Best Places to Retire - 2012 Beautiful Relaxing Destinations For Retirement

Where Are The 2012 Best Places To Retire In The US And Around The World?

Where would you like to retire? Where are the cheap and best places to retire in the US and around the world? What countries have a low cost of living compared to the United States? Where can my Social Security benefits and retirement savings go furthest?

These are just some of the questions you will have to face as you approach retirement with millions of other baby boomers. You can find plenty of lists of the 10 best places to retire, 100 best places to retire in America and so on.

There is no one perfect retirement location that will work for everyone. You may want to stay close to the grandkids and move closer to where they live. You may want to move from the cold snowy winters to the pleasant seasons in Florida, Texas, Arizona or Mexico. These are always going to be high on the list of best places to retire.

Some of the things you have to keep in mind when searching out your ideal retirement destination include cost of living comparisions, taxes, health care, weather and job opportunities.

If you have a reduced retirement account due to the fluctuations in the stock market you may want to look for the cheapest places to retire instead of the "best places to retire."

Places in South and Central America like Costa Rica, Panama, and Ecuador may appeal to you if you find yourself in this situation. Travel to Central America is shorter than flying half way across the world far away from friends and family. And the cost of living is lower compared to the US.

But if you do want to fly half way across the world you could check out Australia and New Zealand as possible retirement locations.

One big thing you have to think about is housing. Do you want to buy a condo by the beach in Florida, or do you want to rent a villa in the south of Spain or Portugal? Do you want to live in an retirement community that offers independent senior living? The search for affordable housing may be one of the biggest decisions you make as you find your ideal retirement spot.

Now let's take a look at some of the best places to retire in the US then head around the world for some best places around the world.

Best places to retire in the US

Let us take a tour of various retirement locations in different parts of the United States which should help you to make the best possible decision about where you should ultimately retire. Of course, you have quite a number of attractive locations to think about – so the choice could be a difficult one.

Let’s try to take stock. For starters, there’s St. George in Utah, with its picturesque setting, close to the Snow Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon. An attractive place, with its own novel features of cultural life such as the Shakespearean Festival, the Tuacahn Theatre and highlights such as the Huntsman Senior Games, to name just a few.

Then there’s Bellingham, offering you the unique charm of scenic beauty coupled with urban convenience. Among the highlights here, you’ll find the Interurban Trail System and ski slopes of Mount Whistler and Mount Baker nearby, which will surely beckon if you are fond of skiing.

The richness of Portsmouth comes mainly from the historical atmosphere of the place. There are so many old and unique properties here. And then of course there’s the Music Hall for concerts and the Strawberry Banke historical Museum.

Savannah has an old world charm about it with plenty of mansions, old oak trees and walking trails. And don’t forget the Telfair Art Museum and Coastal Senior, the magazine that makes Savannah unique.

Largo in Florida has plenty going for it, as it is practically a vacation spot in itself. Apart from the low crime rate and the variety of people living here, which has resulted in a diverse range of cuisine, you really must visit the Largo Cultural Centre, where music festivals are often held.

And what about Franklin in Tennessee, with its small town charm – a charm so powerful that it brought in senior citizens who had already settled elsewhere? Franklin will give you your fill of scenic beauty with its rolling hills. The pace of life is slow here and may be just what you want. The cost of living is also fairly low.

In Ann Arbor, you’d have the scenic beauty of parks and beaches combining with the intellectual atmosphere of the University of Michigan. Another highlight of this town is the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. Not far away in Detroit, you can also visit the Fisher Theatre and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Fort Collins in Colorado offers you yet another combination of scenic beauty and an atmosphere somewhere midway between a city and a town. The Rocky Mountain National Park is a major attraction here. For shopping dining and theatre, you could visit Denver, which is fairly close.

In Portland, once again you have that attractive blend of life in a big city and a small town, along with more than 240 parks that provide you with a refreshing abundance of greenery. You will enjoy visiting the Waterfront Park and the Saturday Market. If you are keen on skiing, you could also go to the Timberline Lodge. You’ll find sports and nightlife in Portland too, along with a well-developed transport system.

McCormick will offer you plenty of scope for recreation at the Hickory Knob State Resort Park. You could also visit the McCormick Arts Council. Greenwood nearby will interest you if you are fond of shopping. There are medical facilities here too. As a retired person, the Savannah Lakes Village is a vast settlement that could interest you as a good place to look for housing. You will find several retired people here.

Then again, there’s Seneca, where you’ll find the unique feature of a naturally formed recreational area. A few miles away are the South Carolina Botanical Gardens at Clemson. From Seneca, you’ll have access to the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor and the Foothills Parkway. You also have the choice of a host of outdoor activities, a lively downtown area and a variety of homes from which to choose, including old properties, lakeside retreats and villas.

