From the American Podiatric Medical Association:
Having business in Boston? Weekending in New York? Heading out to San Francisco for a new job? Don't forget your walking shoes. Those are three of the top-rated cities for walking as determined by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), the doctors who take care of feet.
The APMA surveyed the most populated cities and then examined them for walker friendly characteristics, such as how many people walk to work each day, safe air quality, number of parks, how many podiatrists are available to keep your feet healthy and happy and how many health clubs and sports stores there are to serve walkers. One interesting finding is that each of the cities on the top-ten list has at least one government-appointed walking coordinator to develop special walking programs and encourage more walking within the city.
"Walking is one of the best ways to stay fit. As physicians dedicated to maintaining and improving foot and ankle health care, the APMA is delighted to partner with Prevention to provide valuable foot health information and recognize some of the great walking cities in our country," said Glenn Gastwirth, DPM, Executive Director APMA.
TOP CITIES: The Big Apple
New York, NY
New York is the media, cultural and financial capital of the world, which 9/11 brought so devastatingly into focus. Home to the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, Broadway, Madison Avenue. You could spend years exploring afoot. Surprisingly, the Big Apple has become one of the safest big cities for pedestrians, boasts 1700 parks and relatively few bad-air days, (12 a year.)
TOP CITIES
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco, CA
Known as one of the world's most visually stunning cities, Frisco also has the steepest urban hills anywhere. But hey, they're worth it! Great parks, wide beaches, picturesque neighborhoods all invite walking. And don't forget to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge!
TOP CITIES
Boston, MA
Boston is so saturated with history, culture and intellectual heft it's often been called the American Athens. Even though the city has a reputation for predatory drivers, it has the highest percentage of people who walk to work, and the least number of pedestrian deaths (as related to the number of commuters). Its charming historic neighborhoods, beautiful parks and river trails make it a great walking city.
TOP CITIES: City of Brotherly Love
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA once known as this "greene countrie towne," as William Penn called it in 1682, is a charming combination of cobbled streets and sleek skyscrapers. Fairmount Park, the world's largest landscaped park at 8,900 acres, boasts great walking paths and a fabulous Japanese house and gardens. Walk!Philadelphia (215-848-9141) offers guided walking tours downtown.
TOP CITIES:
Seattle,WA
From any downtown vista point you see Puget Sound, a sprinkling of small islands and the long, blue, snow-tipped spine of the Olympic Mountains. Turn east and see the jagged peaks of the Cascades, to the southeast, Mount Rainier. Need we say more?
TOP CITIES: Mile High City
Denver, CO
Denver has those nearly perpetual sunny skies and mild temperatures that lift a walker's spirits. While views of the Rockies are spectacular, the walking in town is flat! And there are 205 city parks to saunter through.
TOP CITIES: THE CAPITAL CITY
Washington, DC
You may never get out of the museums or off the monument trail, but if you do, Georgetown is the oldest part of the city, a square mile of cobbled streets, shaded walks, boutiques and restaurants to rest your weary feet and replenish yourself with fine food. In spring, the cherry blossoms throughout the city are awesome.
TOP CITIES: THE WINDY CITY
Chicago, IL
Over 500 parks and a surprisingly low crime rate are some of the Windy City's strengths. It also boasts some of the world's best restaurants and museums along Magnificent Mile that stretches along North Michigan Avenue. And for a simple walking route, the 18-mile Lakefront Running Path offers great views of the city and Lake Michigan.
TOP CITIES:
Portland, OR
Home of the Portland to Coast Walk(where 50 teams of 10-12 walkers compete annually in a 126-mile walk to the coast over two days), Portland is lush and green, thanks to plenty of rain between October and May. Abundant trails are available within 5 minutes of downtown, or walk along the Waterfront Park bike path.
TOP CITIES: The Emerald Necklace
Cleveland, OH
Once known as "the Mistake on the Lake," Cleveland, bordering Lake Erie, is now America's number one turnaround story. Walkers will appreciate the 60-mile string of parks and greenbelts known as "the Emerald Necklace." And if you walk to the rock 'n' roll beat, you'll love the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.