Channel the Clutter Police to confidently throw away whatever clutter’s been weighing you down!

Do you ever feel that a second opinion on what to dump would seriously help your decluttering efforts? Well, we’ve got words of wisdom from the Clutter Police to guide your toss-it-out efforts.

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Read on for the gospel on what to get rid of, and when!

Clothes and shoes you haven’t touched in two years
Opinion is divided whether the threshold here should be one year or 18 months. But the fact is that some winters aren’t as cold as others, or certain springs as wet, so a true cycle to test whether or not you’re done with an item is two years. After that time, your excuses have run out: you have to admit that, acts of nature and fashion aside, it’s time to throw away the albatross in question. Now find a good consignment shop to make some money on that past fashion, or donate what you just can’t sell.

Paper, paper and more of it
If there’s a single type of item gumming up our homes and lives, it’s paper. Why not get rid of old magazines that you’ve been swearing you’ll cut articles from for years, and shred financial records and receipts past their required “keep date”? Go through your kids’ art work and select just a few favorites you can’t part with – then get rid of the rest to make room for their next great creations.

Books you will never read
This one can be tricky for those of us who hate, on principle, to part with a book we were once sure would be great. Start by purging college novels and texts you haven’t looked at since your school years. Now remove any book you bought in the last three years that you pass over every time you go to reach for your next read. Be brave! And keep in mind that many book stores carry used inventory and will take books for store credit, if not cash.

Old vitamins, medicines and makeup
We all have shelf and drawer clutter that we just stop seeing after a while. Go through old items you store away like medicine bottles and makeup, checking for expiration dates. For makeup, two years is a reasonable throw-away date for most items. (Mascara has the shortest lifespan, at three months.)

Project paraphernalia
Whether you’ve been an aspiring beader or have a dozen “fix-it” items in your closet, it may be time to say goodbye to good intentions that just aren’t going to bear creative fruit. If you have a craft that you’ve neglected for several years or just never picked up, pass on the supplies to someone in your family who will really use them, or donate it all to a senior facility to people who will appreciate the gift.

These areas are just a few that will benefit from your courageous clutter management efforts. Go forth into your apartment, find the areas that are clogging up, and get rid of what’s not being used. Before long, you’ll channel the Clutter Police as you confidently throw away whatever’s been weighing you down!

Photo credit: Shutterstock / YuryZap

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If you are pondering a move to a more profitable place to live, check out the top 5 cities where salaries are rising.

If you are pondering a move to a more profitable place to live, take some advice from the PayScale Index. This excellent online resource provides data about compensation and which cities are seeing growth in pay for employees.

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According to their calculations, here are the top 5 cities where salaries are rising.

5th place: Dallas, TX +4.3%
Dallas offers more than big platters of Tex-Mex food and BBQ. They’ve got big money in the form of technology, defense and telecom. That’s why they’ve earned the nickname “Silicon Prairie.” As the 4^th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., this bustling city has a lot to offer in the way of sports, arts and culture. Now they can also add rising salaries as reason why “everything’s bigger in Texas.”

Tied for 3rd place: Riverside, CA +4.5%
Situated in between Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Riverside is more than just another Southern California suburb. It’s the place to go for a job search that will result in some serious So-Cal cash. This city started as a citrus town, but now their top-grossing businesses include education, manufacturing and retail.

Tied for 3rd place: Boston, MA +4.5%
Tied with Riverside, Boston’s salary increase of 4.5% means more profitable jobs in some of the most popular industries of 2013: healthcare, finance and higher education. Its rising salaries may be attributed to the abundance of universities and colleges in this town, like Harvard University, Boston College and MIT. Where there are smart people, there are usually great jobs, after all — not to mention excellent culture, restaurants and museums.

Tied for 1st place: Seattle, WA +4.8%
Seattle has always been a leader in the technology industry, and things continue to look up as salaries in Microsoft’s hometown increase by 4.8%. This hip Pacific Northwest city is also home to retail giants like Amazon, Starbucks and Nordstrom, which continue to grow as e-commerce explodes. If you don’t mind a little rain, this is a great place to move and watch your salary grow.

