Best Retirement Destinations

For many, retirement is simply a reassessment of their current lifestyle. Some want an active life with the opportunity to do things they love, while others want to pursue new interests. Whatever your desire, the editors of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine say there's a place for you.

The March issue of Kiplinger's features a list of retirement destinations sure to appeal to a variety of retirees.

Each choice takes into account the unique needs of a person in this phase of life, such as access to medical facilities, fixed incomes, convenient transportation, and age-appropriate activities.

Mary Beth Franklin, the author of Kiplinger's annual retirement destination article, visits The Early Show to offer the highlights.

For Retirees Who Want An Active Lifestyle:

St. George, Utah
Why?

• Year-round outdoor activities: golfing (10 golf courses), hiking, biking
  
• 3-bedroom house is approximately $200,000
  
• Celebrity Concert Series: orchestras, dance, Broadway shows
  
• Lack of boutique restaurants but two-hour drive from Las Vegas

More Top Active Life Towns:
Bellingham, Wash. (www.bellingham.com)
Beaufort, S.C. (www.beaufort.com)
Sarasota, Fla. (www.sarasotachamber.org)

For Retirees Who Like The Campus Life

Oxford, Miss.
Why?

• Home of University of Mississippi or "Ole Miss"
  
• Considered the cosmopolitan Mayberry because it's one hour away from Memphis
  
• Four seasons
  
• Ole Miss offers continuing education classes. Students 65 years and older get four credits per semester free
  
• College has state-of-the-art performance center that hosts everything from student recitals to touring Broadway shows.
  
• Average 3-bedroom house costs $135,000

Ithaca, N.Y. (www.visitithaca.com)-Ithaca College and Cornell University's Adult University

San Luis Obispo, Calif. (www.slochamber.org; www.visitslo.com)- California Polytechnic State University

For Retirees Who Like The City Life

Upside: maintenance-free luxury housing in the city; access to great restaurants; public transportation; abundance of quality doctors and hospitals; and cultural activities.

Downside: cost of living

Baltimore, Md.
Why?

• Best of both worlds: convenience of city living, easy parking and not having to maintain a big house
  
• Camden Yards - the home of Baltimore Orioles
  
• Inner Harbor (restaurants, shops, acquarium)
  
• Waterfront promenade, theaters
  
• Revitilized area
  
• New wide selection of real estate
  
• $400,000 to $825,000 for waterfront properties and row houses

More Cities
Chicago, Ill.: Art Institute; Cubs; shopping on Michigan Avenue; harsh winter; $250-$750,000 for condos. (www.chicago.il.org).

Denver, Colo.: Beautiful Rocky Mountains; lots of sunshine (245 days a year); amenities; $300,000 to $1 million for downtown loft. In-town homes are $565,000 - $1.5 million. (www.downtowndenver.com)

Portland, Ore.: Lots of rain results in beautiful lush evergreen forest; one-bedroom condos start at $200,000, and penthouses are about $1 million. (www.travelportland.com)