Chattanooga Named Outside Magazine’s ‘Best Town Ever’

Chattanooga, TN as the winner in its search to determine the best Outside town in America. No doubt, the reclamation of the Tennessee River had something to do with it. Chattanooga not that long ago was America's most polluted city, now a model of sustainability © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com.

Outside magazine, America’s leading active-lifestyle publication, has selected Chattanooga, TN as the winner in its search to determine the best Outside town in America, following a three week competition held on Facebook.

Outside scoured the nation to find dream cities that offered a balance of great culture, perfect scenery, stress-free and reasonable cost of living, and, of course, easy access to the outdoors. Chattanooga came out on top, receiving the official honor of Outside’s “Best Towns Ever” and is featured on the October 2011 magazine cover which hits newsstands TODAY and Outside Online. Chattanooga will be also be featured in an exclusive segment on Outside Television.

Chattanooga was selected from a list of ten finalists, and competed for the top honor against Charleston, SC; Madison, WI; Portland, OR; Portland, ME; Santa Fe, NM; Ashland, OR; Boulder, CO; Burlington, VT; Tucson, AZ.

“Putting this issue together is always a tough process when choosing between a number of truly great places. This year we tried something new and allowed the Outside community to help us in the decision making process,” said Outside Editor Chris Keyes. “In addition to possessing all of the great qualities that we look for in determining the quality of life, Chattanooga was a town that everyone rallied to support.”

In addition to featuring the “Best Town Ever” and the towns selected as finalists, Outside’s October 2011 issue highlights a number of cities classified as the “next-big-things,” including: Issaquah, WA; Missoula, MT; Wilmington, NC; Durango, CO; Traverse City, MI; Flagstaff, AZ; Chico, CA; Hardwick, VT and Ithaca, NY.

See also:

Chattanooga’s top 10 summer attractions make great family getaway and slideshow

Chattanooga is key stop on Tennessee’s Civil War Heritage Trail and slideshow

 

Tags: 'Best Town Ever', Chattanooga