Tied for 1st place: Houston, TX +4.8%
Tied with Seattle, Houston is a top city where salaries are on the rise. If you work in the energy business, you might choose to make this oil town your own. The boom goes beyond oil and gas, though, and is expanding to wind and solar power. Though Houston is known as the “Energy Capital of the World,” it’s also making a name for itself in the environmental game with many green transportation options to help you get to and from your high-paying job in a sustainable way.

It’s great to hear about rising salaries, and hope on the horizon. If a profitable job is your goal, you might consider finding an apartment in one of these five promising cities.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / auremar

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Multifamily community developers are innovating the services and amenities they offer to their apartment residents.

What if the amenities at your apartment community went beyond the usual pool, tennis courts and fitness center — way beyond? How involved might you choose to be in an apartment society, a place that encourages shared involvement with fellow residents?

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In California, an apartment community developer is going beyond the basics to give new meaning to “community,” creating programs like theater troupes, adult enrichment courses and after-school care for residents. And in Denver, some lucky sports fans can look forward to cheering for baseball… from their own rooftop!

Programs that have paid off
According to John Huskey of Los Angeles-based Meta Housing Corporation, apartment communities can do more to support families who live there. In building his most recent family-oriented apartment communities, Huskey discovered that there was a real need for on-site programs — and specially-designed spaces — where children could gather after school and continue to learn. That’s why his company has created after-school learning and mentoring programs which are available to residents living in the apartment community at no extra cost.

The benefits to the children who participate have proved to be substantial. The after-school programs kept kids at home, actively engaged in study — instead of involved in risky behavior. And the learning opportunities increased their confidence at school. These programs have been so successful that Meta Housing Corp. has begun building dedicated, school-like structures in more of their apartment communities to accommodate the programs.

Sharing the arts at home
The same is true in Meta Housing Corp.’s senior communities, where education and art programs have been wildly successful. The company first began offering adult enrichment classes to seniors in great-room spaces, noting that the most popular courses involved creativity and the arts. They also noticed that, while the great-room environment was attractive to some residents, most found it too impersonal for social activity. In later generations of their senior communities, they have developed smaller, more intimate spaces for residents to gather to take classes and get to know each other. These new spaces foster a tighter-knit sense of community.

Seniors have enjoyed the enrichment and social aspects of arts classes so much that Huskey’s company went as far as building a 78-seat theater in one apartment community dedicated to a permanent theater troupe. When the theater troupe isn’t giving professional performances on-site, residents are allowed free access to use the theater building, as well.

Take me out to the ballgame… next door!
Another approach to creating community at home is featured at Broadstone Blake Street in Denver, Colorado. Alliance Residential is building a modern apartment community right next to Coors Field downtown. (Residents will be able to see the field from the rooftop of the community.) The residence-in-development is thought to appeal to young people — perhaps especially men — who want to live in a walkable area with easy commutes for working and access to downtown excitement, like ball games. Sharing that excitement with apartment neighbors — and built-in proximity — will make living in this community THE place to be a sports fan in Denver.

Toward apartment societies
The success of Meta Housing Corp.’s children and senior programs might indicate that apartment communities are evolving. With an emphasis on enriching resident lives beyond basic shelter, these spaces — based on what residents want and need — might become known as apartment societies in the future.

What else might the future hold? Amenities including on-site senior services like medical care and support groups, or family-oriented services like childcare or even home schooling could be possibilities. As apartment living continues to change shape and mature, multifamily community developers around the country will be looking to Huskey’s success to gain insight on new ways to meet the needs of their residents. In the meantime, you can look for ways to create community in your own apartment life today.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Monkey Business Images

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Make a point to meet two people this week in your apartment community.

It’s a good idea to get to know your apartment neighbors — whether you really want to or not!

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Whether you are full-on friendly or super-shy, you should make the effort to meet at least two or three of your apartment neighbors for these four simple reasons.

In case of emergency
One of the most basic reasons for saying hello to your hallmates might, at first, appear a little selfish. What if you encounter an emergency and need neighbor assistance? Sure, none of us like to think about unfortunate situations, but it’s smart to have someone to call if you have a medical emergency, safety issue… or if you lock yourself out of your apartment.

It’s wise to swap phone numbers with a few people that live above, below or next door to you. Before you exchange apartment keys, however, make sure you get to know that neighbor and feel comfortable first, of course.

