Need some suggestions for retirement options in MN (Duluth, Rochester: ski resort, rentals)

[massdane]

My husband and I are looking at relocation options when he retires within a year or so. We currently live in NW Arkansas, but are looking for our "ideal."
He and I both are outdoorsy, and enjoy hiking, canoeing, motorcycling, bicycling and camping. However, we'd like to get away from the heat and humidity of this area, as well as the critters (chiggers, ticks, snakes, etc).

He lived in St Paul area for 30 years, and I've lived in both Massachusetts and Oregon, so we're both familiar with cold winters. I wouldn't mind living someplace where I could get back into crosscountry skiing...

He'll be retired, but I'll need to work for quite a few years yet. We need someplace fairly touristy, since I've worked for 14 years as a licensed massage therapist and need spa work. We'd like a small town on a river or lake. Other "ideals" include being able to walk/ride a bike to downtown area, a good library, and amenities such as a coffee shop, variety of restaurants (we're both vegetarians), and a decent gym!

We're also looking at OR and WI. As much as I love OR, it's definitely more expensive to buy a home there and much farther from our kids (AR and MN, primarily). So, those of you familiar with MN...any ideas?

All suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ScranBarre]

It's not really small at around 85,000, but Duluth sounds like a good option for you to consider. This city sits along the shore of Lake Superior and has attractive neighborhoods with a rebounding downtown area. There is some tourist activity from Twin Cities residents who head up there mostly in the summer time to enjoy the lake. Duluth and its nearby environs contain an aquarium, a university, mall/big-box stores, a symphony orchestra, a ballet company, an annual blues festival, a ski resort, and many more outdoor-oriented amenities. Further up the Lake Superior shoreline from Duluth is Grand Marais, a very small tourist town not far from the Canadian border in rural Cook County.

I've also heard wonderful things about Winona and Red Wing which sit east of Rochester along the Mississippi River, but I'm not very familiar with those communities. I've done extensive research on Duluth though since I was considering moving there from Scranton, PA for some time after college, and from what I could tell it met all of my needs (and I'm a very discerning individual when it comes to selecting a city!)

Best of luck to you!

[golfgal]

Near the Twin Cities I would suggest you look into Stillwater. It would have everything you need. I am pretty sure there is a spa there otherwise most Chiropractors around here use massage therapists as well as many physical therapy/sports medicine clinics.

If you want more of a resort area look into the Brainerd Lakes area. You will find many, many golf resorts in that area and many have added spas. Your choice of restaurants will be mostly at the various resorts but still plentiful.

There are chiggers and ticks in MN too though.

[rhartong]

My husband and I are also considering Duluth as our retirement home!

I went to school there (UMD) and lived there for a few years after and I have many fond memories of hiking along the Chester River and sitting on the rocks looking out at the lake on warm summer days.

My husband is into sailing and, hey, you can't get more adventurous inland sailing anywhere else in the country than Lake Superior!

The other factors that make Duluth so appealing to us are:

1. Good medical care
2. Good educational resources (UMD, St. Scholastica, etc)
3. Reasonably good restaurants
4. Good shopping resources for stuff you don't want to buy online
5. Enough SERIOUS WILDERNESS reasonably nearby to satisfy my hunger for hiking in the woods
6. A friendly environment for the arts (I'm a musician)

I'm a vegetarian too and, even 30 years ago when I lived there, Duluth had reasonable dining options for a vegetarian. More recent visits have revealed that there are plenty of vegetarian choices available now.

The weather isn't at all an issue for me but my husband, who has never lived anywhere with serious winter weather, is nervous about it. I keep telling him all you have to do is just put on a warmer jacket and you're fine! ;-)

[massdane]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've looked at Duluth, and my husband says it's really pretty. His only concern is that it is much colder than St Paul area, and it's so far removed. But, sounds like it's worth checking out.

I've been to Winona and Red Wing, and agree that they're both beautiful areas. However, after researching some, I realize that there is simply not enough work for me there. But, lovely areas.

Thanks for your help...guess we'll check out Duluth more...I do know that they have a nice dayspa there. And, will start checking out Stillwater too. Brainerd area doesn't appeal too much since we really like more hilly, wooded areas.

[golfgal]

The Brainerd area is pretty much all cut out of pine forests. It isn't super hilly but it is very lovely and wooded.

[massdane]

Wow, didn't realize that...from the few pix I saw it appeared to be very flat. I'll give it another look then, and thanks!

[golfgal]

There is a great bike trail from Brainerd to Bemidji along an old rail road route too--the Paul Bunyan Trail.

[bunny100]

I'm retiring in early '09 and have decided on sauk centre, mn... lovely place..

[molochai2580]

How about the Rochester area? Lots of opportunity for a massage degree with the Mayo Clinic here. Rochester has a huge variety of resteraunts and about 4 to 5 different gyms. It's about 25 minutes from the nearest campground that does canoe rentals. It has wonderful bike trails and walking trails.