Austin, Texas (NUMBER ONE BEST CITY)

Austin is a big city in small town disguise. With a population of 790,400, the Texas capital is bigger than all of the "big cities" on the list. But it has managed to maintain the "Keep Austin Weird" credo that has made it a favorite among both retirees and young people.

The outdoors is the biggest attraction. The staggeringly beautiful, rough-hewn Hill Country, spring-fed swimming holes, a string of lakes along...

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