When you need a helping hand
A more likely scenario is that you’ll need some help at home and could benefit from a neighborly relationship. Run out of coffee on a Sunday morning? Call your neighbor. Need someone to feed your cat or check your mail while you are on vacation? Call your neighbor. From spare light bulbs to plant watering, it’s totally worth it to get to know the girl or guy next door.

For fun and friendship
The big bonus of having cool apartment neighbors is that you instantly get a bunch of built-in friends. Planning a movie night, supper club or walking group is a piece of cake when you have pals just steps away. (No one will ever complain about your place being too far!) Remember those BFFs from your college dorm? Neighbors can be just like those buddies, if you choose your neighbor-friends wisely and then make an appropriate effort.

To maintain mental health
Today’s world of texting, tweeting, online relationships and telecommuting can leave you feeling lonely. Put a stop to solo sadness by starting up a few face-to-face relationships with your neighbors. You don’t have to spend hours chatting up everyone you see on the sidewalk, but a friendly wave and hello will make you both feel infinitely better.

If you don’t know a soul in your apartment community, make a point to meet some folks this week — at least two people. You never know when you’ll need – or how much you’ll value — each other’s help and friendship!

Photo credit: Shutterstock / Andy Dean Photography

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Here are items you will want to weigh carefully before you add your signature to another person’s apartment lease.

If a friend or relative asks you to co-sign on an apartment lease, should you do it?

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Of course, we all want to help friends and family in need, but you have to be careful when it comes to the commitment of legally guaranteeing another person’s apartment lease.

Here are some items you will want to weigh carefully as you consider whether to add your signature.

What it means to be a apartment lease co-signer
When you co-sign an apartment lease, you give your legal guarantee that the rent on that apartment will be paid. You are also responsible for paying any fees for damages on that apartment beyond normal wear and tear, for instance.

What happens if the rent is not paid
When you co-sign, you also co-assume the financial responsibilities of renting that apartment. If the apartment tenant cannot or does not pay the rent — and you are the apartment lease co-signer – then the responsibility falls to you to pay it. If you cannot pay the rent, you are then in default. Your failure to pay the rent will be reported to your credit agencies, which could adversely affect your credit score. There is even the possibility that the apartment management company could take you to court to get the money owed to them.

Obviously, you must make the decision to co-sign very carefully.

Know the renter
Before co-signing a loan for someone, make sure you know them very well. We are not saying you should know their favorite color or favorite Bond film; you should know their spending habits. Are they good with money? Do they have a good track record with paying bills on time? Can they afford rent each month? Ask them to show you bill statements to make sure they are not constantly getting hit with late fees. Knowing all of these details will give you a better picture of who the person will be as a renter and how likely they are to pay rent on time.

Know yourself
Ask yourself a few questions, too. Would you be able to make the payments, should your friend or family member not be able to pay the rent? How would co-signing a lease affect your relationship with that person? Would the endorsement make you worry? It’s important to consider the ramifications before making this important legal commitment.

A third person?
If your friend or family member has a roommate, you are probably better off NOT co-signing the apartment lease. No matter how much you trust the person you know, you may not be able to predict how the roommate will act or if they will pay rent on time.

When it makes sense to co-sign a lease
There are certain times when it makes sense to co-sign a lease:

• If you are able and willing to make the rent payments in the event your friend or family member cannot.
• If your friend or family member has a proven, reliable track record with money.
• If your relationship with the tenant is strong enough to withstand no matter what happens with this renting situation.

If these conditions are met, you might go ahead and co-sign the apartment lease. If you do, you will be helping your friend or family member secure an apartment and build up credit at the same time!

Photo credit: Shutterstock / JJ Studio

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Read about what’s going on in apartment renting right now.

At Apartment Guide, we want to help movers stay informed about the state of renting in this country.

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Take a quick look at a gathering of recent trends and reporting about what you might expect to find when renting an apartment right now.

Rent or buy?
A common question which people looking for a new place to live ask is whether to rent or buy. Though many factors play into that decision, consider that cities where the break-even point occurs more quickly for renting versus buying a home are generally considered attractive cities for renters. The latest findings reported on Bloomberg.com list twelve cities where that point ranges from about 2.5 to 5 years.

