"There's something to be said for waking up to the sun every day," says 55-year-old Debbie Douglas. Coming from a cloudy Seattle suburb, she and her husband Larry, 58, made good weather a high priority when considering retirement destinations. After several back injuries, Debbie wanted a drier climate that would be easier on her joints; Larry wanted year-round access to golfing and hiking. They found all of the above in Prescott.

Located 100 miles north of Phoenix, at an elevation of 5,400 feet, Prescott splits the weather difference between snowier Flagstaff and the sweltering southern part of the state. Here the average July high is 90°F, the average January high is 52°, and the humidity is generally moderate. It's no wonder that Prescott attracts retirees who enjoy being outdoors, as the Douglasses do. Larry has his choice of more than half a dozen golf courses, and the Prescott National Forest offers 450 miles of trails among acres of ponderosa pine.

Locals also enjoy attending outdoor events on the lawn of the Courthouse Plaza; meeting at the saloon-style bars and restaurants that line historic Whiskey Row; and catching plays at the Prescott Fine Arts Association, housed in an old Catholic church. Other pluses for retirees: small colleges that offer lifelong learning classes, three hospitals (one a VA medical facility), a recently expanded library and a new adult center opening this fall.

The area's appeal is reflected in its housing prices, which are higher even than in booming Phoenix—the average three-bedroom, two-bath home is $390,000. But property taxes are relatively low, and seniors enjoy some state breaks. Residents over 65 who meet certain income requirements, for instance, can freeze the current tax assessment on their home.

Another plus: You will probably save money on landscaping. Despite its mild climate, Prescott is still desert, which means you may not even have grass to mow. Says transplant Jane Bristol, the town's economic development director: "Back in Michigan, we were very much into whose lawn looked better. I know a number of people here who don't miss that aspect of their lives very much."

Settled by Dutch immigrants in the mid-1800s, Holland takes its heritage seriously. The downtown candy shop imports salty licorice from the Netherlands, Walgreens sells clogs, and the Tulip Time festival is the biggest event of the year. But retirees needn't know their Edam from their Gouda to appreciate all the area has to offer.

Situated on the shores of an inland lake that connects to Lake Michigan, Holland is full of summer fun for beachgoers and sailing aficionados. Granted, it isn't warm here in the winter—the average January high is 30°—but there is plenty to do indoors. Those who are seeking community can find it at one of the area's 175 churches or at Evergreen Commons, a 4,000-member senior center that sponsors everything from bridge clubs to computer classes.

Downtown, a five-block stretch along Eighth Street, is a thriving area of independent shops and restaurants. (Foot traffic in this strip does slow in the frigid winter months, but at least it doesn't slip: The sidewalks and streets are heated to melt snow.) Close by, you'll also find big-box stores and a small private hospital. And with Grand Rapids a mere 25 minutes away, you're not far from more comprehensive medical facilities and an international airport.

Amenities aside, a move here made strict financial sense to Bruce and Linda Adair, formerly of Colorado Springs. After investigating year-round boating communities in Florida, the avid sailors found Holland a much better buy. Though the property tax rate is high (about $16 per $1,000 of market value), housing prices remain fairly low ($160,000 for the typical three-bedroom house). And the couple are eligible for generous state income tax relief, which exempts up to $38,000 of pension income per person.

The Adairs continue to be pleasantly surprised by the town's other advantages. Though he's just 59, Bruce discovered something he liked at the senior center: an expansive wood shop and talented octogenarians willing to teach. "People here have been very friendly," he says. "In that way, it's a true small town."

Walking through the center of Williamsburg, Va. is like living history—literally. Colonial Willamsburg, a functioning restoration of an 18th-century British colonial capital, makes up the heart of the town. And of its roughly 900 volunteers, approximately 85% are retirees. Besides being a revolutionary way to spend one's golden years, "it's a great way to make friends," says Bettie Olsen, 69, who helps out as a tour guide.

Of course, you've got to like—or at least tolerate—the heritage shtick to make this place home. Here restaurant servers wear breeches and petticoats; the likes of George and Martha Washington wander through the Historic Area; and passers-by routinely hear fife and drum music. But Williamsburg does have many modern-day comforts. There are three airports and seven hospitals within an hour's drive. You can golf almost year round at one of the 15 courses; you can take classes at the College of William and Mary for $75 a semester; or you can shop till you drop at one of the multitude of local malls.

There's quite a bit of development under way in the once sleepy city and its surrounding counties; critics argue that it's becoming too built up. The growth is in part because more retirees are moving in—15% of residents are 60 or older. Housing prices have risen as a result. Tourism revenue helps keep property taxes very low in Williamsburg proper, although the taxes on a typical three-bedroom home can go as high as $2,400 just outside the city limits.

The full-timers we met, who say there's a strong sense of community among locals, don't seem bothered by the constant camera-toting visitors. "We enjoy them," says Tom Bourke, 59, who moved here from New Jersey with his wife, Dolores, 58. "It's more of a melting pot than New York." Then too, Williamsburg's attractions and location—halfway down the eastern seaboard and an hour from the ocean—mean the couple never lack for houseguests. Says Dolores: "We're a perfect meeting place."

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