The state’s first capital is perched amid the country’s largest stand of ponderosa pines within 125 miles of the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona. The great outdoors is fully embraced, with everything from kayaking to mountain climbing at your fingertips and more than 450 miles of trails to explore throughout four distinct seasons. Thanks to its #13 ranking for Weather and #25 for Parks and Outdoors, the city stood at #15 for Place. It’s rich in history, with Whiskey Row being a popular draw; fire destroyed the entire block in 1900, and the 40 saloons that later went up attracted cowboys and outlaws. But it’s also fiercely modern, with leading industries including medical services, manufacturing, and aerospace (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Prescott Aerospace; and Leidos Civil, formerly Lockheed Martin, are all here). Ready for takeoff: the 1940s terminal at Prescott Regional Airport – Ernest A. Love Field is being replaced with a new $13.9-million structure slated for a 2021 completion.