adventure

iStockPhoto/Morgan Somers

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#2. Bend, OR

Move here if you want to … get active.

Does your current day-to-day life feel flat and stagnant? Are you yearning for fresh air and adventure? Moving to Bend, Oregon, is the remedy for all that ails you.

Not only is Bend located in central Oregon, which happens to be one of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific Northwest (and possibly the whole country), it provides easy access to all the outdoor adventures you could ask for. Want to take a day off and hit the slopes? You’re less than an hour from Mt. Bachelor. Want to do a little whitewater kayaking in the morning before work? The Deschutes River conveniently runs right through town. Can you see why Livability named Bend one of the Best Home Base Cities for Adventure Enthusiasts?

If you want to make outdoor adventure your full-time job, there are plenty of ways to make a living outside in Bend, from working at a resort to becoming a guide or instructor.

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