One-third of Americans have less than $5,000 set aside for retirement. The data from Northwestern Mutual also reveals that 21% of Americans have no retirement savings at all. But if you have been smart with your money and have properly funded your retirement, you have the peace of mind and security that whatever care and assistance you may need, you will have the means to support yourself. But much more than that, you will have the means to enjoy your retirement and do all those things you’ve always wanted to do.

Retirement is the perfect time to finally get out and see the world. It is the time when you can visit all of those places you have always wanted to see in person. In fact, travel is the top of 83% of Baby Boomers’ retirement wish list says AARP’s survey last year. Whether you want to rest or some excitement, low-cost or luxury, there’s a retirement getaway perfect for you.

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Escape to Miami Beach for a sunshine getaway

If your dream getaway includes warm sunshine, beautiful sandy beaches combined with culture (and shopping), then you need to head to Florida’s Miami Beach. There are endless picturesque beaches and outstanding beachfront resorts like the luxurious Loews South Beach to enjoy. In the city, there is a wonderful array of museums like the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum and an extraordinary number of places to shop. And only a few minutes away you will find a wonderful exotic oasis, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Here you can enjoy the natural beauty of tropical plants like palms, flowering trees and shrubs, cycads, fruit trees and vines. You can also discover many botanical specimens that have been cultivated or collected since as early as the 1930s.

Take the Blue Ridge Parkway for the ultimate drive

If you have always wanted to take the ultimate road trip, then pack up your car, blow off the cobwebs, and get your engine revving across what’s become known as the USA’s Favorite Drive. This impressive 469-mile picturesque drive joins Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Go at your own pace along this scenic ride for a unique experience, that averages between 3,000 and 4,000 feet in elevation. Take pleasure in the astonishing sights waiting for you, or better still, hike some of the 80 plus trails. Along the way, you can enjoy wonderful traditional music, history, biking, nature or even a game of golf. And whether you prefer campgrounds or fashionable log homes, you will find plenty of accommodation available to suit most budgets.

Head to Europe for new experiences

If you are looking for somewhere to escape from it all, a trip of a lifetime that offers extraordinary new experiences, then make sure you head to Europe. Why not head to Italy? Head north out of Milan to the beautiful region of Lake Como and find a beautiful quaint hotel as your base to spend days exploring the small villages. Be sure to include a visit to Tuscany and picturesque Le Marche too. Find a lovely spot in the country or an inn near Florence. While in Tuscany, wander the countryside, then visit the beautiful town of Siena and enjoy a coffee with the locals while taking in the uplifting sights and sounds.

You’ve worked hard all your life. Now you can look forward to playing hard. Whatever you consider to be your perfect getaway, if you have been smart with your money and put enough aside, the world is your oyster.