4 • Logan, Utah
Vibe•Pastoral with mountain escapes
Population•
48,000
Median housing price•$143,860
Average commute•
16 minutes
Average number of sunny days•219 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon•Wandering
among the wildflowers on Riverside Trail in the Logan Valley
Simple fun for less than $10•Heading to the Caffé Ibis,
a tiny roasting house, and savoring a custom-blended coffee
Who knew?• Travel writers call Logan’s Bear Lake the
Caribbean of the Rockies, because of its bright turquoise
color and white-sand beaches.
WHILE UTAH USUALLY CONJURES UP pictures of desert and
rock, Logan is nestled in the heart of the green Cache Valley,
a famous dairy region. It’s never lost its rural Utah appeal,
with its old-fashioned Mormon Tabernacle and ultraclean
city square. But however
much residents may love
the town, they are quick
to admit they’re here
mainly for the view. “Any
day when I’m feeling
frustrated, I just step out
my front door and look at
this beautiful mountain
valley and instantly feel
better,” says Adrienne
Akers, 59, who recently
left her university research job to start a new
business. She and husband Jim, 62, a consultant, have come to relish the plentiful opportunities for hiking
and biking in the nearby Wasatch and Wellsville mountain
ranges. Plus, they enjoy skiing. Beaver Mountain, a little-known gem, has all the great snow of other Utah resorts, but
less of a crowd. “I’ve gotten attached to all the outdoor things
I can do here,” says Jim. “And it’s all amazingly close.”
PEN PALS Adrienne and Jim
Akers fell in love with Logan’s
outdoor opportunities.
50 AARP SEPTEMBER&OC TOBER 2009
SAFE AT HOME High schoolers celebrate a win.
5 • Ames, Iowa
Vibe•Wholesome Americana
Population•
55,000
Median housing price•$159,270
Average commute•
17 minutes
Average number of sunny days•202 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon•Paddling a
canoe in Ada Hayden Heritage Park, where you may spot—
besides hundreds of common birds—a short-eared owl or
a summer tanager
Simple fun for less than $10• Touring Reiman Gardens
at Iowa State University, where $7 ($6 for seniors) buys
access to award-winning rose gardens and more
Who knew?•It recently ranked as the sixth-smartest city
in the United States.
AMES IS A GRACIOUS TOWN—with broad lawns, leafy neighborhoods, pretty parks and ponds—and its distinctly rural
flavor is the key to its urban charm. With its thrice-weekly
farmers’ markets, paddling options on the Skunk River, and
55 miles of city-maintained trails for avid bikers, runners,
and walkers, Ames is a place for people who like wide-open
spaces. “You can drive less than five minutes outside of
town and you are really in the country,” says Russ Cross,
53, a bank executive in Des Moines, 30 miles away. The
lively downtown area—including a long Main Street, fun
restaurants (such as favorite Aunt Maude’s, serving up
local meats, cheeses, and produce), and a pub with its own
brew—adds to the charm. “I love that when I step outside
my office on Main Street, it’s such a clean little town,” says
Russ’s wife, Beth, 51, president of a local marketing company.
“It’s one of the most welcoming places I’ve ever seen.” The
couple, who like to run on Ames’s trails with their golden
retriever, say they are a long way from retiring, but when
they do, they can’t imagine moving anywhere else. “There’s
just so much that I want to do right here,” Beth says. ;
All demographic information provided by Bert Sperling of
bestplaces.net. For methodology, see aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle.
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