mile, has more residents who bike to work than any other city in the nation.

4. Boise, Idaho: The largest city in the Gem State boasts a high percentage of adults who participate in athletics while also ranking fourth in number of residents who walk for exercise.

5. Las Vegas, Nev.: This desert oasis has a high number of households that are physically active and participate in sports.

6. Austin, Texas: Austin scored favorably because of its many parks and the number of residents who bike for exercise.

7. Virginia Beach, Va.: More than a haven for beach goers, Virginia Beach reached the top 10 because of its low crime rate, lots of parks and the number of residents who golf.

8. Anchorage, Alaska: Nearly 50 percent of Anchorage residents walk for exercise, taking advantage of the city's vast square mileage of parks. Anchorage also has more dog owners than any other city in the U.S.

9. Fremont, Calif.: Topping the list for the number of residents who walk for health, Fremont outscored many cities because of the number of residents who take public transportation to work.

10. Raleigh, N.C.: With several parks at their disposal, Raleigh residents have many places to walk.

APMA partnered with Prevention magazine to develop this year's study criteria. For a list of all 100 cities surveyed, visit www.apma.org/walkingcities.

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