Michigan is a popular spot with retirees who hunt, golf or just spend time outdoors. Residents are never more than six miles from a body of water.

The Great Lake State has more than 36,000 miles of streams, boasts more than 11,000 inland lakes, and touches four of the five Great Lakes. In short, it features more freshwater coastline than any state in the nation.

Michigan is home to more than 100 public beaches, some of the highest freshwater sand dunes in the world, stunning multi-colored sandstone cliffs, two National Lakeshores and the only national marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes, and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Lake Huron.

More than 100 lighthouses, numerous maritime museums, ten shipwreck-diving preserves and historic military fortifications rim Michigan's Great Lakes shoreline provide lots of fun places to explore.

The cost of living is more than 10% below average, the median home costs just over $129,000 and both nursing home and assisted-living costs are below average. Glorious sunrises and sunsets, daytime skies of the deepest blue, nighttime skies scattered with stars make Michigan a nice place to live.

Lakes, campgrounds, wildlife refuges and 99 Michigan state parks and recreation areas create a wide variety of recreational pursuits. Rivers for water sports, and thousands of miles of hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails .