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December 15 2008
By Emily Brandon
U.S. News & World Report

Retirees who live in ski towns like to say that life goes downhill after retirement—preferably atop freshly waxed skis on a powder day. Retirement is the perfect time to rediscover your inner ski bum, cheer on your favorite hockey team, or simply enjoy the beauty of a fresh snowfall with a warm drink in hand.

Many idyllic retirement spots are ski towns like Burlington, Vt., which boasts a white necklace of mountain resorts within a one-hour drive, including Bolton Valley, Jay Peak, Smuggler's Notch, Stowe, and Sugarbush. Baby boomers ages 55 to 64 currently make up 9 percent of all skiers and riders, and those over age 65 an additional 4 percent, according to the trade group the National Ski Areas Association. "The baby boomers tend to be a little bit more fit than their parents' generation," explains NSAA President Michael Berry. Skiers who prefer a flatter surface may want to give Marquette, Mich., a try. Particularly scenic are 4 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails at Presque Isle Park that wind through the woods and along the rocky coast of Lake Superior.

Read entire article: http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/retirement/2008/12/15/10-great-places-to-retire-for-winter-sports-nuts.html