Looking for the perfect town to retire in a la "Northern Exposure"

If you want a nice Mountain Town, Pinedale Wyoming is great. More lakes then you could shake a stick at. I love Kanab Utah, that's where I would like to end up, with a summer home in Pindale.

I spend a lot of time in Kanab and like it a lot, LOVE the surrounding area, just worry it may be a little too religiously conservative. Though it seems to be picking up as a retirement destination for the outdoorsily inclined, which may help. If I can afford it I'd spend summers here in San Diego, the rest of the year in a mountain town (to be determined in the next few years!).
 
Missoula is a great place, although much larger compared to the smaller places you are considering. If I ever move back to Montana, I'd like to live in Whitefish. Just a stones throw from Glacier.

It'd still be small to me (San Diego is the 9th largest city in the U.S.). Missoula has the University of Montana (I believe) which would be nice to have nearby. Like I said, it's going to be fun visiting these towns in the next few years and exploring them!
 
Southwest CO ain't bad. We moved to Pagosa Springs, CO about 8 years ago from OH. We are about an hour east of Durango which is also a great town. My son goes to Fort Lewis College and loves Durango. I think the San Juans are the most spectacular range in the Rockies. Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, Santa Fe, Taos are easy day trips. Moab is about 3-4 hours away. Wolf Creek Ski area is 25 miles to the east. Pagosa Springs is home to the deepest hot springs in the world and the San Juan river runs through town. Not bad when compared to OH.
 
I really don't know anything about the town or the people but I love the rolling cedar covered hills of Dove Creek CO.
I have day dreamed of buying property on the edge of a canyon with a view. Near enough to everything I still have to explore.
 
I remember an old timer tell me that he would rather be gut shot than live in Milford UT.
 
I'd rather live in Utah than Colorado ..............................:) Lived in Flagstaff a lot of years, but it's kinda crazy now.

I actually retired in Ogden.........but building a house and moving to island Park, Idaho
 
I don't know all of those, but I particularly concur with a few of these [edited for my most 'thumbs-uppy' choices]:

Here's my list as it stands now, in no particular order. Some of them made the list from some weird confluence of events, and may not be that good after all. And some of them are just the closest town to areas that I liked.

Red Lodge, MT
Cashiers, NC
Hendersonville, NC
Kalispell, MT
Bozeman, MT
Ketchum, ID
Roan Mountain, TN/NC
 
What about Stanley Idaho? Population, 20, give or take a dozen. Officially the coldest gawddamn town in the lower 48 (and I so hate that), but man, what a cute little town, with INCREDIBLE access (Sawtooths, WhiteClouds, FrankChuch/BighornCrags, plus the Middle Fork! [Salmon] We got hit with a surprise snowstorm during a backpack there, and had to abort our 70 mile route after about 30 miles, but we were able to soak in hot springs with awesome views of the snow-covered peaks for the remaining days. There are hot springs all over the place there.

If only it weren't so cold...... *sigh*
 
Some of the best mountain scenery in the country. I spend a couple of weeks in that neck of the wood each summer. I have a cousin (Tom) who lives in Stanley through the summer months. He happens to be a full time gold miner with a couple of gold claims he works during the summer and then he heads to Arizona in the winter to work a couple of claims he has there. He's a colorful fella to say the least. The family joke is you have to say hello before you know who your talking with Tom, Thomas or Tommy. He's a hell of a nice guy. My brother in-law also lives in the Ketchum/Sun Valley area. We do a couple of backpacking trips each summer up that way. I think Tom has is it figured out Summers in the mountains and desert in the winters.
 
After several years exploring most Colorado from I 70 to the WY border (courtesy of the USFS), a couple of years with the Manti LaSal in UT, and scattered jobs in WY, NV, ID, I didn't ponder the question that came out of the blue while in working in Price. Do you want a position at MT State University? Lived the dream the next 35 years in Bozeman and have absolutely no intentions of moving. Not the quaint place it used to be but still very nice and an absolute plethora of outdoor opportunities close at hand.
 
I'm very thankful my town hasn't made the lists. It's so easy for a nice town to become popular then become a swarming mass of Lycra clad techies
 
Moab, UTy
Flagstaff, AZ
Torrey, UT

I haven't been to Torrey in over 30 years but these three don't seem even remotely like the fictional Cicely.

On a real Cicely scale I'll suggest:

Dubois, WY: Pinedale has a major ozone problem and lots of socio-economic problems with all the energy workers. I'm biased and although Dubois is conservative and for the most part anti-wolf it probably has more culture than any other place 75 miles from the nearest stoplight I also think that the stretch of highway from a dozen miles East of Dubois ["Do Boys"] to Togwotee Pass 30 miles West of Dubois is the most diverse landscape of the Rocky Mt. West going from towering red Badlands to the largest glaciers outside of Oregon in less than a dozen miles and under towering Alpine peaks on Togwotee.

Buena Vista, CO: A bit bigger than Dubois with lots of ammenities and an incredible area between Leadville, and Salida.

Crestone, CO: Tiny but a great community with more religous tolerance than you may see anywhere else in this country. Growing, some decent restaurants, etc., but IMO the most spectacularly beautiful town in all of Colorado with some of the greatest hiking I've ever done rising spectacularly to the East in what I think is Colorado's most spectacular Range. My disagreement is of course respectful; the Juans have some nice places, but I'd never stack the Needles or any other part of the Juans up against most of the Sangres, Tetons, Winds, Absaroka, etc.

Westcliffe, CO: Other side of the Sangres from Crestone. Bigger, and only an hour to Pueblo and hour and half to the Springs if you want more culture within your grasp.

Saratoga, WY: Just west of the magnificent Snowy Range, just north of Colorado's Gore Range and more.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

More in line with your initial list:

Salida, CO: IMO the greatest town of the Rockies. Larger, incredible area.....
Silver City, NM: Warm winters, just south of the ....
Pagosa Springs, CO: Although I'm not a bigger fan of the San Juans the Upper Rio Grande and the "Why men ooch" are awesome.
Santa Fe, NM: With Flagstaff on your list I see this as a better alternative with a much greater variety of outdoor recreation.
Livingston, MT: Just watch Rancho Deluxe.
Jackson, WY: Lots of people in Wyoming say they hate us but most of them are just jealous or put off by us being a "blue" county. Traffic can be bad some weekends in the summer, but NEVER as bad as Taos, NM. This area has more culture than any TOWN I've ever been to. If all you can see is traffic and tourists then it's not for you. If you like superlative dining, a great Center for the Arts, a truly giving community, and arguably the most spectacular gateway to the greatest mammalian habitat of the Temperate Zone .

Bob, don't hate me for my honest disagreement. We're all different and with all due respect there is no way in Hades I'd rather live in Utah than Colorado. Utah has more Bundystani whackjobs than any other state IMO, lots of people deceitfully raising money to purportedly get control of Federal Lands they darn well know they will NEVER be able to do. Although Salt Lake City is an exponentially better city than it was not long ago Colorado has one of the country's best economies and the progressive thinking of the Front Range outside of Colorado Springs makes for serious culture far beyond anything Utah has ever offered. In short, IMO Colorado is far more conducive to people invested in community and that don't appreciate the self-absorbed. If you're a teabagger Utah is a good choice outside of SLC just as much of Colorado is beyond the Front Range and Summit County. The influence of LDS in Utah is something quite unAmerican and IMO should alarm anyone that truly believes they are a free thinker.
 
Really? I love it here! This was my first choice for a city that I wanted to move to...but I didn't wait for retirement since none of us are guaranteed tomorrow...I'm living my life now :)
I admire your not waiting for retirement. I want to move from Florida to either CO or the pacific nw (family up there). But it's a huge undertaking and big risk. I hope i find the courage you had to make the move sooner rather than later.
 
What about Stanley Idaho? Population, 20, give or take a dozen. Officially the coldest gawddamn town in the lower 48 (and I so hate that), but man, what a cute little town, with INCREDIBLE access (Sawtooths, WhiteClouds, FrankChuch/BighornCrags, plus the Middle Fork! [Salmon] We got hit with a surprise snowstorm during a backpack there, and had to abort our 70 mile route after about 30 miles, but we were able to soak in hot springs with awesome views of the snow-covered peaks for the remaining days. There are hot springs all over the place there.

If only it weren't so cold...... *sigh*
Sun Valley/Ketchum/Bellevue.......not much farther to the things you list... Go the other way about 4 hours and it's Island Park.... then Yellowstone, Tetons, Bitteroots, Gallatins, Tobaccos, etc.....
 
