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"The 101 Best Outdoor Towns: Unspoiled Places to Visit, Live and Play" (The Countryman Press; $19.95)
Midwesterners might well grumble to learn that in the great states of Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska there is not a single one of America's 101 best outdoor towns. In Illinois, the sole town so honored is Carbondale, praised as the gateway to outdoor pursuits in Shawnee National Forest. The two travel writers, Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville, who devised this dream list of outdoor towns used U.S. Census data, consulted Chambers of Commerce and eliminated spots deemed too populous, too upscale or too far from major airports. Winners ranged from the windsurf wonderland of Hood River, Ore., to the mountain bike mecca of Moab, Utah nice little towns that, the authors maintain, "haven't been gobbled up by Gucci boutiques and billion-dollar condominium developments." Each listing comes with a lively description of the town and its outdoor attractions, from fishing and hiking to snowboarding and cross-country skiing, followed by a succinct rundown on accommodations, cafes, shops, gear rental and outfitters.
The Chicago Tribune
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