High-tech, high rent
Multifamily Executive shares a report indicating that high-tech cities will experience the highest rent growth in 2013. West Coast technology centers like Seattle, San Jose and San Francisco will likely see greater than five percent rent hikes this year. Hopefully, strong employment rates will assist renters in keeping up with the rising rent trend in these highly-desired cities.

Capitol savings
Though rental occupancy is typically high in cities across the country, there are places where lower occupancy means an opportunity to pay lower rent. According to GlobeSt.com, Washington, D.C., is the primary hotspot where there are plenty of apartment units for renters to choose from, at perhaps a 2% average savings over last year. Other cities may see changes like these in the near future, as building resumes.

Renting is the trend
While it is important to take big-city trends into account, the U.S. Census Bureau shared some nationwide findings in April which necessitate a look back at the big picture. In cities around the country from approximately 2009 to 2011, the overall living statistic of note was an average move away from home ownership to renting. The report says that “more renters are spending a high percentage of their household income on rent,” perhaps because the decrease in available apartments means that rents went up to balance the change. For renters who spend about 35 percent of income on rent and utilities, that level is considered high.

Renters in Richmond, VA, and Buffalo, NY, scored a win, however, as the only markets among the 50 most-populated urban areas where the actual cost to rent decreased. Also of note is the finding that, in the cities of Los Angeles and New York, about half of households were rented.

Though individual statistics may not be of much practical use, taken together, they indicate the trends to pay attention to. Trends in home living are important to help make decisions about relocation, for instance. The overall cost of living in a place — which includes how much it costs to establish a home — is critical knowledge for movers to consider.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / John Henkel

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Plan a route through these top-notch airports and you’ll be sitting pretty every time you travel.

If you feel like you fly the friendly skies more often than you sleep in your own apartment, then knowing the most convenient cities for a jet-setting frequent flyer is a must.

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When the name of the game is making confident connections, finding a decent airport meal and amusing yourself during a delay, this list of best airport cities will help your trips fly by.

You might want to plant your apartment homebase in one of these cities with high-flying airport service.

Quick connections (the tablet/laptop version)
These days, quick connections mean a lot more than catching your next flight. In our digital world, we’re working all the time. Finding power outlets, Wi-Fi and quick download times is key. The frontrunner in this category is the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC. Charlotte is the domestic hub for US Airways, and, according to Online MBA, a great airport for business travelers because it offers some of the fastest free Wi-Fi Internet connections around (an average of 12 megabits per second, for the technically-inclined).

North Carolina must have some serious service, as well, because the Raleigh-Durham International Airport boasted an average data rate that was nearly that impressive. When you are in the Raleigh-Durham area, this is the place to get hooked up. (And speaking of connections, Charlotte also ranked #2 for best connection flights!)

Musical departures
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, TX, offers a unique experience that fits right in with the spirit of that city. Flyers are treated to live music from local artists on five stages peppered throughout the terminal. Clearly, Austin is working overtime to earn its claim as the Live Music Capital of the World. (You must have an airline ticket, by the way, to catch the tunes here.)

Best for stress (or lack of it)
SeaTac, the Seattle/Tacoma airport, is considered top-notch, according to SmarterTravel.com, for its smooth on-site experience which won’t leave you feeling terminal. Security clearance is efficient and friendly here – and there’s plenty of Seattle’s Best and Starbucks coffees to keep you awake enough to make your next flight!

Dine & dash
Frequent flyers know that convenient travel doesn’t always allow for delicious meals — unless eating a cold sandwich on your lap is your idea of luxury. Fortunately there are several major airport cities that cater to tenured travelers and provide the best dining this side of the security barricade.

A recent report in Gadling ranked the best airports in which to kill time, and Atlanta’s airport topped the list for best dining. Every concourse has a conveniently-located central food court, as well as eateries peppered between the gates. While Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport includes the standard fast food stops, it also features savory standouts like Cafe Intermezzo, One Flew South and Paschal’s Southern Cuisine. The Atlanta airport also topped the list for amenities, dining and best flight connections.

The Atlanta airport happens to be the central hub for Delta Airlines — just one reason this airport is THE busiest in the world!

