My parents have a house on the big island of Hawaii where they spend ~5 months a year, but they are thinking about selling it and buying something on the mainland. They like the climate (same weather every day) and slow pace. They are getting tired of the long flight there, and also want to be at a place that they'll see my family more often than once per winter (i.e. a place I could take my wife and kid for a long weekend, Hawaii obvi doesn't fit that bill).
Things they want:
- Warm winter (i.e. pacific NW, Utah, other nice northern places are out)
- Short-ish flight from Calgary, direct flight is a must (i.e. Florida and Georgia are out)
- Easily accessible lake fishing (dad is a big fisherman, but it's too much of a production for him to take his boat out in Hawaii, and obviously there's not lakes there)
- Reasonably easy access to crown land/wilderness (dad wants to be able to take side-by-sides out and rip around w/ family)
- Not desert (would be nice for my mom to have a garden that's more than just rocks)
- Pool, or at least located in gated community that has a pool/other amenities
I was thinking they should look somewhere near San Diego, but that may not be great for lake fishing. Scottsdale is also on the list, but winters can be pretty chilly there and no garden. Somewhere in Texas is a likely possibility (San Antonio, Austin). Also for consideration, they aren't "old". Dad is 59, Mom 62, so they aren't looking for a retirement community.
So, Beyond, tell me where they should move.