5 Best Places To Live The Simple Life
By Sarah Mahoney, September & October 2009
Rich culture, great food, low stress. Who wouldn't want to call these affordable cities home?
Tucson, Arizona
Greenville, South Carolina
Montpelier, Vermont
Logan, Utah YEAH!
5. AMES, IOWA
Ames, Iowa
Vibe: Wholesome Americana
Population: 55,000
Median housing price: $159,270
Average commute: 17 minutes
Average number of sunny days: 202 per year
Most relaxing way to spend an afternoon:
Paddling a canoe in Ada Hayden Heritage Park,
where you may spot—besides hundreds of common
birds—a short-eared owl or a summer tanager
Simple fun for less than $10: Touring Reiman
Gardens at Iowa State University, where $7
buys access to award-winning rose gardens
and more
Who knew?: It recently ranked as the sixth-smartest city in the United States.
Ames is a gracious town—with broad lawns,
leafy neighborhoods, pretty parks and
ponds—and its distinctly rural flavor is
the key to its urban charm. With its
thrice-weekly farmers' markets, paddling
options on the Skunk River, and 55 miles
of city-maintained trails for avid bikers,
runners, and walkers, Ames is a place for
people who like wide-open spaces. "You can
drive less than five minutes outside of town
and you are really in the country," says
Russ Cross, 53, a bank executive in
Des Moines, 30 miles away. The lively
downtown area—including a long Main Street,
fun restaurants (such as favorite Aunt Maude's,
serving up local meats, cheeses, and produce),
and a pub with its own brew—adds to the charm.
"I love that when I step outside my office
on Main Street, it's such a clean little town,"
says Russ's wife, Beth, 51, president of a
local marketing company. "It's one of the
most welcoming places I've ever seen."
The couple, who like to run on Ames's trails
with their golden retriever, say they are a
long way from retiring, but when they do,
they can't imagine moving anywhere else.
"There's just so much that I want to do
right here," Beth says.
