Beautiful American Weekend Towns, Ways to Keep Your Heart Young, and Investment Portfolio Examples for Savers and Retirees

You're receiving this because you signed up on our website. Want to unsubscribe? Just reply to this email with the words “no thanks.”

First-time reader? Join {{active_subscriber_count}} other seniors for free.

Interested in advertising with us? Learn more here.

Sometimes a short getaway is all you need to reset your mind and lift your spirits. Across the United States, countless small towns offer charm, walkability, great food, and picturesque scenery, without the stress of a long trip or busy tourist hotspots. Whether you’re craving nature, history, or simple peace and quiet, these towns provide just the right blend of relaxation and discovery.

Many small towns shine because of their slower pace and beautiful surroundings. Places like Beaufort, South Carolina, with its moss-draped oaks and waterfront views, or Galena, Illinois, known for its preserved 19th-century architecture, are perfect for leisurely walks and quiet afternoons. Stowe, Vermont offers mountain scenery and postcard-perfect streets, while Sedona, Arizona provides stunning red rock landscapes ideal for short drives or gentle hikes.

The best part? You can enjoy these towns at your own pace. Sit by the water with a coffee, browse locally owned shops, or simply enjoy a quiet moment on a downtown bench… sometimes that’s more restorative than following a packed itinerary.

If you enjoy learning about a place’s character, certain towns offer rich history and great dining without overwhelming crowds. Santa Fe, New Mexico blends art, culture, and distinctive architecture, while Sausalito, California pairs coastal scenery with excellent restaurants and galleries. For a classic East Coast feel, Newport, Rhode Island delivers seaside charm, historic mansions, and smooth walking paths.

Wherever you choose, weekend towns are ideal for simple pleasures: a good breakfast spot, a scenic overlook, a local museum, or a sunset you don’t have to rush to catch. With just a short trip, you can feel like you’ve stepped into a different world — one where the pace is gentler and the days feel a little longer.

If you’d like help deciding on your next best place to visit, reply “where should I go” for a free consultation. 💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — sometimes a weekend escape is best shared with a friend.

“The Grocery Line Rebellion”
From the life overview of Robert H., 82, Eugene, OR. Shared with permission.

Back in the nineties, my local Safeway had only two express lanes—both of which always seemed clogged with people who interpreted “10 items or fewer” as a polite suggestion rather than a rule. One Tuesday evening, I stopped in after work to pick up milk and bread. I was tired, hungry, and in no mood for small talk. The line stretched halfway down the aisle and formed a slow-moving parade of people carrying cereal, produce, and quiet resentment. I counted my two items three separate times, as if reminding myself I deserved to be out of there quickly.

Right in front of me stood a man with a cart so full it looked like he was provisioning a ship. It was stacked to the edge with canned goods, paper towels teetering, and a watermelon perched like a dare. I told myself to let it go and that it wasn’t worth saying anything. After all, the world was full of bigger problems. But when he tossed a bag of marshmallows on top of the pile, something in me snapped—not angrily, just cleanly, like a twig giving way.

I tapped him on the shoulder and said, as politely as I could manage, “Sir, this is the express lane.” He stared at me, then the sign, then back at me again. Sheepishly, he wheeled his cart away without a word. The cashier hid a smile behind her register tape.

It was a small victory—ridiculously small, in fact—but it felt good. Sometimes the tiniest boundary, spoken out loud, is enough to make the world tilt back into place just a little.

***

Do you want to (1) capture your life story like above or (2) edit, format, and/or publish something you’ve worked on for years?
Get a FREE Life Story or Publishing Consultation

University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
The UW Digital Collections site offers open access to digitized materials from the university’s libraries and archives. You can browse photographs, letters, diaries, maps, pamphlets, early sound recordings, sheet music, and scanned books from Wisconsin history as well as international projects. The search tools let you filter by format, subject, place, or collection, making it easy to explore everyday documents, local history, and academic materials without needing any specialized background.

The Newberry Library Postcard Collection
A large digital catalog of early 20th-century postcards from Chicago’s Newberry Library. These images capture street scenes, fairs, storefronts, landscapes, and vernacular life with no commercial gloss — just the world as people saw and shared it. Browsing by place or theme rewards gentle observation and historical perspective.

American Antiquarian Society Digital Resources
A curated set of digitized materials from early American print culture, including unusual cookbooks, sheet music, broadsides, and ephemeral printed items. These are presented with clear catalog information and short notes, making it easy to appreciate how everyday people engaged with print in past centuries.

This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public. We can meet any budget. (Does your story deserve to be told?)

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones.

Storing photos in the cloud is one of the easiest ways to keep family memories protected. Instead of relying on a computer or phone that could break or get lost, cloud services save your photos on secure online servers. Once your pictures are backed up, you can view them from any device, share them with loved ones, and protect them from accidental loss.

If you use an iPhone or iPad, iCloud Photos is the easiest choice. It automatically saves your pictures as soon as you take them. To turn it on, go to Settings > Photos > iCloud Photos. Apple’s guide explains each step.

If you’re on Android, Google Photos is built in. Open the app, tap your profile picture, and choose Turn on Backup. Google’s instructions are here.

If you use a Windows computer, the Microsoft OneDrive app will automatically save your pictures from your PC or phone. You can find the setup guide here.

These services do most of the work for you. Once backup is turned on, your photos will safely upload to the cloud whenever you’re connected to Wi-Fi.

If you’re comfortable trying a bit more, these tools can help you keep everything organized:

Cloud storage gives you peace of mind. It keeps your photos safe, makes them easy to share, and ensures that the memories you treasure are never dependent on a single device.

Cruise deal of the day: 3 Nights Southern Europe Cruise - departing January 25, from $174

Unmissable American gem: Glenwood Springs, Colorado is beloved by seniors for its soothing hot springs, relaxed mountain atmosphere, and easygoing downtown full of shops and cafés.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Favorite newspaper pastime with black-and-white squares.

ROSCWOSRD PZLEZU

Help a life story get told, earn thousands: Refer someone to MemoirGhostwriting.com and earn 12% of what they spend. Find out more here.

Disclaimer: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Seniors Magazine may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The content of the newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial, legal, or health advice. We may also share polling responses with advertisers to help keep this newsletter free.