Where to Retire in Minnesota Active 55+ Canoe bike + arts (Duluth: best towns, home)

[hebell]

My husband and I are very active, though a knee injury from my youth limits us to bike trips not exceeding 30 miles in a day, with not too much hills. (My pride is preventing me from e-assist.... not yet).

We have a Wenonah canoe, and this has been a hobby for years.
As we've aged, we invested in a lighter Kevlar model, so we prefer river trips and small lakes. Not big open bodies of water and no significant rapids.

Plus we like forest walks.

We'd like to be near the arts - live performance, jazz, modern dance, young aspiring artists, theatre (particularly small theatre, experimental theatre).

So, where are the best spots that combine arts + bikes + canoe?
Don't so much care about fine restaurants and all that, but know it's usually to be found near arts centers. I have no problem cooking.

I don't need a steady diet of culture. But I am SO TIRED of having to drive 2 hours to see a good live performance.

Love the cold, temperature is not a problem.
Any best towns?

Or should we stick to the twin cities?
If there, where would we meet other people between 55-65?

[demtion35]

Originally Posted by hebell

My husband and I are very active, though a knee injury from my youth limits us to bike trips not exceeding 30 miles in a day, with not too much hills. (My pride is preventing me from e-assist.... not yet).

We have a Wenonah canoe, and this has been a hobby for years.
As we've aged, we invested in a lighter Kevlar model, so we prefer river trips and small lakes. Not big open bodies of water and no significant rapids.

Plus we like forest walks.

We'd like to be near the arts - live performance, jazz, modern dance, young aspiring artists, theatre (particularly small theatre, experimental theatre).

So, where are the best spots that combine arts + bikes + canoe?
Don't so much care about fine restaurants and all that, but know it's usually to be found near arts centers. I have no problem cooking.

I don't need a steady diet of culture. But I am SO TIRED of having to drive 2 hours to see a good live performance.

Love the cold, temperature is not a problem.
Any best towns?

Or should we stick to the twin cities?
If there, where would we meet other people between 55-65?

There should be no doubt, since you already do that stuff in the Twin Cities, then Duluth would be the choice given what you have talked about in the above. In Duluth, with a canoe, you are only two hours away or less than that even, to remote lakes, small bodies of water, and wilderness lakes, and wilderness trails. Also, there are so many bike trails to chose from, ranging from paved to compact dirt, rock, and riding remote forest roads that are not hard to get to. IT is very easy to load up the bikes, and head a few hours north, and get into some or should say many route choices that are easily 20 to 30 mile loops, or less, on less traveled roads, that wind through deep forest. From what you describe canoeing is so attainable. There are so many places to go, with the canoe, Most of which are no more than a few hours away, for an easy day trip.
Pictographs are easily reached destinations. There are so many small inland lakes that are secluded some down several miles of back dirt roads. I think Duluth would be your best choice. And the Flow Trails in the city are world class.

[hebell]

I'm in S Florida now; always been a northerner at heart. Have to be here a bit more to complete work but I am just dying here. But it did seem Duluth would be a really good fit. I just wanted to be sure I didn't give up too much in the arts. I didn't realize it was a college town. That should check a lot of boxes!

[Teak]

Stillwater, or somewhere else in the St. Croix River valley area. There are a lot of retirees out that way, and many wanting to head out that way.

Or, if you want to live closer to the TC Metroplex, White Bear Lake, which is close enough to the edge of the Metroplex that you can quickly get out of town for the outdoor activities.

[ZanderX]

Check out Winona. It is a very arts oriented town with two colleges, sits below a bluff on the Mississippi River, and has great canoeing waters like the Root River in the vicinity. In the summer the city hosts the Great River Shakespeare Festival, and is home to the excellent Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Down the road in Lanesboro (On the banks of the Root River) is the Commweal Theatre Company. Conveniently, you'd be an hour from Rochester, 25 minutes to Lacrosse, and 2-2.5 hours from the Cities (Which is a beautiful drive up highway 61).

