Memphis A Great Place to Retire

When it comes to a retirement community, you'll find plenty of options and reasons to select Memphis. Of course, retirees need more than a nice climate and a place to live. The amenities and resources for retirees are plentiful in the Memphis region. Memphis abounds in recreation centers, places to find delicious food, opportunities to volunteer, and many other activities for seniors.

The local government and churches have activities and outreach programs geared specifically towards seniors. However, if you're not overly fond of the city life, there are senior orientated communities a short drive from the city that will appeal to you while keeping you close enough to the city hub to take advantage of what it has to offer.

Senior Living Options in Memphis

There are over a 100 senior living specific communities in Memphis. These range from independent living facilities to fully staffed nursing homes. Individuals have very different ideas about what makes an ideal living environment for their golden years. Many do desire the mild climate of the southeast but that is only the beginning of choices. Some want the companionship that comes with a wealth of organized activities while others seek out solitude.

Whether it's golfing, playing shuffleboard, playing tennis, or simply going for a walk, baby boomers have a strong interest in sports. Memphis has plenty to offer when it comes to being a spectator at professional and college sport venues. Among them are the Memphis Grizzlies (basketball) and Memphis Redbirds (baseball). The University of Memphis offers football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and track.

Other Entertainment Options in Memphis

Besides the well-known restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in Memphis, there are many other entertainment venues that appeal to the older crowd. These include Ballet Memphis, Opera Memphis, the Memphis Symphony, Playhouse on the Square, and Theater Memphis.

For seniors on a tighter budget, there are plenty of free activities to get involved with. Highlights include published free days at the National Civil Rights Museum, the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, and dozens of other popular destinations. Other free scenic places, often over looked by long time residents, include the Mississippi river where you'll find grassy banks, bumpy cobblestones, and paved walkways along the riverside that accommodate a variety of activities. Favorite activities along the Mississippi include watching the sunsets and nighttime strolls.

The Wolf River Nature Area is another of Memphis' less known charms. This nature area is just off Germantown Road where you'll find tree lined walking paths and several nature stations with information about wildlife conservation and other tidbits about its long history. The Art Museum of the University of Memphis offers free admission six days a week.

You've heard of the Hollywood Walk of Stars where the famous From Hollywood have a star and their name embedded in the sidewalk. However, Memphis is all about music. Here you're able to walk the Beale Street Walk of Fame where many of Memphis' finest musicians are honored with musical notes embedded in the sidewalk. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens specializes in Impressionist and Post-impressionist paintings and decorative arts complete with beautiful, thriving gardens. Admission is free on Saturday mornings and "pay what you can" on Tuesdays.

For those that enjoy antiquing, there are few better places than the Midtown/Cooper Young neighborhood where you'll find everything from precious estate jewelry to riches from the south to European furnishings.

Memphis has a treasure trove of activities appealing to seniors. The city and region is consistently rated in the top five places for those in their golden years.

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Author bio: Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 30 years and writing about real estate investing for seven years. He also draws upon 25 plus years of business experience including 12 years as a manager at Boeing Aircraft Company. Brian currently lives at Lake Cushman, Washington. A vacation destination, a few short miles from a national forest in the Olympic Mountains with the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles in the opposite direction.