Retirement is the time to treat yourself to some vacation time. With no time constraints, you can enjoy longer stays and slower travel, visiting multiple regions, different landscapes, or that national park you’ve always wanted to visit. You might also like the convenience of a destination resort, where meals and most activities are available on-site.
There are plenty of resorts designed for middle-aged and older adults, but if you plan to meet up with family, choose a resort with amenities for multigenerational groups. For many retirees, a good vacation offers a good balance of outdoor activities, health and wellness, and pampering, so we selected our locations based on these criteria. Whether you prefer a lush mountain retreat, a nostalgic coastal hideaway, or a charming desert oasis, here are nine of the best getaways in the U.S. for seniors.
Suncadia Resort, Cle Elum, Washington
Suncadia Resort
Nestled in the Cascade Mountains on the edge of Washington’s Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, this beautiful resort offers tranquil scenery, crisp mountain air and a variety of outdoor activities. Choose a lodge with panoramic river and mountain views or a luxury hotel or inn with golf course views.
Choose from a variety of activities at Suncadia Resort. Enjoy golf, hiking, archery, axe throwing and much more. Bikes, canoes and kayaks are also available for rent. If you prefer lighter activities, show off your artistic talents with an acrylic poling class. Start your day with a guided meditation or fitness class followed by a spa treatment. When the grandkids come to play, entertain them in the pool with two slides. This pet-friendly property means you can bring your pooch too.
Big Cedar Lodge, Ridgedale, Missouri
Big Cedar Lodge
This wilderness resort in the Missouri Ozark Mountains is surrounded by 4,600 acres of natural beauty. Big Cedar Lodge offers three styles of accommodation: rooms in private log cabins, luxury cottages, and glamping and cabins at Camp Long Creek.
Five golf courses and practice facilities include the 19-hole Payne’s Valley, the 9-hole Top of the Rock, the 13-hole Mountain Top, and two 18-hole courses, Buffalo Ridge and Ozark National. Go bowling, visit the arcade, or try your hand at the high ropes course at Fun Mountain. Fitness classes, exercise equipment, four pools, and personal trainers are available. Your grandkids will love the on-site lazy river and discovery center.
Lone Mountain Ranch, Big Sky, Montana
Lone Mountain Ranch
Lone Mountain Ranch is located in the Montana Rocky Mountains, near Yellowstone National Park and about an hour from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Stay in one of 25 historic log cabins, ranging from one to six bedrooms. The named cottages offer gorgeous forest views and feature wood-burning stoves, rustic furnishings, and full baths.
In true ranch style, backcountry trails and horseback rides led by experienced ranchers provide a memorable experience for riders of all ages. Hike with a naturalist guide, mountain bike or go fly fishing – all skill levels are welcome. If you’d like to explore the nearby lakes, canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are available. You can also hire an experienced guide to organize an excursion to Yellowstone National Park or save on entrance fees with a National Park Pass for Seniors. Outdoor yoga, archery and axe throwing are also options.
Mission Point, Mackinac Island, Michigan
Mission Points
At waterfront Mission Point, you can stay in the Main Lodge or Straits Lodge, the latter of which is dog-friendly. Accommodations range from cozy single rooms to the 1,500-square-foot Bois Blanc Suite, perfect for longer stays, with spacious living space and full kitchen and laundry facilities.
Designated a National Historic Landmark, Mackinac Island exudes a laid-back, old-fashioned vibe, in part because no cars are allowed on the island. The tiny island can be explored on foot or by motorized wheelchair in a few hours. Relax in an Adirondack chair on the resort’s spacious lawns, go for a bike ride, play tennis or just soak in the hot tub. You can also book experiences like craft and cooking workshops and spa treatments at Lakeside Spa and Salon. When you’re ready to explore, stroll downtown to sample the famous local fudge or book a horse-drawn carriage tour to be transported back to another era.
Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
Montage Palmetto Bluff
Montage Palmetto Bluff is a 20,000-acre community of two villages along the May River, complete with a marina, nature preserve and more. Accommodations include rooms, suites, cottages and residences with views of the moss-draped oaks and beautiful marshland. Guests may even choose to buy a home here.
Explore the surrounding waterways in a kayak or canoe, or take a boat tour to spot swimming dolphins. Practice both indoors and outdoors at the 120-acre shooting range. Tennis, bocce and pickleball courts are open and you can book lessons to improve your skills. Take a leisurely stroll or bike ride along the tree-lined trails. Planning a family trip? We have special programs for kids, including games, crafts, movies, treasure hunts and nature walks.
Cavallo Point, Sausalito, California
Cavallo Point
Cavallo Point, a converted military base, is located in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate from San Francisco. Located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the resort offers spectacular views, world-class dining and a variety of activities. Choose from rooms and suites in early 20th-century officer’s quarters or a contemporary building overlooking the old fort, some with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also rent an entire historic home with a private glass porch.
Spend your days on guided hikes, yoga classes, or sunset cruises, then spend your evenings huddled around the outdoor fire pit. Take in the views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline from the sky on a luxurious seaplane or helicopter tour. The resort’s Healing Arts Center & Spa offers a range of wellness treatments, and the on-site culinary school offers everything from global cooking classes to oyster and wine pairings.
Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort
If classic luxury is your vacation style, the Arizona Biltmore should be high on your list. Opened in 1929, this 39-acre property at the base of the Phoenix Mountain Reserve features 705 rooms (including 100 suites, 41 cottages and 56 villas) with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design that evokes Old Hollywood glamour.
The resort offers restaurants, a day spa, and seven pools, including one with a 65-foot waterslide. Guests can play golf, tennis, or pickleball, or the concierge can arrange activities like hot air ballooning, stargazing, biking, and hiking. Choose from a selection of therapies at Tierra Luna Spa, or join a yoga or aqua aerobics class. Don’t miss the Tequila Sunrise at the birthplace of the cocktail, the Light Bar.
Bungalows Key Largo, Key Largo, Florida
Bungalows Key Largo
Florida is one of the best states for retirement, but that doesn’t mean you can’t vacation closer to home. Bungalows Key Largo is an all-inclusive, adults-only resort where you can take part in a variety of activities or relax in a cabana by the pool. Stay in a waterfront room or one surrounded by lush gardens with a soaking tub and outdoor shower. Whichever view you choose, you’ll enjoy this tropical oasis.
Kayak, paddleboard or swim in the protected bay, where you might see manatees and dolphins swimming about. Don your snorkel gear and float among colorful native fish. Take a beachfront yoga class or work out at the full-service fitness Tiki Hut. If you just want to unwind, try Zen Garden Spa’s steam room, sauna or an indulgent massage in an outdoor treatment cabana. To cap off an active or relaxing day, sip a frozen cocktail and watch the sunset on a catamaran cruise.
Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego, California
Rancho Bernardo Inn
At Rancho Bernardo Inn, guest rooms, suites and specially designed accessible rooms are surrounded by lush gardens, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Private patios and balconies offer views of the gardens, spa or golf course. The resort’s 265 acres and San Diego’s perfect weather allow for outdoor dining and activities.
Play a round of golf on our manicured 18-hole course, relax poolside, or enjoy lawn games like cornhole, croquet, and oversized chess. Tour the Chef’s Garden to see where the restaurant’s fresh ingredients come from and get ideas for your own garden at home. Spend time at the spa, take a sunset yoga class, or arrange a private session. Get up close and personal with trained birds of prey during a private falconry experience. Kids will love the “dive-in movies” at the family pool, the fully equipped games room, and nearby San Diego attractions.
