Readers Offer Their Own Retirement Spots

Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Picking a place to retire is a very personal choice. Here U.S. News readers describe what they find special about their retirement havens.

Aiken, S.C. "You will not find too many retirement spots such as Aiken, S.C., where there are 4,800 horses and only 22,000 people [and] 48 polo fields." John Buchanan

Augusta, Ga. "The cost of living here is among the lowest in the country. When I moved here, my Chicago insurance agent said, 'Dee! You stole a house!' when he heard the price." Dee Medley

Colorado Springs, Colo. "We cherish the casual, relaxed western lifestyle, the reduced congestion, the moderate temperatures, the hundreds of miles of well-maintained hiking and biking trails, the scenic two-hour drive through Wilkerson Pass and Hossier Pass to ski in the Rockies, and the view of Pikes Peak from the porch of our 113-year-old Victorian in the historic Old North End. Did we mention our grandchildren in Denver?" Frank and Barbara Capece

Green Valley, Ariz. "The sun shines down throughout winter days. Woodland trails are filled with birdlife. Blue-and-white sky is reflected in the sparkling water of many swimming pools.... The sun sets through lavender clouds on the horizon." Harriet Davidson

Hattiesburg, Miss. "I have a brand-new house for less than a quarter of a million dollars. It's on a hill and an acre of land, and I have deer, rabbits, squirrels, and hummingbirds in the backyard. It's also nice to be on Central Standard Time, where new tv shows tend to air earlier in the evening. We can watch stuff on TV and still go to bed at 10 o'clock." Bob Clunie

Irvine, Calif. "Nearby activities include Major League Baseball and hockey, world-class music, three universities in town, many senior centers, senior competitive sports available, the beach is a 10-minute drive, ski areas [are] a 90-minute drive, numerous religious facilities of all denominations, and a moderate climate that is second to none." Neil Morchower

Melbourne, Fla. "Watching the Kennedy Space Center's shuttles and rockets rise skyward from one's front door is truly stupendous!" Wendell Hodgkins

Montgomery, Ala. "One can play golf all year round at some of the best courses in the country. [There are] three Robert Trent Jones courses here in Montgomery, and another seven RTJ courses within 100 miles." Thomas McGuire

Naperville, Ill. "We retired in our house in the woods in south Naperville. We have shagbark hickories and oak trees on a 2-acre lot." Mary Feay

Newburyport, Mass. "Ice and snow? Put another log on the fire. Hot and muggy? Crank up the AC. No flood plains, no mudslides, no hurricanes, no forest fires, no earthquakes. Walk to 20-plus restaurants, art galleries, live theater, and arts cinema. Boston is an hour away by train." Laurie Christiansen

Rapid City, S.D. "I have chosen the center of the nation, the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, a tourist heaven of mountains, pines, and hiking trails.... Much of the region is U.S. Forest Service land, ensuring that it will remain undeveloped." Kent Hyde

Santa Fe, N.M. "We found here a town where both painting and geology are 'plein air.' I don't commute a loop or beltway. Life is good where 30,000 [people] burn a 50-foot puppet each year to shed their worries [at one of the annual Santa Fe Fiesta's most popular events: the torching of Zozobra]." John Kovacs

St. George, Utah. "St. George lies amid spectacular natural scenery, clean air, great climate, hot summers but mild winters, more than a dozen excellent golf courses, favorable cost of living, beautiful homes but competitive real estate, reasonable tax structure, close to Las Vegas and national parks, outstanding medical care, excellent hospitals, and nearby ski resorts." Vernon Hill

The U.S.A. "My retirement dream is not to be stuck in just one place, so my favorite spot will be a motorhome. A retirement filled with adventure, exploration, meeting new people, and seeing new things across this great country is my dream." Frank Crissey