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Best Places To Live The Simple Life
By Sarah Mahoney, September & October 2009 (AARP Magazine)
Rich culture, great food, low stress. Who wouldn't want to call these affordable cities home?
Top 5 Cities to Live the Simple Life:
1. Tucson, Arizona
2. Greenville, South Carolina
3. Montpelier, Vermont
4. Logan, Utah
5. Ames, Iowa

--> 1. Tucson, Arizona

Vibe: Latin culture embraces Native American spirit, cowboy grit, and Sunbelt growth
Population: 525,500
Median housing price: $155,500
Average commute: 24 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 286 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Enjoying the cool breezes and plentiful hiking in the Santa Catalina Mountains, just north of town
Simple fun for less than $10: Drinking a beer at the Hotel Congress, where famous criminal John Dillinger was nabbed back in 1934
Who knew?: The saguaro cacti that grow all over Tucson have an average life span of 150 years.

It's hard to pin down residents on what exactly is so mesmerizing about this desert town, just an hour north of the Mexican border. Maybe it's the beautiful wilderness that rings the city, including about 1.8 million acres of the Coronado National Forest, with its 12 different mountain ranges. Or maybe it's the sweet smell of pan dulce that drifts from the Mexican bakeries. Or maybe it's the unique way the city's Mexican, Native American, and frontier roots have mingled to create a mosaic all its own. "This atmosphere just doesn't exist anywhere else—the people, the natural beauty, the cultural mix," says Elizabeth Rodriguez Miller, 55, who retired last year from her job as assistant city manager. "I feel lucky to live in a place where people can move so graciously from one culture to another." She and her husband, Marc, 57, also like the buzz of downtown—with its plentiful restaurants (a favorite is Casa Vicente), funky Fourth Avenue arts district, and world-renowned annual Mariachi Conference. And for simple pleasures, there's incomparable hiking and camping.

2. Greenville, South Carolina

Vibe: Family-friendly fun, from "penny candy" to goat-cheese pizza
Population: 59,000
Median housing price: $151,080
Average commute: 19 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 220 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Hiking the pristine mountain woodlands of Jones Gap State Park, just 25 miles outside Greenville
Simple fun for less than $10: Grabbing a cup of coffee or an ice-cream cone at Spill the Beans
Who knew?: Home to companies such as Fluor, BMW, and Michelin, the Greenville area claims one of the highest international-investment-per-capita levels in the nation.

Back in the late 1960s downtown Greenville was withering away, suffering the same fate that wiped out thousands of Main Streets. Now, thanks to 30 years of redevelopment—including a pedestrian-friendly Main Street, a performing arts center, condos, and the stunning Liberty Bridge—what was once a desolate stretch of offices is now a vibrant town center. The genius of Greenville's reinvention isn't just its downtown, though, but the way the city's center is linked to surrounding neighborhoods. Wide, walkable sidewalks make it an easy stroll for many residents, and the city has converted an abandoned rail line into a multiuse trail, linking neighborhoods, parks, and downtown. Margaret McJunkin, 73, a Greenville native, especially enjoys Cleveland Park, which borders her neighborhood. "I use the walking paths that wind along the river—there are flowering trees and a zoo," she says.



3. Montpelier, Vermont

Vibe: Norman Rockwell, with a twist of politics
Population: 7,800
Median housing price: $159,060
Average commute: 22 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 157 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: World-class skiing less than an hour away, at Stowe
Simple fun for less than $10: Sampling a pastry at La Brioche Bakery & Café
Who knew?: Montpelier is the only state capital without a McDonald's restaurant.

It may be the smallest capital city in the United States—one local official affectionately refers to the intersection of Main Street, home to City Hall, and State Street, with the capitol, as "the corner of 'Walk' and 'Don't Walk' "—but there's plenty to do in Montpelier. First, there's politics, the local sport, as residents keep track of what's going on in the legislature. (Insiders say Democrats tend to get their coffee at Capitol Grounds Café, while Republicans favor the Coffee Corner.) Then there's the city's active arts scene (locals say the town's relaxed pace and eclectic crowd fuel creativity). And music festivals abound. "On any given weekend I can listen to great local music—jazz, folk, Celtic fiddling—or I can see a play or go to a yard sale," says resident Roberta Harold, 56. "There's so much to do here, and the people are great. They're the kind of people who will come plow you out of a storm, no matter what."

4. Logan, Utah

Vibe: Pastoral with mountain escapes
Population: 48,000
Median housing price: $143,860
Average commute: 16 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 219 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Wandering among the wildflowers on Riverside Trail in the Logan Valley
Simple fun for less than $10: Heading to the Caffé Ibis, a tiny roasting house, and savoring a custom-blended coffee
Who knew?: Travel writers call Logan's Bear Lake the Caribbean of the Rockies, because of its bright turquoise color and white-sand beaches.

While Utah usually conjures up pictures of desert and rock, Logan is nestled in the heart of the green Cache Valley, a famous dairy region. It's never lost its rural Utah appeal, with its old-fashioned Mormon Tabernacle and ultraclean city square. But however much residents may love the town, they are quick to admit they're here mainly for the view. "Any day when I'm feeling frustrated, I just step out my front door and look at this beautiful mountain valley and instantly feel better," says Adrienne Akers, 59, who recently left her university research job to start a new business. She and husband Jim, 62, a consultant, have come to relish the plentiful opportunities for hiking and biking in the nearby Wasatch and Wellsville mountain ranges. Plus, they enjoy skiing. Beaver Mountain, a little-known gem, has all the great snow of other Utah resorts, but less of a crowd. "I've gotten attached to all the outdoor things I can do here," says Jim. "And it's all amazingly close."

5. Ames, Iowa

Vibe: Wholesome Americana
Population: 55,000
Median housing price: $159,270
Average commute: 17 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 202 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon: Paddling a canoe in Ada Hayden Heritage Park, where you may spot—besides hundreds of common birds—a short-eared owl or a summer tanager
Simple fun for less than $10: Touring Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University, where $7 ($6 for seniors) buys access to award-winning rose gardens and more
Who knew?: It recently ranked as the sixth-smartest city in the United States.

Ames is a gracious town—with broad lawns, leafy neighborhoods, pretty parks and ponds—and its distinctly rural flavor is the key to its urban charm. With its thrice-weekly farmers' markets, paddling options on the Skunk River, and 55 miles of city-maintained trails for avid bikers, runners, and walkers, Ames is a place for people who like wide-open spaces. "You can drive less than five minutes outside of town and you are really in the country," says Russ Cross, 53, a bank executive Maude's, serving up local meats, cheeses, and produce), and a pub with its own brew—adds to the charm. "I love that when I step outside my office on Main Street, it's such a clean little town," says Russ's wife, Beth, 51, president of a local marketing company. "It's one of the most welcoming places I've ever seen." The couple, who like to run on Ames's trails with their golden retriever, say they are a long way from retiring, but when they do, they can't imagine moving anywhere else. "There's just so much that I want to do right here," Beth says. in Des Moines, 30 miles away. The lively downtown area—including a long Main Street, fun restaurants.