Over 300 days of sun, a new golf course to try every week, and silhouettes of ancient saguaros at dusk, sometimes diamonds are found in the middle of the desert— as in Phoenix Arizona, the birthplace of the country’s first ever active adult community, Sun City, and one of the trendiest destinations to ever hit the retirement scene. Named the Valley of the Sun, (leave your umbrella at home) and in the top most affordable cities to retire according to CBS News, this high energy city is ultra modern with state-of-the-art medical facilities, major sports, and entertainment venues, and has a winter climate that will make you the envy of your east-coast friends.
Aside from occasional monsoons which seem to dissipate as quickly as they roll in, year-round sunny days are why thousands of snowbirds leave their turtlenecks behind and flock to Arizona’s capital. Even during the dead of winter, temperatures hover around 60-70 degrees – shorts weather for the rest of the country, and idyllic for participating in an endless number of outdoor activities. From hiking Camelback Mountain, paddle-boarding through the Salt River, to cruising around downtown on a rental bike, and horseback riding through South Mountain Park’s winding trails (also the largest municipal park in the world), metro Phoenix has quite the adventurous side.
When it’s lights out everywhere else, Phoenix offers plenty of hotspots to stay up well past your bedtime. Order a cocktail and enjoy a show at CityScape – two blocks of exciting night-life from comedy and dance clubs to live music, restaurants, and places like Lucky Strike/Gypsy Bar to polish your after dark bowling skills. A night on the town will work up an appetite, but whatever you’re in the mood for whether it’s a midnight snack or mid-day brunch, the food in this city is as authentic as it gets. From high-profile James Beard contenders to food trucks, and hands down some of the best Mexican food in the U.S., the options are endless with over 100 incredible restaurants to choose from.
For on-the-go retirees, Phoenix offers an urban, youthful lifestyle, and thanks to its efficient public light-rail system, exploring the city’s visual art scene, an infinite number of shops, and attractions is a breeze. From the vibrant street art along Roosevelt Row to the refined culture found at the Phoenix Art Museum, which happens to be the largest art museum in the Southwest, creativity is woven throughout the city. Just 4 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and ideally located near Mesa, Scottsdale and less than 2 hours from Tucson, venturing outside the valley is easy and convenient. Fast growing, and innovative, Phoenix is a fantastic place to live and continues to be the go-to spot for active adults looking to turn up the heat.