I've actually given some thought to this too. I grew up in NM and have given thought to going back, but unless you're within reasonable driving range of the Rio Grande valley any place there is remote. In my experience, remote in NM isn't really like remote in other places. Outsiders usually aren't very welcome and I don't really want to deal with that. I think my preference would be somewhere on the western slope in CO. Although its a tourist place I really like Glenwood Springs. But Grand Junction and Montrose would definitely be on the list for consideration. Its not really on the western slope, but I like the San Luis valley. All of the towns there remind me of NM, and it feels like home whenever I go there. So, South Fork, Del Norte, Monte Vista, and Alamosa. Since I grew up a short walk from a hippie commune, I feel right at home in Crestone with all of the kindred spirits there. That would have a lot attraction for me since I think the Sangres are the best mountains in CO, but I probably couldn't afford to live in Crestone.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Tarp Boy Looking for Shuttle service for Uintas Granddaddy basin trip Trip Planning 0
Stephanie Help! Looking for a 1-2 day trip Backpacking 9
Normie Invite Looking for shuttle partner -- two trips in Southern Utah Meet Up (Members Only) 5
F Looking for tent recommendations Gear 20
ghsmith76 Looking for best multi-day Backpacking Trips near Livingston, MT Trip Planning 6
TeamJenkins17 Looking for info on Clark Creek drainage/Pierpont Pass into Hidden Basin in the Washakie Wilderness Trip Planning 5
chebba87 Invite Looking for partner - Yellowstone late August Meet Up (Members Only) 1
Jamesoutside life Looking for backpacking buddy montana aug/sept Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
IlVagabondo Looking for a ~30 mile loop in the Scapegoat/Bob Trip Planning 2
Mormadmom New and looking for an adventure Noobs: Introduce yourself! 7
Happyidiot Looking for camping spot close to Denver. General Discussion 2
montanaclimber Looking for bob Marshall recommendation Backpacking 1
U Favorite sites in Glacier in North Fork, Lake McDonald or Cole/Nyack? Looking at mid july Trip Planning 2
Contra Looking at buying a used travel trailer opinions wanted. General Discussion 16
U Favorite Yellowstone Gallatin Mtn Area Campsite? Looking at WD5, WE7 and that area Trip Planning 5
U Glacier North Circle Loop Mid July - Looking for an alternative back-up plan for a 3-4 nighter Trip Planning 0
fossana BLM looking for input on accelerating grazing permits (comment through 6 Mar) General Discussion 2
Benjamin Hayden Looking for good hike away from people in Sedona in mid-February Trip Planning 3
Kullaberg63 Super short notice: Looking for Winds partner Meet Up (Members Only) 4
Perry My First Multi-day Solo this Weekend - Looking for some Beta Trip Planning 0
M Looking for friends and a partner Noobs: Introduce yourself! 0
M Novice Backpacker looking for a 5-6 trip in July! Noobs: Introduce yourself! 3
sydissoocool Looking for a backpacking buddy for Uinta Highline Trail Noobs: Introduce yourself! 6
swmalone Looking for a new bike helmet Gear 5
Perry Looking at new trail runners: Altra Lone Peak or Hoka Stinson ATR? Gear 22
ADubs Looking for info from anyone who has done the Egypt loop and exited via 25mile wash (Escalante). Trip Planning 3
Jazzy Joe Looking for Escalante Area Short Backpacking Suggestions Early Spring Trip Planning 21
Benjamin Hayden Looking for advice on Maze District, Canyonlands Trip Planning 1
swmalone Looking for Info On How to Access Newfoundland Mountains Trip Planning 1
Laura Looking to avoid photographers Trip Planning 10
Elli Morris Looking for non-petroleum gear options Noobs: Introduce yourself! 4
dhertbag Looking for info on Death Hollow Trip Planning 13
swmalone Looking for Assistance to Introduction to Escalante Area Trip Planning 4
fiber Looking for backpacking/hiking/mtbing partners Meet Up (Members Only) 2
J Looking for backpacking partners Meet Up (Members Only) 3
C looking for the secret society of pictographs ..... Trip Planning 14
swmalone Looking for Softshell/snowshoeing pant suggestions Gear 6
C Looking for HCL 1901 Rock in Old Womans Wash Utah Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Burrito Looking for moderate route in the wind rivers Trip Planning 8
mpuchtel Looking to give and receive trip advice Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Kullaberg63 Looking for experienced seamstress General Discussion 4
P Noob looking for solitary beauty in canyon lands, san rafael, escalante Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Nico Wind River - Looking for fish (of the Golden variety) Trip Planning 9
trantelica Looking for a good trail for scouts Trip Planning 3
Mike Jones Looking to by my first real camera Photography 0
Jenece Mordt Looking for a unique hike Trip Planning 9
natylka New to the site! Looking for people to hike and backpack with. Noobs: Introduce yourself! 11
Michael B Looking for Utah backpacking recommendation for early spring Trip Planning 11
J Back again, looking for different access points for Death Hollow...... Trip Planning 9
jdgibney Quick Southwest trip Jan 14-18 - Looking for suggestions Trip Planning 3

Similar threads

Back
Top