For some people, retirement is an exciting time in their lives but for others, it is the opposite. However, if during your working years you have managed to save enough for this moment, why not take advantage of it by visiting other places in the US?
You might even think about moving to a better city, with better weather, better economy, or just to discover new things.
Although many choose to travel abroad, here we are going to tell you which is the best place you can visit without having to look for your passport.
Things to consider
Although we will tell you some benefits of this city, you must make a specific research according to your needs. You will have to assess aspects such as access to health services, taxes, rental costs, public transportation in the city, quality of life, etc.
You can easily find this information on the Internet, although we recommend that you talk to someone who lives there.
Florida
Whether it is for its climate or for its proximity to the sea, Florida is definitely one of the favorite places for Americans to enjoy their retirement. We will give you some tips about the best city in this state but, at the end of the article, we will tell you about other very similar places.
Sarasota
Sarasota is located on the west side of Florida and its motto is: “Where urban amenities meet small-town living”, what better description than that?
What to do?
Besides being a tourist area by nature with its beautiful beaches, it is a vibrant city full of culture. You can enjoy activities as a tourist or experience the city as a resident as it also has orchestra halls, theaters, museums, and art galleries.
Here are some places you can visit:
- Beaches: Siesta Key Beach, Lido Beach, Longboat Key Beach, Caspersen Beach, Brohard Paw Park, Coquina Beach, Nokomis Beach, Venice Municipal Beach, Turtle Beach.
- Museums and Art: Ringling Museum Of Art, Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Classic Car Museum.
- Parks, Gardens, and Nature: Sarasota Jungle Gardens, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary, Nathan Benderson Park, Save Our Seabirds Conservation Center.
- Sports: Ed Smith Stadium, Kayak on the Mangrove Tunnels.
- Others: Central Sarasota Farmers Market, Drum Circle Distilling, Saint Armands Circle, Manatee Village Historical Park.
Weather
The climate is subtropical, with dry winters and wet summers, and a temperature between 51 °F and 90 °F, so if you don’t like cold or snow, you can retire happily here.
Transportation
Although there is a bus system from the Sarasota County Area, the city has grown large enough to make this transportation kind of difficult. So you will probably need a car or a motorcycle if you are used to getting around quickly.
As for traffic, it gets complicated during tourist season as in many other cities (between November and March), as does parking. But if you plan ahead for this season, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Taxes
One of the biggest attractions of Sarasota (and Florida in general) is that they do not pay state income taxes. However, living costs are not the cheapest.
Other options in Florida
While Sarasota has a special appeal to retirees, these other cities also deliver on the basics: Naples, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Tampa, Fort Myers, Port St. Lucie, and Pensacola.