10 Best Places to Retire for Outdoor Enthusiasts

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast and for years have been sitting at your desk dreaming of having the time to enjoy the great outdoors, there are many places to retire which will readily provide you the opportunity to kayak, mountain climb, ski, hike, go fishing or simply enjoy the outdoors with miles of walking, mountain biking or hiking tracks. So, if you are looking forward to such an outdoor-bound lifestyle in your 55+ years, here are 10 of the best places that you can consider retiring to. Our 10 best retirement locations for outdoor lovers are bound to be places that will let you make the best of the outdoors.

1. Boulder, Colorado – Situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is a great place for active adults. It offers tons of bike trails, hiking trails, kayaking, rock climbing, tubing, and fly-fishing. On a sunny day, you can even go up and enjoy the scenic views on a hot air balloon! And, just 48 minutes away, one of the few attractive active adult communities in Aurora includes Heather Gardens.

2. Santa Cruz, California – Yes there’s the beach but Santa Cruz also offers much more than the chance to surf and enjoy the sun. Santa Cruz offers 55+ retirees state parks, mountain-grade hiking, kayaking, and an 8-mile loop of mountain bike trails weaving their way through the redwoods.

3. Anchorage, Alaska – Chugach State Park, at half a million acres, is the 3rd largest park in the nation. This state park boasts 200 miles of year-round trails, more than 50 glaciers, and some amazing wildlife sightings. The park also offers great hiking, trail running, biking, camping, skiing, and snowmobiling.

4. Tucson, Arizona – Outdoor enthusiasts will love Tucson. Tucson, Arizona offers year-round sunshine, boating, water sports, fishing and hunting, hiking, hot air ballooning, cycling, camping, and much more. In winter you can ski the 21 ski trails served by three lifts at Mount Lemmon Ski Valley.

5. Honolulu, Hawaii – This is an excellent state for retirees who love the beach, but don’t wish to totally let go of big-city life. Considered a top green city, Honolulu provides outdoor retirees the opportunity to go scuba diving, sailing, surfing, mountain climbing, sky diving, golfing, tennis and so much more.

6. Portland, Maine – Wide open spaces, salty, fresh ocean air, and gorgeous views are only a handful of what you can expect in Portland, Maine. You can skydive 10,000 feet above the mountains, go scuba diving for famous lobsters, surf the waves, enjoy a hot air balloon ride or go rock climbing, sailing, boating and fishing, and on and on.

7. Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota – This Twin City is excellent for outdoor adventure. Hiking, biking, farmer’s markets, hot air ballooning, 180 parks, a 50-mile loop of hiking/biking trails are just some of the fun-filled outdoor activities you can enjoy in this city.

8. Missoula, Montana – This is a place that offers plenty of fun outdoor activities for retirees. You can hike to the top of Mount Sentinel and enjoy breathtaking views, visit Caras Park for some great walking and biking, fishing, or picnicking. In the Winter, you can also visit Glacier National Park for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

9. Naples, Florida – This sunny state offers outdoor enthusiasts the best in beaches, golfing and so many other outdoor activities. You can rent a kayak or canoe and go exploring or visit the Everglades National Park and other states, local and private parks for bird watching and wildlife viewing. Whether you are taking an airboat ride through the Florida Everglades or enjoying fishing, hiking or boating, this place is one of the best for your outdoor activities.

10. Seattle, Washington – This place is gorgeous and green. There are many city parks in Seattle offering outdoor-loving retirees the ability to hike, jog, cycle, and kayak and enjoy just about any activity you have always dreamed of having the time to do.

These are the 10 best places to retire for outdoor enthusiasts. If you wish to find active adult homes for sale in any of these states, you can do so by visiting our website ActiveAdultLiving.com®.