[Milo Wolf]

Originally Posted by hebell

My husband and I are very active, though a knee injury from my youth limits us to bike trips not exceeding 30 miles in a day, with not too much hills. (My pride is preventing me from e-assist.... not yet).

We have a Wenonah canoe, and this has been a hobby for years.
As we've aged, we invested in a lighter Kevlar model, so we prefer river trips and small lakes. Not big open bodies of water and no significant rapids.

Plus we like forest walks.

We'd like to be near the arts - live performance, jazz, modern dance, young aspiring artists, theatre (particularly small theatre, experimental theatre).

So, where are the best spots that combine arts + bikes + canoe?
Don't so much care about fine restaurants and all that, but know it's usually to be found near arts centers. I have no problem cooking.

I don't need a steady diet of culture. But I am SO TIRED of having to drive 2 hours to see a good live performance.

Love the cold, temperature is not a problem.
Any best towns?

Or should we stick to the twin cities?
If there, where would we meet other people between 55-65?

There's really nowhere in Minnesota where you won't be reasonably close to placid waters for canoeing. Most of the state offers decently level ground of bicycling, the notable major exceptions being the North Shore and southeastern Minnesota.

While there are outstate arts hotspots, none of them can compete with the Twin Cities. Below is a map of forest cover in the state. Really, any county other than the white ones are going to offer ample forest trails. Living within half an hour on any side of the metro - except maybe to the southwest - will put you in a good position for what you seek. Stillwater and Northfield come to mind as being close to the Cities while also having a lot of local artistic presence, plenty of trails nearby, and good canoeing and biking possibilities.

[alex24057]

Originally Posted by ZanderX

Check out Winona. It is a very arts oriented town with two colleges, sits below a bluff on the Mississippi River, and has great canoeing waters like the Root River in the vicinity. In the summer the city hosts the Great River Shakespeare Festival, and is home to the excellent Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Down the road in Lanesboro (On the banks of the Root River) is the Commweal Theatre Company. Conveniently, you'd be an hour from Rochester, 25 minutes to Lacrosse, and 2-2.5 hours from the Cities (Which is a beautiful drive up highway 61).

Winona is absolutely amazing and for the price! I've lived in several places and this is by far the best! People are friendly, amazing views, affordable, bike/run/walk trails, ice skating in winter. It's has a small town feel with all of the amenities of a large city. I can't say enough good things about this place.

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by alex24057

Winona is absolutely amazing and for the price! I've lived in several places and this is by far the best! People are friendly, amazing views, affordable, bike/run/walk trails, ice skating in winter. It's has a small town feel with all of the amenities of a large city. I can't say enough good things about this place.

We were just down there walking on the path around Lake Winona a few weeks back. SE Minnesota is my favorite region of the state. I would live down there in a second if I could. That bluff/river country has to be one of the most underrated areas for scenery in the US. The drive up 61 between La Crosse and the Twin Cities is incredibly beautiful. We've done it more times than I can count and it never gets old.

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by hebell

My husband and I are very active, though a knee injury from my youth limits us to bike trips not exceeding 30 miles in a day, with not too much hills. (My pride is preventing me from e-assist.... not yet).

We have a Wenonah canoe, and this has been a hobby for years.
As we've aged, we invested in a lighter Kevlar model, so we prefer river trips and small lakes. Not big open bodies of water and no significant rapids.

Plus we like forest walks.

We'd like to be near the arts - live performance, jazz, modern dance, young aspiring artists, theatre (particularly small theatre, experimental theatre).

So, where are the best spots that combine arts + bikes + canoe?
Don't so much care about fine restaurants and all that, but know it's usually to be found near arts centers. I have no problem cooking.

I don't need a steady diet of culture. But I am SO TIRED of having to drive 2 hours to see a good live performance.

Love the cold, temperature is not a problem.
Any best towns?

Or should we stick to the twin cities?
If there, where would we meet other people between 55-65?

If you have any type of retirement portfolio you might want to reconsider moving to Minnesota..........

https://smartasset.com/retirement/retirement-taxes

[hebell]

Yes, the retirement taxes are an issue. But, you do get something for taxes, at least in principle. Thanks, all, for the Winona suggestions.