1. Portland, Oregon
Home to a sprawling urban forest, dozens of verdant public parks, gorgeous gardens and a sparkling river running through the middle of the city, there’s never a shortage of ways to explore Portland’s outdoors. Bike the Vernonia-Banks Trail, a 21-mile, multi-use, and fully paved path, and one of Oregon’s first completed “rails-to-trails” projects, repurposing a route that was once used to haul lumber from old-growth forests to Portland. Enjoy urban walks and hiking trails in forested parks and lush gardens scattered throughout the city or take a short drive to explore alpine lake hikes near Mount Hood and waterfall trails in the Columbia River Gorge. Go whitewater rafting on the Clackamas or Sandy Rivers. Take a kayak or canoe for a spin up the Willamette River. There are more than 200 parks and gardens within city limits, from forests to marshlands, trails to skateboarding rails. In a city as green as Portland, it’s only fitting to be one of the top destinations for outdoor sports.
2. Corpus Christi, Texas
Take advantage of the perfect Gulf waters that are wide open and welcoming for activities like surfing and sailing and go kayaking along the Mustang Island Paddling Trail. See for yourself why deep-sea fishing is such a favorite pastime among locals and visitors alike, and learn all about surf fishing, wade fishing, and fishing from piers and jetties when you don’t have a boat. From high-octane to gentle adventures, the outdoors is calling in Corpus Christi. Located right on the beautiful shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Corpus Christi offers many great locations for those interested in trying out a new water sport while on vacation. From kayaking to surfing to kiteboarding there are several local pros who can help you get started. Bikers and hikers alike shouldn’t miss out on the many memorable nature walks and trail that showcase all that Corpus Christi has to offer, such as the Corpus Christi Bay Trail, the Schanen Hike & Bike Trail, and more!
3. Greensboro, North Carolina
Step into the spotlight of success in Greensboro—the ultimate destination for your next sporting event. “Tournament Town” offers a variety of natural venues that can easily accommodate events of all sizes. With more than 30 miles of dedicated hiking trails, Greensboro makes experiencing scenic views and getting exercise easily accessible. The town also offers a good mix of well-maintained mountain biking trails both within its parks and surrounding the city’s watershed lakes. Bike trails include easy ones such as Bald Eagle Trail, to intermediate like Copperhead Trail, and even challenging routes like Wild Turkey Trail.
4. Shores & Islands, Ohio
Shores & Islands Ohio hosts competitive, entertaining and charitable events at its many outdoor venues. The region consists of three municipalities: Cedar Point, Sandusky, and Put-In-Bay. Beautiful outdoor green spaces draw seasonal sports such as golf, lacrosse, volleyball, and soccer, while Lake Erie and its tributaries offer a refreshing natural venue for fishing tournaments, sailing regattas, and other water sports. The region’s miles of coastline are the perfect backdrop for everything from 5K runs to marathons, to obstacle challenge races. Located near both Cleveland and Toledo, come discover the variety of fun outdoor things to do in the Greater Sandusky region. Event planners can draw on paddleboard, kayak, boat, parasail, and Jet Ski rentals near Sandusky—perfect for competing (or unwinding) on the water.
5. Lake County, Florida
Located 30 minutes west of Orlando, the City of Clermont is known as the “Choice of Champions.” The area attracts cyclists, triathletes, runners and others to the area to compete. With Clermont Waterfront Park Victory Pointe, Lake Louisa State Park and the Clermont Clay Roads, athletes find challenging topography and waterfront locations that make training and competing an adventure year-round. Lake County also boasts hills, unlike many other Florida locations. Sugarloaf Mountain is the highest peninsular point at 312-feet above sea-level, making it a good destination for cyclists. Whether you are training for the next Olympics or a new personal record in a triathlon, Lake County’s natural venues welcome athletes and teams from all over the world to train to compete at their highest levels. There are a variety of sports and disciplines that you can train for in Lake County watersports (i.e. rowing, canoe/kayak, waterski, and more).
