Asheville is one of the most popular retirement communities in the United States, according to TopRetirements.com's annual list of favorite retirement spots. Asheville is an affluent community of 75,000 people and is situated in the Blue Ridge mountains in western North Carolina. It is known for year-round mild weather and a long list of recreational activities including walking, swimming, fishing, biking and hiking. Golf is also a key focus with a number of housing areas developed around golf courses. Famous residents have included the Vanderbilts, whose massive Biltmore estate is one of the largest private residences in America.
Sarasota attracts retirees who want to retire in a tropical environment. The town is situated on the shores of The Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Sarasota includes a historic downtown area with many business that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a number of housing areas that are located along the coast for easy access to recreational activities. Golf is popular among retirees and the city took note of that when they commissioned famed golfer Bobby Jones to design their city golf course. The city is also the home of a number of popular cultural points of interest including the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.
Prescott is famous for its nickname, "Everybody's Hometown." The former mining town is bordered by the Prescott National Forest and has 525 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Prescott is located at an elevation of 5400 feet in the mountains north of Phoenix, and its residents enjoy cooler summers than other parts of Arizona. Prescott offers a number of living options including several gated communities built around golf courses and private lakes.
Fort Meyers is located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River on southwest Florida's coast for easy access to freshwater and saltwater recreational activities. Fort Meyers offers a number of gated communities in the area including Bonita Bay, Cape Coral and Estero. Many of these communities feature golf courses, retail outlets and restaurants. Famous residents of Fort Meyers have included Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who both built their winter estates in the city. Sports fans enjoy watching practices at Spring training facilities for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.
