Two Georgia Towns Among 'Best Places To Retire'

ATHENS, GA — If you're thinking about places to settle down in your golden years, there are two Georgia towns you may want to move to the top of your list.

Athens and Blue Ridge were among the 18 towns listed in Southern Living magazine's 2017 "Best Small Towns In The South To Retire."

"Ready to trade rush hour and conference calls for a golf cart and the local coffee house?" the magazine asks in its intro to the list. "Whether retirement is just around the corner or somewhere down the line, check out these Southern towns. They’re perfect for it."

In its entry on Athens, Southern Living mentions the college town's famous rock 'n' roll scene that has birthed such musical heavyweights as R.E.M., The B-52s and Widespread Panic.

It also notes local residents' ability to sign up for lifelong learning courses through the University of Georgia.

"Also: golf, biking, and Georgia Bulldog everything," the magazine notes.

The honor is becoming a regular thing for Athens.

For several years running, Athens has been named among the nation's best places to retire by Forbes magazine.

A couple of hours north near the North Carolina and Tennessee state lines, Blue Ridge features a brand of mountain living that captured Southern Living's attention.

"Watch hikers start (or finish) the Appalachian Trail at its southernmost point; hop the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway; or tube down the Toccoa River," the magazine writes.

Incorporated in 1886, Blue Ridge is the county seat of Fannin County and has a population of 1,290, according to the 2010 census. In addition to mountain views, the city has a downtown area full of shops and restaurants and is home to festivals and other activities for locals and tourists alike year-round.

It is also home to one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in Georgia — Swan Drive-In Theatre.

The other towns making Southern Living's "best towns to retire" list were:

• Aberdeen, Mississippi
• Abington, Virginia
• Auburn, Alabama
• Havre De Grace, Maryland
• Lewisburg, West Virginia
• Maryville, Tennessee
• Nachitoches, Louisiana
• New Bern, North Carolina
• Onancock, Virginia
• Ormond Beach, Florida
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Pawley's Island, South Carolina
• Pinehurst/Southern Pines, North Carolina
• Rogers, Arkansas
• San Marcos, Texas
• Summerville, South Carolina

To read the entire Southern Living list, click here.

Photos courtesy Athens-Clarke County, City of Blue Ridge