Sumter is another delightful place, where you’ll find a combination of scenic beauty, a pleasant climate and educational facilities, along with a number of star attractions. These include the Swan Lake Iris Garden, the Sumter Gallery of Art, the Sumter County Museum and the Sumter County Public Library, to name just a few. The Newcomers’ Club should help you get acquainted and settle in.

So, now that you have quite a comprehensive picture, you should be in a fairly good position to decide where you want to live when you retire in the United States. On the other hand, given the number of attractive locations, it wouldn’t be surprising if your choice turned out to be a difficult one!

Best Places To Retire In The World

If you could retire anywhere in the world, where would it be? Just forget those nagging little issues like cost of living, taxes, health care, Social Security, low crime rates, etc., sit back and dream. Anywhere in the world? Well, we did just that. We dreamed. And here's our list of best places to retire.

Tahiti

We are constantly flummoxed that Tahiti never seems to appear on a list of 10 best places to retire. It is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia. The country's capital is Papeete, which is located on the northwest coast of the island and has the only international airport in the region. Its official language is French although many people speak Tahitian.

The islands wet season is November to April and January is its wettest month with an average of 13.2 inches of rain. Tahiti's average temperature ranges between 70°F and 88°F with little seasonal variation. In other words, the temperature is almost always nice.

The nation is part of French Polynesia and Tahitians are French citizens. As you might guess, it's most significant industry is tourism though black pearl farming also produces a substantial amount of revenue.

Tahiti boasts some wonderful beaches and its citizens tend to be open and friendly. The living there is mostly easy and laid back. The island's one drawback is its cost of living. French Polynesia is the second most expensive place in the world after Japan. If you want to live within your means, you need to do some planning and exercise real self-discipline. But remember? We said money was no object. We said best places to retire in the world, not cheap places to retire in the world.

Belize

We forgot about money when we chose Tahiti as one of the best places to retire in the world and we can forget about it when it comes to Belize. But for the opposite reason. The cost of living in this country is very low. Your retirement investments and savings will go farther here. You don't need a million dollars to retire to Belize.

Belize offers miles and miles of beautiful beaches, lush tropical forests and even mountains. Baby boomers who retire there find they can keep themselves occupied with fishing, hiking, biking, trekking, swimming and the dozens of other outdoor activities available in this country.

Just as important, Belize has good health care and is very welcome to retirees. English is the official language, making it very easy for ex-pats to do business, shop or do anything else. The reason that English is its official language is because it is the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage. Belize's climate is tropical with wet and dry seasons. Along the coast, temperatures average from 76.2°F in January to 80.6°F in July. In other words, the temperature is always pretty great.

Like Tahiti and many other best places retire, there is a downside to Belize and that is hurricanes, which have played a devastating role in the country's history. However, even with that, Belize remains a great place to retire with its climate, beaches, friendly citizens and low cost of living. Of course this is not an all inclusive list and you may not agree with these selections. There is no one size fits all best place to retire that will accommodate everyone. It is all based on what you want the most as a baby boomer getting ready to retire. We have plenty more locations you can learn about. Continue your search now for the best places to retire in the world.

3 More Best Places To Retire In The World

If you are looking to get away from the contiguous United States and want to find somewhere more tropical. You could find one of the best places to retire in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean Sea east of the Dominican Republic. You will find a mostly white population with a Spanish origin among the estimated 4,000,000 people in Puerto Rico.

You will find beautiful weather all year round from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The easiest way to travel to Puerto Rico is by plane. It's only a 4 hour 15 minute flight from Dallas Fort Worth.

If you love the tourism industry you will have plenty of work here as tourism is one of the top industries.

You can enjoy all the modern day conveniences of the United States on a beautiful tropical island of Puerto Rico - one of the best places to retire around the world.

And the housing is affordable. You can find a 4 bedroom, 3 bath 1200 square foot house for under $120,000 in the capital San Juan.

Two more best places to retire in the world are Portugal and Spain. Especially if you love to be near the beach. Portugal and Spain feature nearly 6800 km or 4230 miles of coastline. There are plenty of beaches, fishing spots, and wonderful seafood to be enjoyed in Portugal and Spain.

The cost of living is more affordable than other parts of Europe. You can find a 2 bedroom, 1 bath villa in Portugal for 115,000 Euros or $160,000 US.

You can enjoy beautiful weather, gorgeous people, and delicious cuisine.

There is so much more to learn about all the best places to retire around the world. There are so many opportunities, so many places you could travel to, so many new people you could meet, enjoy your journey with your fellow Baby Boomers and good luck finding your best place to retire.

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Check out this video of 10 best places to retire