UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#7. Fort Smith AR
Sunny Fort Smith, a gateway to the west, sits along the Arkansas river, just across from Oklahoma. It has a mild climate with less humidity than other Southern states. This low key, mid-sized town sports multiple modern library branches and plenty of coffee shops, like Fort Smith Coffee Co., whose downtown location rocks its revamped garage home.
Get your camp on in Ozark and Ouachita National Forests to the north and south, or spend your off time visiting the historic fort, riding a historic trolley or checking out the barbershop where Elvis Presley got his army haircut. You’ll also find plenty of food options from Asian to Cajun to an old-fashioned steak.