"Stroll through Walla Walla's historic downtown and you'll understand why this southeastern Washington outpost, once known only for its sweet onions and tautonymic name, has become a destination for wine connoisseurs, urban refugees and roving retirees.  Nineteenth-century Italianate-style commercial buildings-origionally built as bakeries, banks and brothels following the 1860 gold rush-are being revamped to house art galleries, bookstores and restaurants.  For a place in rural Washington, Walla Walla has an unlikely air of sophistication , in large part because of the 70-odd wineries that have broken ground nearby in the last three decades." (Artical reprinted in part only.)

(B)

 " Five miles off the coast of Brunswick, GA., you'll find St. Simons Island. With its sandy beaches, lush marshes and moss-draped live oaks, the island has long been a destination for summer vacationers.  Over the past few years is has also blossomed into a year-round retirement community.  Having visited as a kid, Ron Upshaw, 63, recently returned with his wife Barbara, 56, looking to permanently escape the New Jersey winters. "We wanted a warmer climate," Ron says. "But didn't want to give up the mix of culture we were used to."
  They didn't have to.  Here, the summer-like weather spans almost seven months. And the Upshaws can eat out at a number of fine dining establishments, shop several galleries for work by local artists or attend concerts on Lighthouse Lawn.  An active newcomer's club helps transplants get assimilated by way of dinners, bridge games and golf outings, and neighborhood associations organize events too.  ("It's very much a partying place," says Nance Mathews, 59, who came here from Cincinnati last year.)  And if city life beckons, Savannah and Jacksonville are each a little over an hour away."
(Artical reprinted in part only)

(C)

   "There's something to be said  for waking up to the sun every day."Says 55 year old Debbie Douglas. Coming from a cloudy Seattle suburb, she and her husband Larry, 58, made good weather a high priority when considering retirement destinations. After seveal back injuries, Debbie wanted a drier climate that would be easier on her joints; Larry wanted year-round access to golfing and hiking.  They found all the above in Prescott.
   Located 100 miles north of Phoenix, at an elevation of 5,400 feet, Prescott splits the weather difference between snowier Flagstaff and the sweltering southern part of the state.  Here the average July high is 90 degrees, the average January high is 52 degrees, and the humidity is generally moderate. It's no wonder that Prescott attracts retirees who enjoy being outdoors, as the Douglases do.  Larry has his choise of more than half a dozen golf courses, and the Prescott National Forest offers 450 miles of trails among acres of ponderosa pine.
   Locals also enjoy attending outdoor events on the lawn of the Courthouse Plaza, meeting at saloon-style bars and resturants that line historic Whiskey Row; and catching plays at the Prescott Fine Arts Association, housed in an old Catholic church.  Other pluses for retirees: small colleges that offer lifelong learning classes, three hospitals (one a VA medical facility), a recently expanded library and a new adult center opening this fall.
   The area's appeal is reflected in its housing prices, which are higher even than in booming Phoenix-the average three-bedroom, two-bath home is $390,000.  But property taxes are relatively low, and seniors enjoy some state breaks.  Residents over 65 who meet certain income requirements, for instance, can freeze the current tax assessment on their home.
   Another plus: You will probably save money on landscaping.  Despite its mild climate, Prescott is still desert, which means you may not even have grass to mow.  Says Jane Bristol, the town's economic development director: "Back in Michigan, we were very much into whose lawn looked better.  I know a number of people here who don't miss that aspect of their lives very much."

(D)

  


   "Settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1800s, Holland takes its heritage seriously.  The downtown candy shop imports salty licorice from the Netherlands, Walgreens sells clogs, and the Tulip Time festival is the biggest event of the year.  But retirees needn't know their Edam from theire Gouda to appreciate all the area has to offer.
   Situated on the shores of an inland lake that connects to Lake Michigan, Holland is full of summer fun for beach-goers and sailing aficionados.  Granted it isn't warm here in the winter-the average January high is 30 degrees-but there is plenty to do indoors.  Those who are seeking community can find it at one of the areas 175 churches or at Evergreen Commons, a 4,000-member senior center that sponsors everything from bridge clubs to computer classes."
(Article reprinted in part only)
  
(E)

"Walking through the center of Williamsburg, Va. is like living history-literally.  Colonial Williamsburg, a functioning restoration of an 18th-century British colonial capital, makes up the heart of the town.  And of its roughly 900 volunteers, approximately 85% are retirees.  Besides being a revolutionary way to spend one's golden years, "it's a great way to make friends," says Bettie Olsen, 69, who helps out as a tour guide.
   Of course, you've got to like or at least tolerate-the heritage shtick to make this place home.  Here resturant servers wear breeches and petticoats; the likes of George and Martha Washington  wander through the Historic Area; and passers-bu routinely hear fife and drum music.  But Williamsburg does have many modern-day comforts.  There are three airports and seven hospitals within an hour's drive.  You can golf almost year round at on of the 15 courses; or you can take classes at the College of William and Mary for $75 a semester; or you can shop till you drop at one of the multitude of local malls."
(Article reprinted in part only)
(To read entire article go to MONEY Magazine Oct. 2006 Issue)
(End of Article)