News & Trending Travel News

15 Cities Retirees Should Move to If They Love to Have Fun

Enjoy your retired life in these unique cities with plenty to do.

senior couple riding bicycles at park
Updated Oct. 1, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

If you’re looking forward to having fun when you retire, you may want to start by looking at one of these cities.

The FinanceBuzz team studied cities based on factors that make them the most fun and laid back, scoring them on 25 different data points. Cities scored points for concert venues, comfort food, spas, golf courses, and plenty of other activities you might want to try when you’re retired.

So which cities scored the best on our list with activities that are popular with retirees who want a stress-free retirement? Here are the top 15 based on the Finance Buzz rankings. See if your prospective retired hometown made the list.

If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive travel discounts and trip-planning resources

Over 50 and love traveling? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member, you could be missing out on huge travel perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on hotels and resorts, airfare, cruises, car rentals, and more.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

An AARP membership not only unlocks discounts that could save you hundreds on your next trip, but you’ll also have access to deals on vacation packages, guided tours, and exclusive content to help plan your next getaway.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (do not skip this step!). Doing so will allow you to take up to 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member now

Boston, Massachusetts

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Boston Massachusetts Downtown Skyline

Boston leads the pack when it comes to yoga options, which could be a great choice for retirees who want to stay in shape.

The city also has good performing arts and concert venues to see live music and plays when you have more leisure time.

Buffalo, New York

Neil/Adobe Buffalo NY skyline during day

Buffalo ranks high when it comes to golf courses for residents to enjoy during the summer months.

It’s also a good city to get out during the winter months with plenty of snow-based activities like skating or snowshoeing trails.

Richmond, Virginia

pabrady63/Adobe Richmond Virgina Night Skyline

Richmond earned a great score for its performing arts scene, which can be a wonderful way to enjoy your retired years.

The city has several theaters where you can enjoy productions and hosts a Shakespeare festival each year to honor works by the bard.

Earn a $250 travel bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card has no annual fee and you can earn 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

You can earn additional points just by using this card for your everyday purchases — unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. The 25,000 bonus points can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit toward travel or dining purchases.

If you want to travel and dine out more, the Travel Rewards card can help you get where you want to go.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Tampa, Florida

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Tampa Florida Skyline

Keep your golf clubs at the ready if you’re living in Tampa and want to have fun.

The Tampa Bay area boasts more than 100 courses, and those golf courses gave the city a boost in the overall ratings for cities where you can have some leisure time when you’re retired.

Cincinnati, Ohio

SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Cincinnati Ohio skyline

Cincinnati’s rating was propelled by its access to comfort food, giving retirees plenty of options to enjoy when dining out.

Cincy is famous for its Skyline Chili and also includes plenty of local spots that are perfect for hearty food. You’ll never run out of new places to try.

St. Louis, Missouri

Matthew/Adobe Gateway Arch National Park

Hit the links to enjoy your leisurely days in St. Louis when you’re retired.

The city has a variety of public courses that make it easy to practice your golf game. Don’t miss Gateway National with its views of downtown St. Louis and the famous Gateway Arch.

Riverside, California

Matt Gush/Adobe downtown area Riverside California

One of the great things about living near the ocean is access to fresh fish, and Riverside has plenty of options if you enjoy it.

The city easily topped the competition when it comes to delicious Japanese restaurants. From sushi to Japanese BBQ to ramen, you will have plenty of choices if you crave Asian dishes.

Miami, Florida

littleny/Adobe Miami Florida skyline through palm trees

Want to spend your days relaxing in retirement? Then you should move to Miami.

The Florida city has plenty of ways to rest and relax, earning high marks for residents’ access to yoga, spas, and coffee shops to meet friends or enjoy an iced coffee and people-watch.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

f11photo/Adobe Minneapolis downtown skyline Minnesota

Music lovers will enjoy spending their retired days living in Minneapolis, which scored high in the survey for its access to concert venues.

