Many Americans love to be outdoors as much as possible. And the pandemic may have increased that love. According to Outdoor Industry, as of 2020, 53% of Americans ages six and older have participated in outdoor recreation at least once. That was the highest rate since records began. And a study by One Poll showed Americans had a renewed appreciation for the outdoors during the quarantine.
The benefits of being outdoors and the ease of living outdoors in Florida:
It turns out that spending more time outdoors could be beneficial beyond the pandemic. A University of East Anglia study showed that spending time in nature has wide-ranging health benefits.
Some places in the country make it at least partially easier to live outside than others. It could be argued that people who live in Florida have easy access to outdoor living because the weather is often pleasant and Florida offers an abundance of natural beauty and open spaces. Florida has 189 beaches, 175 state parks and 92,400 acres of statewide wildlife sanctuaries.
The Dwellics list of top cities for outdoor living:
Website Dwellics researched over 50,000 US cities to compile a list of the top 100 cities for outdoor living. The site looked at ranking factors such as the number of parks, playgrounds, trails, and open spaces. Temperature, humidity, air and water quality and the risk of natural disasters were also taken into account.
8 Florida cities broke into the top 25, with 1 even earning the top spot. Here are the top 100 outdoor cities according to Dwellics.
- Lake Butler (Orange County), Florida
- Sunnyvale, Texas
- Wylie, Texas
- Kapolei, Hawaii
- Fort Mill, South Carolina
- Oviedo, Fla.
- Powhatan District, Virginia
- Parish of Carr, North Carolina
- Nocatee, Florida
- Fairhope, Alabama
- Conservatory, Florida
- Lakeway, Texas
- Winter Springs, Fla
- Marco Island, Fla
- District of Berkeley (James City County), Virginia
- Port Lavaca, Texas
- Mandeville, Louisiana
- Valparaiso, Florida
- Hill, North Carolina
- Alafaya, Fla
- Pendleton (Anderson County), South Carolina
- Poinciana, Florida
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Pearl, Hawaii
- St Cloud, Florida
- Princeton, Texas
- Punta Gorda, Florida
- Cedar Hill, Texas
- Ewa Beach, Hawaii
- Jacksonville North, Florida
- New Smyrna Beach, Fla
- Portland, Texas
- Laguna Niguel, California
- Lake Alfred, Florida
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- Horizon West, Florida
- New Albany, Mississippi
- Palacios, Texas
- Bland District, Virginia
- Surfing, North Carolina
- Titusville, Fla
- Williamsburg, Va
- Clermont, Fla
- Oakway, South Carolina
- Wailuku, Hawaii
- Roberts District, Virginia
- Spanish Fort, Alabama
- Clemson, Pickens County, South Carolina
- Scottsboro, Alabama
- Englewood (Charlotte County, Sarasota County), Florida
- Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
- Aia, Hawaii
- Kahului, Hawaii
- Groveland, Fla
- Providence Village, Texas
- Waihee-Waiehu, Hawaii
- Mount Dora, Fla
- Moundville (Hale County, Tuscaloosa County), Alabama
- Halawa, Hawaii
- Sanford, Fla
- Decatur (Morgan County), Alabama
- Taylor, Texas
- Cedar Creek Lake (Kaufman County), Texas
- Lihue, Hawaii
- Seguin, Texas
- Farmersville, Texas
- Destin, Fla
- Belton, Texas
- Seneca, South Carolina
- Fellsmere, Fla
- Floresville, Texas
- Smithfield, Virginia
- Inverness, Fla
- Crystal River, Florida
- Pleasure Point, California
- Carpinteria, California
- Lely Resort, Florida
- Haleiwa, Hawaii
- Umatilla, Fla
- Maili, Hawaii
- South Bay, Florida
- Kissimmee, Florida
- Havelock, North Carolina
- Kailua (Hawaii County), Hawaii
- Key West, Fla
- Lahaina, Hawaii
- Mira Monte, California
- Mariana, Fla
- Wailea, Hawaii
- Lay, Hawaii
- Leesburg, Fla
- Eufaula, Alabama
- Natchitoches, Louisiana
- Central, South Carolina
- Sebring, Fla
- Greenville, Mississippi
- Greensboro, Alabama
- Gulf Shores, Alabama
- Napili-Honokowai, Hawaii
- Island view, California
