It is not uncommon for people to flee their Northern home-states for retirement in sunny Florida.  Besides the plentiful amount of Vitamin D it provides its residents, Florida has several other benefits that are especially important for retirement.

3 Benefits of Retiring in Florida:

1. No income tax
2. Affordable real estate
3. Range of options for leisurely entertainment

Besides some of Florida’s more well-known cities, such as Miami, Tampa, and Orlando, the 65,755 square mile state provides many places worth a look.  Each of the following cities has something a little different to offer – from local colleges to white sand beaches to famous architecture.

5 Cities to Consider for a Florida Retirement:

1. Cape Coral
2. Petersburg
3. Punta Gorda
4. Jupiter
5. Lakeland

As mentioned above, one of the benefits of retiring in Florida is the range of activities one can participate in. There’s something for everyone in Florida, even if you’re not a big fan of the beach.  If you enjoy a strong sense of community and being social, an active adult community might be the way to go.

Popular Active Adult Communities in Florida (According to 55Places.com):

1. On Top of the World – Ocala, FL
2. Latitude Margaritaville – Daytona Beach, FL
3. Solivita – Kissimee, FL
4. The Villages – The Villages, FL
5. Sun City Center – Sun City Center, FL

One last thing to note about retiring in Florida is that you may miss your family up North from time to time! But you’d be in luck because Florida has several airports to choose from.  Besides the largest airports listed below, Florida is host to at least about dozen smaller airports spread over the state (check out this map for details).

5 Largest Florida Airports:

1. Orlando International (MCO)
2. Miami International (MIA)
3. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL)
4. Tampa International (TPA)
5. Southwest Florida International (RSW) (located in Ft. Myers)