En route entertainment
You’ve charged your laptop, enjoyed a tasty meal and still have an hour to kill before your next flight. Not a problem if you are in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. As you straddle the line between Minneapolis and St. Paul, you won’t struggle to find a delightful diversion. Gadling ranked this airport #2 for amenities. (Atlanta ranked #1, but we suspect it was for all that great food!)

When relaxing at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, what fun and comforts do they have in store for you? Why not check out Lucky Lindy’s Video Arcade or enjoy a first-class massage chair at the XpressSpa? You can shop at fifty different storefronts around the airport and the Mall. And there are plenty of dining options to tide you over for a long flight.

Fly the greener skies
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport scores high for its planet-friendly initiatives. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has invited the airport into the Green Power Leadership Club for its collaboration in getting electricity via renewable wind resources. This type of energy-saving – harnessing power from the wind — seems altogether appropriate for an airport!

Being a frequent flyer doesn’t mean you have to lead of life of frequent frustrations. Just make sure you plan a route through these top-notch airports, and you’ll be sitting pretty every time you travel. (And if you really fly a lot, living near one of these airports might be a good idea, too!)

Photo credit: Shutterstock / gui jun peng

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The right color accent wall can transform the look of your apartment space.

Creating a color accent wall in your apartment can be a shortcut to transforming the look of your entire space — but misguided choices could undermine your beautification efforts.

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Read on for the do’s and don’ts to design an amazing, artful accent wall in your apartment home.

Why an accent wall?
Painting a single wall in your apartment in a complementary, yet distinct, color can create a powerful decor statement. You can jazz up a plain floor plan and draw the eye through the apartment space, perhaps away from weak points or unglamorous views. An accent wall can also create a sense of depth in an area like a hallway or staircase.

Adding an accent wall is a great way to tip-toe into a whole-apartment color change. Painting just one wall gives you a chance to test-drive a color before committing that change to a larger space. It’s an effective way of getting color into your home on a shoestring budget.

Don’t pick a random color
Just because orange is your favorite color doesn’t mean it’s going to work for an accent wall. Look around your apartment, and you’ll see that there is likely a color scheme you may or may not have consciously created. Choosing a color that is totally outside that palette may create more discord than harmony in your interior design. Then again, with a careful eye, you may discover an unusual color choice is just the right touch for a certain space. Consider visual texture, as well. A stucco technique is a unique approach for an accent wall that can set up a visually-arresting scene.

Do work with your decor
Creating a decor punch doesn’t have to involve a color that screams at you every time you pass by. That said, if you like bold colors, an accent wall can be the place for one. You can use the wall to set off a featured piece of furniture, a striking window treatment, or even the carpet, for instance.

Maybe you’re working with pre-existing colors in your countertop, carpet or wallpaper that you’d like either to counteract or integrate into your apartment’s color scheme. Selecting the right accent wall color can make those unchangeable parts of your decor finally work together — without having to repaint the entire room!

Don’t go too light
Remember that “accent” in this case means an attention-getting color. If you choose a shade that is too pastel or neutral, it will be hard to tell that your accent wall is set off from the rest of your wall colors. Go vivid, saturated or simply bright, but make sure that single wall stands out from the rest.

Don’t burden your wall
An accent wall can make a statement in itself, so choose a color that you want to really look at, uncovered and empty. If you decide to hang things on the wall, make them spare and simple. Too much art on an accent wall can make the room feel out of balance, and the wall cluttered.

Do check your lease
Don’t assume that just because you’re happy to repaint the accent wall its original color when you leave your apartment means that your landlord is okay with your decorating plans. Read your lease for any specific language about making changes to your apartment. If you have any doubts, contact your landlord or management company directly to make sure you can paint before you begin.

Are you ready to take the plunge? Think of an accent wall as a space to indulge in the rich color the rest of your apartment decor might be missing.

Photo credits: Shutterstock / altafulla (first image), Phiseksit (second image)

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If you aspire to the good life, you’ll find company in these three areas where wealth is concentrated.

Want to know where America’s richest people live?

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Between 2006 and 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau tracked where the wealthiest five percent of Americans are living. Defining high-income households as those that earn about $200,000 a year and above, the Census Bureau determined that the greatest concentration of wealth is in three main areas. These three areas are located near, but not directly in, large metropolitan areas along both coasts.

