Bend is a great example of a community that set a goal — to make the town a national tourist destination —  and succeeded. The city ranks third on the list of 2008’s Best Performing Cities. A large chunk of its tourism comes from the nearby Cascade Range, where features include the Mount Bachelor ski resort, Cascades Lake, and the Dechutes River.

Bend also has the highest average number of sunny days in the state, so no surprise it's also becoming a prime retiree destination.