The hometown of singer Prince has a variety of venues for music lovers to enjoy. Check out local calendars for big-name acts or to discover new music when you’re retired.

Unlock exclusive entertainment deals and VIP perks (without a credit card)

Ready to take your entertainment and travels to the next level? Experience the finer things in life with the SELECT card.

No, it's not a credit card, it’s an exclusive membership — and your passport to a world of elite benefits and unforgettable moments.

Imagine sipping complimentary cocktails in downtown Manhattan at KYU NYC or saving 20% on the best sushi in Hollywood Hills at Yamashiro.

Like to shop? Members receive VIP discounts like 15% off at Brooks Brothers, and up to 60% off at Tumi.

Enjoy special offers at luxury hotels like the Four Seasons and Omni Select. For example, you get 15% off at Hyatt Hotels worldwide.

But it’s not just about the hundreds (or thousands) you could save. There are so many features that make you feel like a VIP every day. Like SELECT’s white-glove concierge that assists with bookings, recommendations, or anything you need. And priority access to reservations to some of the year’s hottest events (many not open to the public).

Apply for the SELECT card today

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

checubus/Adobe pittsburgh at twilight

Pittsburgh received one of the best scores in the survey for its golf courses.

Within the city limits are 11 courses and an additional 55 courses are within 20 miles of the city. The area offers a great mix of private, public, and municipal courses, depending on your preferences.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Leonid Andronov/Adobe Salt Lake Temple Salt Lake City

Spend some leisurely time at spas, yoga studios, or coffee shops when you’re living in Salt Lake City.

The mountain town earned high scores for all three leisure activities that you can enjoy in the summer or winter.

Orlando, Florida

lunamarina/Adobe Orlando skyline fom lake Eola Florida

Theme parks are the main reason Orlando scored high on the list of cities for retirees who want to have fun. As the home of Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, you can enjoy all kinds of activities there.

As a resident, you might want to buy an annual pass to the parks, which comes with extra perks. And it will save you money when your children and grandchildren come to visit.

Atlanta, Georgia

Robert Hainer/Adobe downtown Atlanta skyline from Piedmont Park

Foodies will love retiring in Atlanta to enjoy plenty of delicious options in the city.

Atlanta scored high for its access to farmers markets and comfort food, so you’ll have some great choices if you want to cook at home more or dine out.

Providence, Rhode Island

Tupungato/Adobe Providence Rhode Island skyline from Riverside

Providence scored high marks for its performing arts and live music venues, which can give retirees a variety of choices to go out for the night.

Check out the city’s Performing Arts Center, for example, to see national tours of the top Broadway shows.

Hartford, Connecticut

Laura Stone/Adobe Hartford Connecticut skyline during autumn

Hartford tops the FinanceBuzz list of places to have fun with high scores for activities that could make the perfect date night for retirees.

The city scored high for comfort food and sushi as well as performing arts and live music. Retirees have plenty of options for date nights with dinner and a show.

Bottom line

Alessandro Biascioli/Adobe Senior couple toasting champagne on sailboat vacation

Leisure activities are a great way to enjoy your retired years. When you’re thinking about a new city for retirement, you may want to consider places with lots of fun activities.

While Arizona and Florida are the top retirement destinations primarily for their weather, you may want to spend your time and money in cities that offer more cultural and everyday activities.

If you are considering retiring early, you may want to picture the next 30 or so years of your life as a third act rather than retiring from life.

Easy-to-Earn Unlimited Rewards

Benefits

Card Details

  • $0 annual fee
  • Simple, flat-rate rewards
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Up to 75% preferred Rewards bonus potential
  • Apply Now
  • Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
  • 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
  • Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
  • Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
  • If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
  • Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
  • This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Bank of <span class='whitespace-nowrap'>America<sup>®</sup></span> Travel Rewards credit card
4.1
info
Apply Now

on Bank of America’s secure website

Read Card Review

Intro Offer

Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases

Annual Fee

$0

+

Why we like it