21. Port Angeles, Washington
Suppose the name Port Angeles tickles a memory in the back of your brain. If it does, Twilight fans will happily inform you it’s because the city is featured throughout the book and film series as a popular destination for Forks, Washington teens, and the site of several major scenes in the books. Regardless of your opinion on vampire fiction, Port Angeles is an ideal West Coast retirement location for anyone who enjoys history or the outdoors. The city boasts unique underground tours of the original buildings left behind when the town elevated its streets to avoid flooding in 1914.
For the outdoors enthusiast, Olympic National Park is only a few miles from Port Angeles, making it an ideal location for bird watchers, mushroom hunters, hikers, and more. The city is also a popular jumping-off destination for guided whale tours. It is also only a boat ride across the sound from Seattle, so any retirees craving a big city adventure have one close at hand. With a median home value of only $202,000, Port Angeles is far more affordable than most other Pacific Northwest coastal communities, making it a perfect place to frugally and comfortably enjoy your retirement years.