Tucson. |
OP here, Thank you for all the suggestions! |
Smaller scale but…Flagstaff AZ (although not now because of fires) |
Austin, SLC, Albuquerque |
I was just coming to suggest Bozeman. Love it there. It has definitely been "discovered", but not overly so. |
Tacoma, WA
SLC, UT (except the pollution) Bozeman Boise |
I drove through Chattanooga once and didn't have time to stop, but it looked like a really nice city with lots to do. Beautiful surroundings. might be a consideration for OP- I bet it's beautiful in fall! |
Really?? I loved Colorado but Denver itself was one of the least memorable / most anonymous big US cities I’ve ever been to |
Asheville!
|
Lots of beautiful hiking and lakes within an hour or two of Portland. True, you don't have the Rockies or Sawtooth Mountains, but, OTOH, SLC, Boise and Denver don't have the ocean. |
I don’t think there’s a truly comparable city in the US in terms of proximity to outdoors plus great culture, including every professional sport. Phoenix is unbearably hot in September but at least you can drive North. SLC is even closer to the outdoors with so many incredible road trips, but it lacks in culture and the pollution is bad (but Park City is only 25 minutes away and outside the inversion). Boatman and Spokane are both great, but much smaller than Denver. Seattle might be a good option. Still pretty nice in September. |
Completely agree. |
Flagstaff
Asheville |