Popular Retirement States

Moving to desirable retirement location continues to be a popular trend. Some of the states that have continued to foster this trend are Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, North Carolina and California. These states rank at the top for retirement areas for seniors. 

 

Florida: This state is the number one choice of retirees. This beachfront retirement destination has a warm climate with beautiful beaches and golf courses. Naples, Florida is just one of the outstanding choices. This city hugs the Gulf of Mexico and is a cultural center of southwest Florida. This city has over 35 art organizations and over 100 art galleries. Professional artists and wonderful musicians flourish in this city. Naples offers historic homes, community-theatre, street festivals and outdoor art fairs. This city is known for its Mediterranean climate. It has a long summer and dry cool winters. Sounds ideal! The city rarely goes above 90 degrees. This is a golfing mecca. One cannot forget shopping and eating. Naples is known as place to purchase fine jewelry, antiques and custom-made furniture. Eating is literally a smorgasbord of outdoor restaurants, gourmet dinners and bistros. You won’t go hungry in Naples and maybe cooking will be your lost art. A progressive medical community with outstanding physicians and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities are available in Naples. There are two hospitals with 500 physicians serving them and satellite medical facilities. Naples offers a varied and independent lifestyle for the retiree.

 

Arizona: This states hosts upscale gated and planned retirement communities. Arizona also offers manufactured home communities that are move affordable for the average retiree’s budget. People in cities such as Phoenix and Tucson are flocking to these warm climates areas of Arizona. If small town living is for you, then cities like Flagstaff and Tubac will suit your lifestyle. Arizona offers lush desert landscapes, crystal-clear water and beautiful mountain tops. This is a diverse state with 113,000 worth of square miles. Phoenix has long been considered the ideal place to retire. This city is filled with natural beauty of the dessert, beautiful sunsets and many sunny days. Phoenix is home to 190 golf courses where the average high is 85 degrees. Thanks to the weather many activities are offered year-round. Planned retirement communities abound such as Pebble Creek Resort Community, Tonto Verde, Grayhawk and Sun Lakes Resort Community.  These communities offer multi-million dollar club houses, recreation centers, fitness facilities, golf course, pools and tennis courts. These facilities foster independence as well as camaraderie among other retirees.

 

Arkansas: Fayetteville, Arkansas is a beautiful city that is nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It is surrounded by scenic parks, mountains, rivers and hiking trails. This city ranks ten percent below the national cost of living. Fayetteville is home to Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt and Tyson foods. It has more than 3,000 acres of parks, lakes and recreational complexes. The Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport serves nearly 500,000 people. It planes fly nonstop to many popular destinations including New York and Los Angeles. Fayetteville is home to local music, fine arts and Razorback sporting events.

 

North Carolina: Asheville, NC offers the retiree an active and outdoor lifestyle. The mountains of North Carolina are magnificent with its forests, waterfall and beautiful landscape. Not only does North Carolina offer mountains, but outdoor activities abound. If you enjoy golf, tennis, fishing and even snow skiing, this state has a lot to offer. Ashville is particularly inviting with its downtown cultural events including musical events and outdoor festivals. Many picturesque smaller townssurround Asheville guaranteeing places to sight see and enjoy on the weekends. Brevard, Blowing Rock and the Highlands are a few of the highlights. These eclectic towns have art galleries, antique shops and bed and breakfast inns to entice you to visit. Asheville enjoys more doctors per capita than the most cities the same size. The Asheville branch of the University of North Carolina offers a senior wellness center and research facilities. 

 

California: There are several retirement options in California. One of the newer cities that have come under consideration is Redding, California. This city is nestled among rivers and mountains in Northern California. This is rapidly becoming a retirement destination. It is affordable when compared to other alternatives located in this state. Redding has spectacular outdoor scenery with Mount Shasta and the Cascade Mountains. The Sacramento River winds actually winds through the center of town! This booming town new planned communities and golf courses. Redding has a population of 88,000 and is a popular vacation spot. Retirees have discovered the art and cultural scenes Redding has to offer. There are several major hospitals in the area, two indoor shopping malls and fine restaurants. The Sacramento River offer fishing, rafting and picnicking on the banks. Skiing is less than an hour away. 

 

Another popular California retirement destination is San Luis Obispo County. This county has consistently been rated as one the best places to live in the United States. Instead of the typical California traffic and busy lifestyle, this busy community is off-the-beaten-path type atmosphere. San Luis is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the California Central Coast. This community offers top healthcare facilities and a mild climate.