4. Sarasota, Florida: This small, civilized city on Florida's Gulf Coast has a temperate climate, golf courses and tennis courts aplenty, and good boating in the Gulf and Sarasota Bay. The city offers fine dining and cultural opportunities, including opera, a symphony, a film society, a theater scene, lots of art galleries and The Ringling Museum of Art.
5. Fayetteville, Arkansas: Bright fall foliage, fishing in clear mountain lakes and one of the lowest costs of living in the nation make Fayetteville a gem. Unemployment is a low 2 percent, thanks to an economy driven by retail, government and industry (Wal-Mart's headquarters, J.B. Hunt transport, and Tyson Foods). Dickson Street near the university is a lively strip of bistros and live-music venues.
6. Charleston, South Carolina: A strong economy, nine colleges and universities and a highly regarded health care community are part of the package. Residents work in industries including shipping, health care and tourism. Opportunities for boating, fishing and golfing abound, but many locals prefer less energetic pursuits, like oyster roasts and fish fries - anything that involves food and alcohol.
7. Asheville, North Carolina: This city makes the list with a lively arts scene, short winters, excellent health care and a dash of bohemian funkiness; the downtown has coffeehouses, antiques shops, bookstores and galleries selling crafts by mountain artists. In a town with deep musical roots, you'll catch bluegrass one night and contra dancing the next. The Blue Ridge Parkway offers a quick escape to mountain hiking, fishing and whitewater rafting.
8. San Diego, California: The quintessential California town of sandy shorelines – without the slacker-surfer types. Computers, electronics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals are a few of the industries that push this West Coast paradise into the top 20 cities for five-year job growth. Also putting this city on the list: that famous Zoo, world-class performing arts (ballet, opera, theater, symphony) pro baseball and football and a diverse dining scene.
9. San Antonio, Texas: A blend of terrain and cultures, and a bargain that no other major U.S. city can beat. Low cost of living coupled with a dynamic business environment and excellent medical facilities have created one of the fastest growing cities, which translates into careers from tourism to biomedical research, semiconductor manufacturing to health care. The city offers culture from a rich ethnic feel to great museums, from Tex-Mex to Matisse.
10. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Tucked into the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the city is a blend of Anglos, Hispanics, and American Indians, most of whom find work with state government, federal agencies, nonprofits and the tourism industry. Long hailed as a cultural mecca (museums, galleries and opera), the city is also a New Age lodestar filled with spiritual seekers, natural food markets and alternative healers.
11. Gainesville, Florida: This college town offers Florida sun and all there is to do in it: swimming, fishing, canoeing in fresh water springs; factor in affordable housing and some of the best health care in Florida (five stellar university hospitals) and you've got a winning combination.
Watch
Experts
Blog
Tools
Newsstand
Mobile
Community
Sitemap
AARP on YouTube
