Best Places to Retire in the US

Best Places to Retire in the US The time has finally come! Say goodbye to that 9-5 and hello to the rest of your life! Retirement is a huge transition for anyone who has dedicated the last 30-40 years of her life to her job. But now its all about you. The golden years. And almost as important as how you spend your new free time, is where you decide to spend it. With that in mind, we have put together a list of the top retiree-friendly U.S. cities. Each destination offers cultural attractions, breathtaking scenery, and learning opportunities tailor-made for the retirement crowd. Now, onto the first city.

Durham, NC

A town that gets to enjoy the benefits of all four seasons without suffering the extremes of any of them. This former tobacco town is also host to one of the premiere universities in America, Duke. Duke caters to retirees by offering them over 100-plus courses per term to take on campus. You're never too old to learn something new.

Thats not all that Durham has to offer. There are plenty of cultural attractions and activities. The performing arts center regularly hosts plays, and Dukes Museum of Art has an ever-expanding collection of contemporary art.

Housing is affordable, there are plenty of golf courses, and the scenery is amazing. What more could ask for when looking for a place to spend the rest of your life?

Ashland, OR

If youre seeking beautiful landscapes and plenty of activities in your retirement, then consider moving to Ashland. Located 285 miles south of Portland and 350 miles from San Francisco, its safe to say that Ashland is isolated from big city life.

Lithia Park, located near the city center, is host to a number of hiking trails which can wind on for miles. The close-by Mt. Ashland is a great place to skiing in the winters, and the beach is a day trip away for summer fun.

Southern Oregon University offers knowledge-hungry retirees a good deal: In exchange for the one-time fee of $100 you can choose between 90 different academic courses.

But Ashlands biggest attraction is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The festival goes on throughout the year, and is responsible for over 780 performances annually. These performances attract audiences from all over the world.

San Luis Obispo, CA

The halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles, yet so far away from both that it has its own personality, SLO is the perfect town to live in if you like to ride your bike around everywhere. White sandy beaches are only eight miles away from the town center. Mountains overlook the community from the east, and the area is surrounded by some of California's famed vineyards.

California Polytechnic State University is also near the city center with plenty of courses to offer retirees. If youve been California dreamin, San Luis Obispo should be one of the cities on your list.

St. Petersburg, FL

The stereotype of retirees moving to Florida may be true, but why do they do it? St. Petersburg offers the answers. Sunny beaches, luxury shopping, fine dining, and signature golf courses are just a few reasons.

But for the retiree who still wants to be productive, maybe sitting in on a class at Eckerd College will help out. The college has an Academy of Senior Professionals program, which invites retirees to sit in on courses offered at the college, giving them a chance to interact with and advise students and sometimes even teach courses.

The Salvador Dali Museum is just one of many cultural attractions available to residents. The Museum of Fine Arts also hosts works by many recognizable names such as Monet and OKeefe, and others. St. Petersburg also has its own orchestra and theater, which hosts many traveling Broadway shows.

Boise, ID

Boise offers a ton of choices for the newly retired. Its 25-mile Greenbelt path system connects multiple parks along the Boise River. The Boise Front is a nearby nature area home to the more rugged foothills to the north of the city center. Boise also hosts its own opera company, as well as its own full orchestra and ballet which hold performances throughout the year.

Life is never dull for retirees at Boise State University as well. They offer the over-50 crowd a wealth of choices in life-long learning, including courses, activities and field trips.

Austin, TX

The capital of Texas plays host to a number of different culturally rich events. The still-new Long Center for Performing Arts houses its own opera, ballet and symphony. The Colorado River streams through the nearby Ziller Park.

Popular courses are always available for retirees through the lifelong education program at the University of Texas at Austin. The most popular is its Road Scholar program, which takes retirees on the road for some hands-on learning.

Prescott, AZ

For the cowboy/cowgirl inside all of us, Prescott is the place to live out our fantasies. It boasts more than 800 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, many of which are from days of the Old West.

The weather mostly sunny, but this is no desert town. Prescott gets all four seasons. The town boasts six golf courses, art exhibitions that run throughout the year, film festivals, and outdoor concerts to keep your schedule busy when you want it to be.

For those who are looking to occupy their mind as well, nearby Yavapai College has been offering up to 200 different courses geared towards retirees.