New York suburbs
According to Forbes, while New York City, NY, boasts the largest amount of wealthy residents of any city in the country, the concentration of wealth is higher in the surrounding suburbs of Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford, Connecticut.  These areas are located along Long Island Sound about 60 miles away from the city. Here, nearly 20% of residents are considered wealthy.

What draws so many rich people to this area? For one thing, there’s proximity to the city. The Fiscal Times also notes that it’s a lower-tax region.

Silicon Valley
California boasts the nation’s largest population of billionaires, so it should come as no surprise that you’ll also find plenty of wealthy people living in the Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area outside of San Francisco, CA. This area is also known as Silicon Valley and is home to many of the world’s technology giants like Apple, Google and Hewlett-Packard — plus thousands of start-ups.

Unfortunately for the wealthy, it’s also home to some rather steep tax rates. The rich in Northern California can expect to pay about 12.3% in taxes versus the 6.7% rate that wealthy residents pay in Connecticut.

Washington, D.C. suburbs
Back on the East Coast, the third-largest concentration of wealthy Americans is settled around the Washington, D.C., metro area in the Virginia suburbs of Alexandria and Arlington. In these northern Virginia suburbs, 14% of households represent the country’s highest earners. The economy here has been shaped by proximity to the nation’s capital, and the majority of residents either work for the government, the military or for private companies that contract to the federal government. In Alexandria, for instance, the biggest employer is the U.S. Department of Defense.

Curious about the opposite end of the spectrum, as well? The southeastern states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana reported the lowest concentrations of wealthy residents.

For more details, check out the Census Bureau’s complete report.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / DeshaCAM

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If you could live in a walkable apartment community, would you choose to walk? The research is intriguing!

Sidewalk life can be one of the best parts of urban apartment living. The ability to walk right out of your apartment and take a stroll to the nearest park, corner café, bar or even your place of work is an incredible perk, for those lucky enough to enjoy it.

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At least, that’s what we often think when we describe the ideal apartment neighborhood. But according to recent studies, while “walkable” neighborhoods may be viewed desirably by residents, just because they can get around easily on foot doesn’t necessarily mean they will.

Sidewalk life: the research
People love walkable neighborhoods, according to researchers at the Brookings Institution, a Washington D.C. think tank. In order to determine just how much residents actually value access to sidewalk life, the Brookings researchers rated metropolitan neighborhoods in D.C. on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being non-walkable, 5 being very walkable) and then analyzed the rental rates in these areas. They found that in highly-walkable neighborhoods like Dupont Circle, a resident would pay nearly 3 to 4 times as much rent as someone living in a non-walkable neighborhood.

To be rated a highly-walkable “5,” a metro neighborhood typically included a lot of densely-developed space — many people living in one area, great access to public transportation, and a variety of interesting cultural, shopping and entertainment options. It’s no surprise that residents would value living in these areas and would pay more to have access to these enjoyable amenities. But what was surprising was just how much of a price difference there was in rent between these bustling urban areas and slightly less-walkable neighborhoods in the same city.

While residents may place a high dollar value on sidewalk life, there’s additional research to indicate that many don’t actually take advantage of walkable neighborhoods. After studying both the recreational and transportation walking habits of 1,000 women in Seattle, a professor at the University of Washington determined that easy access to sidewalks and desirable destinations didn’t necessarily motivate people to walk more. The research seems to suggest that people need to feel that walking is more convenient than driving, a sense which typically happens most often in very dense urban areas where it’s a pain to own and drive a vehicle.

If you could choose to walk, would you?
For those of us living in less-walkable neighborhoods, it may seem foolish to take perfectly good sidewalks for granted. Whether it’s for recreation or transportation, walking has many benefits both for the environment and our health.

But if you could choose to live in an apartment that was very walkable, where would you walk? The Brookings study indicates you might take advantage of restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops, parks and other interesting destinations, if you could. In fact, the most walkable neighborhoods in the Brookings research enjoyed a strong economy thanks to the loyal patronage of residents.

Discover your neighborhood’s walkability
Does this talk of sidewalk life have you itching to get up and get out on foot? Check out your area’s WalkScore to discover nearby destinations and determine how safe and easy it is to get around. Even if your immediate neighborhood doesn’t rate highly, you can use walking scores to find other pedestrian-friendly destinations in your city.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / krivenko

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