my best places to retire list...
See Our New Best Places to Retire List for 2008, Below: I have put together this list because I had a visitor tell me he had to decide on a place to live before choosing a community and did I have a list. Baby boomers will be thinking about where to spend their retirement years. I believe this will be a "hot topic" for many years. Let us know your best places list.
Last year our theme for the Ten Best Places to Retire List was places That You've Almost Never Heard Of and that I personally love. On this year's list the theme is the most popular places that retirees are migrating to. Would you like to contribute a best place to retire you have found with others. It's easy. Just fill out the form at bottom of page. Our list is a very relaxed list--no intense research--just places we like and places that retirees are migrating to. We only chose ten out of many. 1) Myrtle Beach, South Carolina "Hot" resort areas will be on the Best Places to Retire lists for a long time to come, and currently at the top of the list for best places to retire is Myrtle Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean. There is a huge selection of resort ocean condominiums (see our new Retirement Resort page) and new home developments. There are a few over 55 communities here (see our article on Our Trip to Myrtle Beach, link below). Due to the problems in the current real estate market, there is a slowing market here, but should come back well in the future (check with local Realtors). Good for golfers and beach lovers. 2) Wilmington, North Carolina Very close to Myrtle Beach but a little more open land here if you would like to build on a piece of land further back from the ocean. Areas near the ocean also and being near Myrtle Beach a plus. 3) Cary, North Carolina Another "hot" category right now is inland areas of the Southeast and Cary is at the top of this list. Only an hour and a half drive to Atlantic Ocean beaches. Outstanding employment opportunities and mild weather. It's near the college town of Chapel Hill and the whole "Triangle" area is booming. 4) Greenville, North Carolina Southeast lakes are popular with retirees. (See our new Focus categories for North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia as well as our regular over 55 categories.) This is just one of many lake areas in the Southeast. 5) Charlotte, North Carolina At the top of the list for urban sophistication, another category that is in demand now. Another boomtown. 6) Savannah, Georgia and Surrounding Area which includes the Hilton Head area of South Carolina - Desirable for its quaint Southern and charming towns and ocean amenities. 7) Bend, Oregon In the Northwest area which is a very popular area now for retirees after the Southeast and Southwest. Quaint with ocean amenities. 8) Cape Coral/Fort Myers Several Florida towns would be on a list for Best Places to Retire but this one is one of the most popular in Florida according to the U.S. Census. Near resort areas of the Gulf with a lower cost of living. 9) St. George, Utah The Southwest is very strong for retirement and Utah is at the top of the list. Many healthful amenities. 10) Austin, Texas Couldn't decide between Austin or Idaho Falls as both are upcoming areas for retirement. One is in the Southwest and one from the Northwest, both the most popular areas for retirement. As mentioned before, it is hard just choosing ten towns. We could have included some towns from Tennessee, like Clarksburg, a Southeast Inland town. We expect towns in Tennessee will be moving up the list for next year. We also didn't include some great college towns. In general, we are looking at Resort Towns; Inland areas offering a slower pace and less expensive (but updated towns with amenities, not wastelands); College Towns for lifelong learning and stimulation; Quaint, charming and scenic Towns for classic lifestyle; and Sophisticated Urban enclaves. The most popular regions are the Southwest, Southeast, and Northwest. Come back next year for our 2009 list and see our 2007 list, below, which lists towns I know well and love for retirement. If you would like to see a short slideshow of some of the best places to retire photos on our site called "Retirement Community Areas," push the play icon:
Would you like to share a best place to retire you have found with others. It's easy. Just fill out the form at bottom of page. 2007 List of some best places to retire: Aptos, CA This is a true gem. It's on the Pacific Ocean in Northern California between San Francisco and Monterey. The air comes directly off the ocean most of the time. The temperature seldom goes above 80. The bookstores and farmer's markets are plentiful. It inspires you to walk, beachcomb, play golf, tennis and hike its mountains. There are great restaurants and seafood. Only 35 minutes drive to Monterey/Carmel and about an hour to San Francisco. Santa Cruz, 15 miles away, is home to University of Santa Cruz and a colorful downtown. Drawback: Occasionally the fog comes in pretty heavily in summer and all of California is prone to earthquakes. Saratoga Springs, NY Again, very fresh, sweet air and cool in upstate New York. College town brings bookstores and good, cheap restaurants. I like the mineral spas. Scenery is gorgeous and area is a relaxing slow pace. Summer weather is perfect. Drawback: Long, cold winter Fix it by enjoying skiing, a cozy fireplace or a second home. Berkeley Springs, WVA Small town with great assets. George Washington bathed in its mineral springs and so can you. When I go there, I fill up jugs with this amazing water to take home. There is a historic downtown with great health food restaurants and quaint shops. Mountain air and relaxed, rural feeling. Lake Grove, Long Island, NY Here the air is fresh due to the close proximity to the ocean and there is shopping nearby. Long Island has lush farms and fresh produce is available in the summer months. New York City is only an hour away. Relatively uncrowded Atlantic ocean beaches are within 30 minutes. The further West on Long Island you go, the less traffic. Drawback: You will get suburban-type traffic jams due to large shopping areas. Fix it by not going out during the busy times. Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Great desert spot near Palm Springs, California. Short drive to Palm Springs restaurants, shopping, and quaint shops. But I prefer this town because of the mineral water spas and plentiful massage. Authentic Mexican restaurants are everywhere and clean air. Medical facilities in area. Just great healthy lifestyle. Drawback: Gets very hot in summer. Fix it by having a second home, air conditioning or stay inside. Nights cool off. Clarendon, Virginia You probably won't find this on any "best" lists, however, I think it is appropriate. Many seniors want to be in a downtown setting where they can easily walk to entertainment, restaurants and shopping. This is a stimulating downtown area next to Arlington, a more well known city in Virginia, both close to Georgetown and Washington, DC. Clarendon is more upscale and smaller than Arlington. When you live in one of its condominiums or many single homes, it can be a short walk to desirable upscale shopping. Many great restaurants to choose from for every cultural taste. Lots of young and sophisticated career people live here but this is part of what some seniors want. Drawback: Higher cost of living and traffic. Fix it by going with the stimulating flow, eating less but better and walking.
Pacific Grove, California I'm sure most have heard of Carmel and Monterey but Pacific Grove is a nice town in the area with a high senior population and not quite as pricey. Very stimulating public trails along the ocean where tidepools abound on the great Monterey Bay for exploring. Close to outstanding restaurants, touristy shopping, and Monterey Bay Aquarium. Drawback: Foggy summers similar to San Francisco. Fix it by taking brief trips to sunnier places during summer. White Sulphur Springs, California This town is between Napa (very well known) and Calistoga (a spa town). Spa towns have great restaurants, relaxed feeling and usually clean air. This town has great wineries as well..and beautiful scenery.. St. Augustine, Florida One of many Florida towns that should be on the list. This is a town where you can find great shopping and activities quickly. You can reach every place in St. Augustine within ten minutes by car. I like to be on the ocean for those breezes and fresh air, too. You will find many things to do in the historic downtown. Deer Valley, Utah I consider this whole area to be a great place to retire due to its outdoor activities, scenery and good air. Major Ski Resorts are here. There is a lot to do. Winter skiing. Summer has horseback riding and hiking in gorgeous countryside. It's a great place to live. Utah is a healthy and beautiful state. After you find a few great places, some things you may wish to check out further might be the crime statistics, the weather profile, median home price, closeness of medical facilities, among others. Lists of Best Places have become very popular. Some other lists to check out are: Money Magazine's Best Places to Retire; Forbes Magazine has a list, Progressive Farmer Magazine's Best Places to Live in Rural America; AARP has great articles, resources and lists; AOL's Best Places to Retire List and Best Places to Retire Magazine. Another resource would be travel magazines such as Travel and Leisure or Conde Nast Travel for resort areas. Also see our Recommended Books Category. We have begun writing profiles about towns and what they have to offer seniors. More to come but you can read these "best places to retire" here:
Please make your own selection of the best places to retire. These lists are very general and for information only. Always consult with local Realtors and other real estate professionals. Would you like to share a best place to retire you have found with others. It's easy. Just fill out the form at bottom of page. Have You Found a Best Place to Retire--Please Share.
People are looking for places to retire. What places would you put on a Best Places to Retire list and why. Your Best Places Stories and TipsClick below to see best places to retire lists from other visitors to this page...
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