The Fittest Cities In America Aren't Ones You'd Expect

In Los Angeles and New York—America’s most wellness-fixated cities—buzzy studios and athleisure stores abound, so it’s interesting that both are conspicuously absent from Gallup’s latest report on the country’s fittest cities.

Boulder, Colorado—where 70 percent of residents regularly engage in physical exercise—came out on top, followed by Fort Collins, Colorado (68 percent); the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande area of California (67 percent); Greeley, Colorado (65 percent); and Santa Rosa, California (62 percent).

One thing these cities have going for them, as opposed to metropolitan New York and traffic-jammed LA, is a walking-friendly structure and proximity to nature that facilitates everyday activity without the need for scheduled gym time. In Boulder, for example, hiking and trail running in the mountains is a legit weekend activity, and the city center is generally pedestrian friendly, encouraging residents to meet the recommended 10,000 steps per day.

Of course more activity leads to notably better health, and according to Gallup “the highest 10 exercise communities have significantly lower incidence of chronic disease, with approximately 30% less obesity, diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart attack, as compared with the lowest 10 communities.”

Find out which states topped the list of happiest in the USA, or try the simple trick that could help you start enjoying exercise.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.