Forget Florida, Retire To North Carolina's Coastal Retreat With A Vibrant City, Gardens, And Beaches

Florida doesn't have a monopoly on beaches or great places to retire. If you aren't enchanted by the idea of spending your golden years by the beach, you might want to consider North Carolina. Long a popular state for retirees, Wallethub ranks it as the 13th best state to retire in, and according to the Census Bureau, it has over 2 million residents over the age of 65. If your heart was set on living that beach bum lifestyle, North Carolina has you covered, with over 300 miles of shoreline directly on the ocean. New Hanover County, at the state's southern coastline, is an especially good option; it has one of the state's biggest and most historic cities, along with a strip of beautiful beaches.

The data backs up that New Hanover is one of the state's best retirement counties. Stacker recently ranked the county 12th in the state for retirees, based on data from Niche, including cost of living, health care access, and more. Niche itself ranks the county 24th for retirees in the state. The median home value is $387,800, slightly above the national average.

New Hanover's county seat is Wilmington, a city of over 125,000 with a fascinating history and vibrant culture. It was a major port that was fought over in one of the last major battles of the Civil War; Fort Fisher can be toured today. In the late 20th century, it became a popular filming spot for Hollywood, and you might recognize it from "Dawson's Creek," "One Tree Hill," "Blue Velvet," and "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." And, as the home to the University of North Carolina Wilmington and its 20,000 students, it also has the buzz and activity of a college town, with a bustling arts scene, including museums, galleries, and live music. Whether you live in Wilmington or one of the towns that surround it, New Hanover will keep you busy — especially if you love gardens.

New Hanover's Arboretum is a free, beautifully maintained collection of gardens, each with its own theme and purpose. Since opening in 1989, the Arboretum has been dedicated to showing what kinds of plants grow best in this region. Guided tours are available upon request, and although it's open to the public seven days a week, it does occasionally close for private events, so call before heading out. It's worth the trip; its manicured tableaus are as visually impressive as any art museum, and altogether it makes up Wilmington's top-rated free-to-visit attraction.

The Arboretum's 12 demonstration gardens start with the Tribute Garden. You enter beneath a lush canopy of crape myrtles, a tree that does best in warm weather and thus is found throughout the South. The Horticulture Showcase Garden displays the breeding work of a North Carolina State professor who strives to develop ornamental plants that can easily adapt to this region. There's also a Japanese garden, complete with a tea house, Torii gates, and a stream shaped like a dragon, and the Camellia Walk, where the colorful flowers bloom around an original sculpture. The Contemplation Garden honors the military and gives members, veterans, and family a place for quiet reflection, and there's a garden for kids to explore, another built to attract pollinators, and a gathering garden that holds classes for the public.

You can help support the Arboretum while also getting discounts at other gardens across North America by joining the Friends of the New Hanover County Arboretum. Something akin to an annual pass or seasonal membership, it gets you discounts at almost two dozen local stores and restaurants. You can help your grandkids learn more about botany with an Explorer Backpack, which is free and has educational activities for children between kindergarten and eighth grade.

The Atlantic beaches in New Hanover have been popular tourist spots for decades, and the same qualities also make them wonderful places to retire. Towns like Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Kure Beach combine the leisure and excitement of a beach vacation with the slower pace of life often found in small Southern towns. 

Kure Beach is a favorite among the three towns: It's the furthest from Wilmington, but the closest to the Civil War fortress overlooking North Carolina's coast, Fort Fisher. There's also an excellent aquarium and recreation area that share the same name. The town also has a scenic century-old pier for fishing, sightseeing, or strolling in the warm ocean breeze. There's a cool arcade still open near the pier, and across the street is Big Daddy's Restaurant — a long-standing Kure Beach institution for fried seafood.

Neighboring Carolina Beach is one of the best beach towns in North Carolina. Your grandchildren will want to visit its classic boardwalk in the summer, where you can enjoy rides, fireworks, and treats from Britt's Donuts. If you're looking for something a little slower and less family-focused, Wrightsville Beach offers water activities for all ages, as well as shopping and dining. And of course, all three beach towns feature the most basic elements you'd hope to see: sand, sun, and surf. The only thing you might have to worry about with New Hanover's beaches is the occasional hurricane or those swelling crowds during the busiest times of summer.