Holland, Michigan Named Best Place To Retire

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LANSING, Mich., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The charming Dutch community of Holland, Michigan, was named one of the top five best places to retire by Money magazine (September 21, 2006 issue). One of Lake Michigan's popular beachtowns, Holland is located 30 miles west of Grand Rapids and 173 miles from Detroit. It has the only authentic working Dutch 278-year-old windmill in the United States, a 12-story giant located on Windmill Island. The city also has the only Delftware factory in the U.S., a wooden shoe factory, and a Dutch Village which reenacts 1890s life in the Netherlands.

Money magazine cited that the top five cities all had the ingredients for a perfect retirement -- " ... loads of culture, lots of green space -- and everything else the most desirable places in America have. Except high taxes." Holland is home to about 35,000 people (112,000 metro area), six million tulips, and welcomes nearly three million visitors every year. The cobblestone downtown area has a unique snowmelt system under the sidewalks that makes downtown Holland a year-round haven for shoppers. The annual Tulip Time Festival in May, one of the largest flower festivals in the country, draws thousands of visitors for eight days of tours, parades, concerts and more.

"We are very proud of the 'best retirement city' distinction," said Holland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sally Laukitis. "This is a community of hard working people who also know how to enjoy life and take advantage of all the resources available to them. It is a great place to retire and enjoy the beauty and lifestyle of Lake Michigan living."

Residents and visitors can choose from several beach areas and state parks for watersports, fishing, golf, hiking and more. The 900-acre Saugatuck Dunes State Park, just south of Holland, offers 14 miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails and a coastal dune system on Lake Michigan. Holland has its own symphony orchestra, museums, galleries, and the downtown educational community of Hope College.

For more information on Holland and area activities and events, visit http://www.michigan.org/ or call 888-78-GREAT (784-7328). Travel Michigan, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, is the State of Michigan's official agency for the promotion of tourism. Travel Michigan markets the state's tourism industry and provides valuable visitor information services.

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