Banning is a  town of 29,000 near the San Gorgonio Pass; north of San Diego and east of Los Angeles. Palm Springs and Riverside are nearby.  It is named for Phineas Banning who was a stagecoach line operator and Father of the Port of Los Angeles.  The area was first settled by the Cahuilla Indians and then as a Spanish…...

When many affluent people think of Arizona, the first town that comes to mind is Scottsdale. The New York Times referred to it as the Miami South Beach of the west.  This fast-growing and well-to-do town was one of the first suburban outgrowths of Phoenix. Its setting in the desert  by the McDowell Mountains is spectacular. So is the infrastructure…...

Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, with a population of 143,148 (2020 Census).  Located in the Phoenix-Metro area, the  Sonoran-desert  town is surrounded by mountain park lands.  The area  became popular with retirees when Sun City Grand opened a resort style community, and now has over 9,000 homes. There are several other 55+ communities located here. Surprise also…...

Jacksonville was one of the first gold mining towns in the state of Oregon. Although the gold has long played out, its legacy is a town of great beauty and history.  TheJacksonville Historic District is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark.  This town of 2,800, a few miles west of Medford in the Rogue Valley, attracts affluent people who tend…...