There’s a good reason Bend has made the “best places to retire” lists everywhere from Money magazine to BestBoomerTowns.com.

Actually, make that eight-zillion good reasons.

A couple dozen of them come in the form of golf courses scattered like emeralds around Central Oregon, with Golf Digest routinely touting Bend as a top place to tee off. Credit goes to the shield of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, which give us dry climate with plenty of sunshine.

Even for non-golfers, Bend is an active senior’s dreamland, with bountiful hiking trails and miles of singletrack and urban biking trails that offer something for every cyclist from electric bike enthusiasts to mountain bike fanatics. You’ll also find a jaw-dropping variety of water-based recreation whether you ski it in frozen form, or paddle it in a canoe or kayak.

You’ll also discover Bend has a vibrant arts and culture scene with plenty of art galleries and performing arts. Grab a craft beer at one of the breweries along the Bend Ale Trail before you set out to explore the city’s top-notch culinary scene and tons of great shopping. Oh yeah, did we mention there’s no sales tax in Oregon?

Even retirement communities look different in Bend. Facilities like The Alexander offer perks aimed at active seniors 55+, including an indoor pool, organized hikes, and on-site fire pits.

Not a bad place to call home.