Cultural Hubs:

Austin, TX  |  Ann Arbor, MI  |  Flagstaff, AZ  |  Knoxville, TN 

 Provo-Orem, UT  |  Tuscaloosa, AL 

Provo-Orem, Utah:

Population: 189,243

Median Home Price: $155,000

Your Hangout: Atchafalaya nightclub

The Scene: Brigham Young University may seem an unlikely venue for a cultural renaissance, but consider the latest scion of its film school: Napoleon Dynamite creator Jared Hess. The Wasatch are just outside town, and Provo-Orem is three to four hours from southern Utah's parks.

OPTIONS: Cut loose snowboarding on the half pipes of the 2002 Winter Olympics Park in Park City. Fly-fish Bridal Veil Falls for rainbow trout in summer; ice climb the frozen falls in the winter.

OUTFITTER: Climb the steep limestone verticals of American Fort Canyon with the Serac Mountain Club (www.seracclub.org), or if you're into crack climbing Serac also frequents the more varied terrain of Rock Canyon.

GOOD EATS: There's something a bit magical about the way a Coney Island tradition can virtually fade out in Brooklyn and then suddenly take root in Utah. I'm talking about frozen custard. It's rich, creamy and better than ice cream, and Coneys (www.coneyscustard.com) has got it.

30 More Places to Live and Play:

Boise or Bust!

Outdoor Meccas  |  Adventure Cities  |  Small Towns

Cultural Hubs  |  Beach Towns  

Adventure's September 2006 issue features 31 amazing adventure towns; chaos at the top of Mount Everest; an inside look at surfing California's Lost Coast; 11 fall weekend getaways near you; the best high-tech footwear, world class adventure travel; hiking the Alps, and more!