7 of the Most Beautiful Places to Retire in America

Shut your eyes and envision your excellent house in your retirement years. The probabilities are good that you simply’ve obtained a shocking setting in thoughts as a part of that dream.

Magnificence actually means various things to completely different retirees. It’s possible you’ll image the crimson rock mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona, or the storm-tossed seas of Portland, Maine, whereas others think about residing among the many Spanish moss and Outdated-World structure of Savannah, Georgia.

We’ve chosen quite a lot of areas, every set in lovely environment the place the approach to life, cultures and leisure potentialities are suited to retirees. There’s no science concerned in our decisions. They don’t seem to be the balmy areas that many retirees dream of, though we write about these too.

Our choice course of was solely subjective, simply as your quest for an ideal house in retirement shall be. However hold studying, and also you would possibly get some concepts.

Greenville, South Carolina

Within the foothills of the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, this city of about 72,000 will get plenty of consideration for its retirement property, together with the town’s pure environment.

Greenville’s Swamp Rabbit Path, a 22-mile leisure path alongside the Reedy River, “threads by means of the city’s tranquil parks and thumping downtown scene,” says Conde Nast Traveler.

Greenville is ideally located. It’s surrounded by state parks and positioned nearly smack dab between Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Georgia capital of Atlanta. State residents age 60 and older get pleasure from free entry to the lessons on the native College of South Carolina.

Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin is known for lakes, and Madison has a number of proper in and across the city.

Wisconsin’s capital metropolis is discovered on a number of lists of finest locations to retire, and it topped Cash.com’s record in 2020. Town itself — house to round 269,000 individuals — is flanked by two lakes and accommodates an arboretum and lakeside nature protect.

Amongst different points of interest: Residents age 60 and older could audit sure lessons free of charge on the native College of Wisconsin campus, and the big-city lifetime of Chicago is simply a few hours away by automobile.

Madison’s housing prices are manageable, as Cash.com factors out. There may be, nevertheless, one main draw back: snow.

Savannah, Georgia

Must you be part of the roughly 147,000 residents of Savannah in your retirement? There’s a very good case to be made for it.

Town’s famed historic structure makes an exquisite backdrop for the city’s points of interest, together with its delicacies, arts, tradition, the signature stay oaks and evocative Spanish moss.

What’s extra, Savannah is extra inexpensive than many retirement meccas. The median house value in July 2022 was $278,598, in line with Zillow.

Homer, Alaska

Right here’s a contrarian thought: Retire to Alaska.

Granted, Alaska’s not your typical retirement dream spot. It’s lots colder than Florida.

And but, should you’d love spending your time fishing, mountaineering, sea kayaking, bear watching and making buddies in a small, shut, arts-minded group surrounded by snow-covered mountains and glacial fjords, Homer (inhabitants 5,719) might be excellent.

What in regards to the chilly? Effectively, sure, it’s chilly. However Homer will get significantly much less snow than another Alaska areas, in line with the Metropolis of Homer’s relocation information.

Full disclosure: Forbes, which recommends retiring in Homer, notes a draw back: the city’s “tsunami potential.”

Eureka, California

Eureka (inhabitants 26,489) is one other barely uncommon retirement suggestion. It’s just about in the midst of nowhere, on Freeway 101, a highway with beautiful views alongside the U.S. West Coast. About halfway from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco, Eureka is lots of of miles from both metropolis with not a lot else of observe in between. For some, that might be exile from civilization. For others, it’s paradise.

With festivals and performances, galleries, eating places and guests from across the globe, Eureka has loads of tradition. The small Victorian port metropolis is “the market and cultural middle of an exquisite area stuffed with iconic redwoods — the world’s tallest timber — and stunningly lovely rugged distant ocean landscapes,” the town’s web site says.

Flagstaff, Arizona

“Flag,” as some locals name it, is simply south of the Grand Canyon at an altitude of seven,000 toes.

This city of about 77,000, places the “life” in life-style. There’s a thriving restaurant scene and foodie tradition, a public college, out of doors recreation and spectacular mountain surroundings. Flagstaff is 27 miles north of Sedona, Arizona, and a pair hours’ drive from Phoenix.

By Northern Arizona College, an modern initiative, the Senior Companion Program, hyperlinks Americorps volunteers with residents 55 and older who’re homebound, offering them with companionship, transportation and assist at house with chores.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine, is positioned on the southern finish of one of many nation’s most lovely states. Portland has about 68,000 residents.

With a working waterfront, Nineteenth-century structure and microbreweries, Portland is positioned on a peninsula alongside Casco Bay, wanting north to the fjords and islands of the Maine coast.

If that’s not sufficient for retirees, you’re simply two hours away by automobile from vibrant Boston, the cultural and financial capital of New England.

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