Best place to live for adventure sports?

Zach · 21st February 2007, 02:51 PM

Right now I live in Chicago and it's good for sailing, kayaking and biking and you can fly almost anywhere from O'Hare airport but I would like to live somewhere warmer and with a greater variety of things to do.

A place that's warm year round and has the ocean and mountains nearby would be great. Adventure magazine had an article a while back with some good adventure sports towns. Bellingham, WA and Bend, OR were on the list but I'm thinking somewhere a little warmer because I'm really into sailing, scuba diving and mt. biking.

New Zealand seems like it would be a cool place to live, Florida would be good for sailing and scuba diving but there isn't much terrain for mt. biking. California seems like it's really expensive and crowded. Puerto Rico might be cool.

Any other thoughts?

crassus · 24th February 2007, 08:05 AM

New Zealand seems ideal for you. The place has a little of everything.

Zach · 26th February 2007, 02:19 PM

Yeah New Zealand does look like an awesome place. I've never been there but it's definitely on my list of places to visit!

I could add Brazil to the list too. I've done a lot of travel in Brazil and the area between Rio and Sao Paulo is great for all kinds of adventure sports because the mountains come right out to the ocean and there are lots of beaches. It's also not that expensive to buy land there.

Alltracks Academy · 15th March 2007, 09:35 AM

Hey Zach - does it have to be in the USA? If so, surely somewhere in california with access to the ocean for surf and sailing, but not too far from the mountains either.
In Canada - Whistler is awesome
In Europe - Chamonix and Morzine are great towns with world class climbing, skiing, snowboarding etc. Also, the French Alps are only a couple of hours form the coast - which is beautiful. Check it out if you get the chance.

Zach · 15th March 2007, 06:57 PM

It definitely doesn't have to be in the U.S. Especially if we end up with another president like this one!

I'll have to check out those places you mentioned in Europe. I think Australia or New Zealand would be cool but they seem so far away from the rest of the world. Maybe that's just because I live in the U.S.

Oh and welcome to 365 Adventure!

sn0xb0arder · 20th March 2007, 01:34 PM

I'd agree with Brazil

bedeliavelez · 21st June 2007, 08:48 PM

Have you been in Spain? In Menorca Spain. They were popular in water sports.

Alltracks Academy · 25th July 2007, 02:43 AM

yes I sailed around Menorca a few years ago whilst sailing around the med. it is a nice enough place but a bit overrun with tourists over the summer. Definitley not as cool as skiing the backcountry out ion Whistler. Europe can just be a bit crowded.

GoodOmens · 27th September 2007, 12:00 PM

Anywhere in California as well. Nice ocean with good waves and then you have the mountains close by for hiking and skiing.

I remember when I lived in Arizona for school it was 70 degrees when I left campus. I drove about 4 hours and I was in the mountains skiing with a good 2 feet of fresh powder. Amazing how quick the climate changes with altitude / area.

TestdaWater · 2nd October 2007, 01:09 PM

California has it all basically. You might have to do a lot of traveling but it's still one of the greatest states for any and all activities.