Arizona Offers Much To Do For the Active Adult in Retirement

Active Adult Retirement Community Phoenix, Arizona

So, you’re an avid golfer and while you’ve been thinking about retiring as a way to get in more time on the links? You read our recommendation on the Southeast Valley in the Phoenix Metro area. Sounded good, right? Then you remembered that you own a boat.

Okay, so we didn’t think about the boat, either. In our defense, not everyone owns one. But you do, and you enjoy it when you’re not playing golf, we get it. You want a dream retirement that includes sunshine, the dramatic landscape backdrop, access to a great golf course, in an area that offers a reasonable cost of living and relatively low taxes, a variety of cultural events, access to sporting events and interesting places to visit – near water.

Admittedly, the Southeast Valley fell short in that last criterion. So how about the Northeast Valley?

It’s still in the greater Phoenix area, out of the bustle of Phoenix Metro but close enough to essential services, and offers all of the perks that we talked about before. Money magazine called Maricopa County “retirement central” in 2007, not just the southeastern part of it. Of course, the icing on the cake is that the Northeast Valley is up by Lake Pleasant.

Named for Carl Pleasant, the engineer who designed the original Waddell Dam, Lake Pleasant was originally part of a private irrigation project. The first dam was built in 1922 to impound water from the Agua Fria River system, and created a lake of about 3,000 surface acres. In 1992 a new, and much larger, Waddell Dam was completed. The new lake covers an approximated 9,000 surface acres.

The newer, bigger Lake Pleasant supports a wide range of activities for today’s active adults, including swimming, boating, and fishing. Anglers have caught record white crappie and trophy largemouth bass. All around the lake is plenty of hiking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and camping. All in all, it’s a great place to relax. Conveniently, wet or dry boat storage is available at Lake Pleasant Marina, Pleasant Harbor Marina, or Scorpion Bay Marina, so you can be on the water on a moments notice! Check out their web sites for rates and availability of services.

But where to play golf in the Northeast Valley? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s a Golf Digest 5-star rated course not terribly far from the lake at Vistancia.

Vistancia is another one of those 55+ planned retirement communities, and it’s a really nice one. It’s a gated community located in Peoria AZ, and the amenities are geared towards an active adult retirement lifestyle.

Vistancia is a Trilogy active adult retirement community, and homes are built using the latest in “green” technologies, which can save homeowners about $1500 per year through energy efficiency. It’s been estimated that the carbon footprint is about 40% less than traditionally built homes. And if you’re worried about living in some space odyssey reject, forget it – the homes are beautiful. It’s an intimate, friendly, accessible living environment, with a 5-star golf course.

If you’re not the avid golfer, but live with one, the 5-star rating is a designation determined by combining the opinions of official Golf Digest raters with the online responses of the general public. It’s only been given to two dozen courses in North America, and Vistancia is the one in Arizona. Golf Digest defines 5-Star as "Superb. Golf at its absolute best. Pay any price to play at least once in your life.”

So if golf and boating are in your retirement plans, you should definitely look into Trilogy at Vistancia in Phoenix, Arizona – especially now since falling home prices have created such a phenomenal buying opportunity in that state.

Of course, prices are rebounding and inching their way back up as home buyer confidence has returned. Low prices won't last for long, and if you've been waiting on the side-lines, it’s time to move.

Retiring on the Central Coast of California

Active Adult New Homes California Central Coast

Anyone familiar with California knows that there are a variety of “Californias” depending on which part of the state is the topic of discussion. For active adults trying to decide their California dream retirement, it’s enough to drive one crackers. Do you choose the dramatic rocky coasts of Northern California, or the sandy beaches of Southern California? Do you want the cool, foggy mornings of Napa, or the warmth of the desert outside San Diego? And what if you just don’t feel like choosing?

What if you want it all?

Active adults seeking a retirement “sampler platter” of California’s many charms should consider California’s Central Coast. It is located in the heart of California's world-renowned wine country about an hour north of Santa Barbara. The Central Coast is characterized by amazing beaches, beautiful scenery, and charming towns such as Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo. Residents of the Central Coast enjoy a relaxed lifestyle in a mild climate with an estimated 350 days per year of approximately 70-degree temperatures.

California Central Coast Retirement

Imagine your retirement in the vitality of a thriving coastal community surrounded by the dramatic backdrop provided by vineyards, beaches and hot springs. Imagine being located merely an hour away from exploring the Santa Ynez wine country, or shopping & dining in Santa Barbara. Both San Francisco and Los Angeles are within a few hours drive and local attractions include Hearst Castle and the Dunes at Pismo Beach. Several of the Historic California Missions are within easy driving distance, as is the Los Padres National Forest, the Pismo Dunes Natural Preserve, and Montana De Oro State park. Imagine from October to February of every year strolling among the thousands and thousands of Monarch butterflies in the Eucalyptus grove at Pismo Beach.

If having this kind of easy access to the entirety of California sounds like your dream retirement, then take a look at Trilogy Central Coast. It’s a master-planned retirement community located off the Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) about 15 minutes from Pismo Beach.

Featuring contemporary design, green building practices, and a community plan that focuses on wellness and community, Trilogy Central Coast is just the place to enjoy the coastal view while sipping a delicious local wine.

Amenities include The Monarch Club, 2009 Gold Nugget Grand Award Winner for architecture, and an ideal place to host a wedding, special event, or corporate meeting.

Nestled among eucalyptus trees, the Monarch Club provides views of the lush, green rolling hills of the Monarch Dunes Golf Course - a breathtaking backdrop for any event.

Other amenities enjoyed by residents and guests at Trilogy Central Coast include Adelina’s Bistro, Sandalwood Spa, the Avila Room, the Sculpture Garden, the Art Studio, and executive meeting rooms such as the Wine Library and the Captain’s Room.

California Central Coast Retirement for Active Adults

Active Adults Considering Las Vegas - No Personal Income Tax!

Retiring in Las Vegas?

As more of us are either turning, about to turn, or just starting to think that pretty soon we’re going to be turning 55, the question arises; so where should active adults such as ourselves retire?

Naturally, as the options get kicked around, we start to think about travel destinations we really enjoyed and might want to return to on a more permanent basis. One that came up recently began as kind of a joke – Las Vegas. After all, if what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, then wouldn’t it be cool to stay there too?

What’s funny about it is that Las Vegas actually is an attractive option for retirement after all. We even found a web site that lists the top 10 reasons to live in Las Vegas and discovered that some of them might be of particular interest to active adults.

Take, for example, the weather. Sure it gets hot in the desert, but it’s only really hot a few months of the year, and locals have discovered lots of easy ways to beat the heat. Lake Mead is close by, and air conditioning is standard on most cars and all new construction. In addition, even in summer, most mornings are rather temperate. Golf, tennis, etc. are still enjoyable options.

Of course, if you’re not as outdoorsy, there’s plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment in Las Vegas. And if you’re concerned about cost of living amid all of these entertainment options, you should know that there’s no personal income tax in Nevada. Yes, we’re sure – we checked out the official City of LV web site. There are no city or state income taxes in Las Vegas (woo hoo).

Then again, maybe your idea of retirement is to finally stay home and cook. What better than to live in an oasis of home with the beauty of the desert as a backdrop? Shea Homes at Ardiente, an active adult community, features easy access to I-15, and the center of the strip/airport area. It’s also close to popular attractions such as Hoover Dam, Lake Mojave, Mt. Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, and Death Valley.

Ardiente is an affordable alternative for West Coast retirees with lots of amenities. The entire community is designed around knowing your neighbors and being active. Features include 30 fitness stations, six beautiful themed parks, a dog park, and a community center that feels like a country club. Nearby golf courses include Shadow Creek, Craig Ranch and Sunrise Vista.

Bay Area's Well Kept Secret - Active Adult Retirement Community

One of the major drawbacks cited by active adults looking to retire in the San Francisco Bay Area is the cost. Many people have opted for “second choice” retirement locations because they believe they simply can’t afford to retire in the Bay Area. However, if you haven’t yet opted out of your Bay Area retirement dreams, there’s a well-kept secret you should probably know about – it’s called Rio Vista, CA.

Located about an hour northeast of San Francisco, Rio Vista sits right on the Sacramento River Delta. According to various guide-books and web sites, Rio Vista is often described as a quaint, friendly, charming place that offers warm hospitality and a genuine small town feel. The waterway system makes for nice scenery and encourages water sports. The annual Bass Festival is a 3-day event in October that draws flocks of fishermen. Locke, the oldest surviving California town founded by Chinese immigrants, and the Dutra Dredging Museum are also nearby attractions. There are local restaurants to explore, there’s boating, fishing, hiking, golf, tennis and most of Northern California is relatively accessible from Rio Vista.

Active Adult Lifestyle

Napa, home of world famous California Wines is to the north. Right across the river, in Sacramento County is a lesser-known yet robust wine country. Family run wineries with names like Dancing Coyote, Six Hands, and Tierra del Rio Vineyards produce an eclectic mix of quality California Wines. Check out their web sites for tasting room locations and hours of operation.

http://www.dancingcoyotewines.com

http://www.sixhandswinery.com/index.html

Finally, what could seal the deal in making your Bay Area retirement dream a reality is Trilogy at Rio Vista. Trilogy is a planned active adult retirement community that features an excellent golf course and one of the most beautiful restaurants in Rio Vista, The Nines. http://www.ninesatriovista.com/nines_riovista/

Trilogy essentially offers beautiful gated, resort style living that is affordable and simply not available in San Francisco – yet is as close to the city as any of the “commuter towns” around the bay. If you really want to retire in the Bay Area, you should check out Trilogy at Rio Vista.