"With an ideal mix of terrain, activity and opportunity, Annapolis is a place where you can live the adventure dream daily," Mr. Fried wrote in an e-mail.

Published 10 times a year, the magazine - which started in 1999 - claims 2.3 million readers.

The list separated the 50 towns into five categories: wilderness, small, mountain, waterfront and city, putting Annapolis in the waterfront category with the likes of Waimea, Hawaii; Fond du Lac, Wis.; Newport, RI; Rockland, Maine; Mystic, Conn.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Beaufort, SC; and Lewiston, Idaho.

The blurb on Annapolis includes population - 36,178 - and the median home price - $342,500 - as well as a brief description of the town: "Colonial Annapolis is the major recreation port of Chesapeake Bay. The U.S. Naval Academy is also based here. Blow off steam sailing, windsurfing, and crabbing."

"We're just delighted that National Geographic Adventure has said what the people already know about Annapolis," said Susan Steckman, director of communications for the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Visitor's Bureau. "It's a wonderful city, the waterfront is second to none and it is a great place for sailing and getting out on the water."

And the city can add this to a growing list of accolades, including being one of the 50 best retirement destinations in the nation; Boatyard Bar & Grille has been named one of the 12 best sailing bars in the world; and Ram's Head On Stage has been named one of the top 50 clubs in the world, Ms. Steckman said.

"When you call (Annapolis) one of the top waterfront cities in the county, it really catches the attention of any waterfront enthusiast," Ms. Steckman said. "When they come to experience that waterfront, they get the added bonus of the tremendous amount of history we have here."

David Gibson, a sailing enthusiast who has lived in the area for 25 years, said of all the places he lived in his 22-year Navy career, Annapolis is the nicest.

"I've not found a place more livable than Annapolis," he said. "The sailing part of Annapolis as a lot to do with the attraction. The Chesapeake Bay is probably, in my estimation, one of the premier sailing areas in the world."

Mr. Gibson, who said he has lived all over the country, including Florida, Maine and Hawaii, said with the several thousand miles of "sailing adventure in the Chesapeake area," people don't ever have to do the same thing twice.

"The whole area is really fun and (Mayor Ellen O. Moyer) worked really hard to establish the street end parks and make for access to the water," said Ray Weaver, the city spokesman. "A lot of people around here really respect and understand what a great treasure we have here and are working hard to preserve it."

For the complete list of adventure towns from across the country, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure.