Hidden On The Border Between Idaho And Washington Is A Stunning Alpine Lake Town Perfect For Retirees

Many long term residents of the Pacific northwest have become frustrated with the region's cost of living and housing prices, according to data collected by AARP. This has caused some nearing retirement to consider moving to another location for their golden years. Coeur d'Alene is an outdoor playground paradise that has been attracting seniors looking for a memorable quality of life.

The Lakeside Playground of the Pacific lies along Lake Coeur d'Alene, regarded as among the most gorgeous alpine lakes on earth. The city itself is both quaint and charming while still offering city amenities like a Costco Warehouse. Beyond the astonishing array of outdoors activities that the town is famous for, Coeur d'Alene boasts an interesting downtown, a casino, and year round festivals to enjoy.

Affordability is an issue that drives many seniors to a place like Coeur d'Alene. According to the AARP rankings, the town is regarded as among the best places for retirees to live affordably in the U.S. Those with a budget of $40,000 per year can live here comfortably in retirement.

Coeur d'Alene is a year-round tourist town that offers seniors living here a wide range of outdoor activities and indoor attractions. In the summertime, residents can partake of boating, parasailing, zip-lining, and hiking. The North Idaho Centennial Trail stretches for 23 miles, running from the Washington and Idaho state lines to Higgens Point six miles to Coeur d'Alene's east. Active retirees will love the trail that extends to Nine Mile Falls with its breathtaking views. Back in town, Coeur d'Alene offers the world's biggest floating boardwalk. There is also a wide range of golfing options available at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, The Club at Prairie Falls, StoneRidge Golf Course, and the Circling Raven Golf Club.

Winter season brings residents exciting activities including ice skating, skiing, and dinner boat cruises. CDA on Ice operates from the beginning of November to the end of January. Skiing Lookout Pass has been named the family-friendliest mountain resort in all of the Pacific Northwest by OnTheSnow. Lookout boasts an average of over 400 inches of snow each year.

Downtown Coeur d'Alene is a historic center founded in 1888. This entertainment and shopping area provides more than 125 restaurants and retail stores to peruse. The town itself offers outdoor and indoor performances from regional and local bands. In summertime, five separate parks host regular weekly musical acts. For the theater minded, the town's Summer Theatre presents four broadway musicals every summer. Coeur d'Alene also delivers big on festival fun with light shows, farmers markets, and classic car shows each year, per the town website.

With so many exciting activities and attractions available here, retirees might worry that Coeur d'Alene is not right for seniors or their fixed income budgets. This city of nearly 51,500 people lying a mere 33 miles from Spokane has surprisingly strong infrastructure for seniors, however.

The various civic organizations in Coeur d'Alene encourage seniors to volunteer. Among these is the Kootenai Health-Coeur d'Alene facility which also provides healthcare for retirees. The Lake City Center in town offers older adults hot lunches for only $4 and puts on a number of senior social events.

As far as costs to live in Coeur d'Alene, the charming active town lifestyle is surprisingly affordable. Median home prices here are only $247,700, according to AARP. This is less than the national average and cheaper than popular retirement destinations like Pearl City, Hawaii and Rhode Island.