Study Finds the Best Place to Retire in New Jersey

There’s a new study from US News that lists the top places to retire in America. You would think that most of these places, or at least the top locations on the list would be warm or somewhat tropical. Think again.

In fact, the closest city to warm in the article, Daytona Beach, Florida, landed at number eight on the list. It mentions fishing, racing, and golf, plus “museums, theaters, performing arts centers, antique markets, restaurants, malls, and colleges that combine to make it one of Florida's most well-rounded metro areas.”

The best New Jersey did was a number twenty rank with Trenton. Trenton, New Jersey is listed as the twentieth best place to retire. It cites that it “has a variety of modern attractions and entertainment, and its proximity to the Delaware River means locals can participate in aquatic sports and enjoy an assortment of wildlife.” It also mentions the city’s close proximity to New York and Philadelphia.

Philly landed thirteenth because, among other things, its “eclectic mix of modern lifestyles,” and its history, culture, art, music, museums, and galleries.

Here’s another interesting discovery about Pennsylvania. It also has seven of the top ten places listed including all of the top five in the top places to retire. Pennsylvania dominated with, counting down from number five, Allentown, PA, Scranton, PA, at four, three Lancaster, PA, Reading, PA, in at two, and Harrisburg landing at number one on the entire list. Why? Many reasons include its close proximity to Amish country, and hiking the Appalachian trail. Another advantage is that it “has a more affordable housing market and a lower cost of living than many of the East Coast's larger metro areas.”

New York almost hit the top five with a number six rank. They cite “some of the nation's tallest buildings and historic landmarks.” It also mentions how the city is a leader in trade and culture.

Christmas is a time to visit family and friends and get away from the daily grind. The holidays can be a wonderful time, but they can also be very expensive. From buying lots of Christmas gifts for family and friends to having to pay for plane tickets and travel, holiday expenses can really add up. But, the good news is that there are some affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.

One good thing about traveling during the winter months is that it's often the off-season for popular vacation destinations. Of course, the holidays are a busy travel time. That makes late December a difficult time to find a deal for travel. But, if you don't mind the cold and snow, some northern areas of the U.S. offer very good deals. That's true even during the Christmas season.

Some tips for finding a good deal for holiday vacationing include searching a lot of booking websites, comparing different hotel dates to find the most reasonable ones and finding bundle deals. Also, keep your eyes open for special deals on resorts and hotels that are just opening. That's because sometimes, during those opening months, new vacation spots try to attract a loyal clientele by offering special deals. One more tip is to search for airfare rates individually even if you are traveling as a couple or a group. If you put in a search for a group of tickets, the algorithms will often leave out information on one or two cheaper tickets being available. They'll just send you a group of tickets, sitting together, all at the same price. So, you might get a deal if you search for one ticket, instead.

So, what are the best affordable Christmas vacations in the U.S.? Here are some popular spots that won't break the bank.

Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it's a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage's Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name "Little Bavaria." Frankenmuth is also home to the world's biggest Christmas store.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It's a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won't break the bank.

You might never guess, but Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great spot for an affordable holiday trip. Think about it. Most people wouldn't think to go to "Sin City" for Christmas. Of course, it's much less the "sin" part these days, as Las Vegas offers fun activities for the whole family.

Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it's not as crowded as other times during the year. It's also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don't forget the many holiday markets.

Fort Myers, Florida, is a popular destination for snow birds. But, that's doesn't mean to skip it during the holidays. If you want to get away from the snow and ice, Fort Myers offers a great escape over Christmas and for prices that are more reasonable than in many other areas of Florida.

Boston, Massachusetts, gets cold in the winter, but it also has that classic Christmas charm. It's a big city with a smaller city feel during the holidays. What's more, it's a more affordable winter vacation destination than many other areas, and you won't have the fight the crowds.