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…...

If you are one of those people who has always wanted to live on an island, the San Juan Islands are your chance (actually you have 450 chances, although only 4 of the islands have ferry service). Located off the coasts of Washington and British Columbia, the islands are both a tourist destination and a retirement community. The setting, the…...

Durango is one of the most interesting small towns in Colorado. Not just for retirees, but also for young people (average age is 29).  Located in the southwestern part of the state, Durango has convenient access to at least 5 major ski areas including Purgatory (about 25 miles away).  The Animas River, a gold medal fly fishing stream, flows through…...

Blue Ridge is a very small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. It is at the very top of the state on the border near Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  The town has about 1200 residents. Blue Ridge is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Georgia.  Lake Blue Ridge, the Toccoa River, the Blue Ridge…...