EXPLORE & DISCOVER Retirement

With the amenities of a big city and only minutes from a country setting, the Lewiston Auburn region has much to offer those ready to settle into retirement. Along with affordable real estate markets and senior living communities, the area features dining and shopping options, beautiful places of worship, and first-class medical care. The region is centrally located, making for an easy drive to many of the state’s most popular locations. However, with plenty of culture and recreation opportunities in your own backyard, there is no need to travel far to experience some of Maine’s highlights.

Culture
LA provides musical and theatrical performances through three venues. The Riverfront-Franco Center celebrates Franco-American heritage as well as cultures from around the world and houses The Maine Music Society and their professional orchestra. The Community Little Theater and Public Theatre offer community and professional theatric performances year round.

Recreation
Seasonal recreation includes the recently modernized Lost Valley Ski Area in the winter, while spring and summer bring golfing at the highly rated Fox Ridge Golf Club or Martindale Country Club; if miniature golf better suits you, Taber’s Miniature Golf & Driving Range is the place to be. Boating, fishing, walking along the picturesque Auburn Riverwalk, or relaxing in one of LA’s many parks are also great ways to enjoy the outdoors. The State’s first outdoor fitness Court is at Lewiston’s Simard-
Payne Park. Designed to be the world’s best outdoor gym, it enables people to use their own body weight to undertake a complete workout using seven exercise stations—in as little as seven minutes; and it is free to use!

Lewiston’s Recreation Department has robust programming for seniors with monthly meetings and luncheons. Game Days at the Lewiston Senior Center includes bridge, majong, cribbage, pitch, pinochle, and an annual card party. Auburn’s Senior Community Center also offers a plethora of programs and activities geared specifically to seniors, and both public libraries have regular programming for an aging community.

Staying Engaged
For those interested in continuing  education, LA is also home to four colleges, and the USM Lewiston-
Auburn College offers various Senior College courses. You can always check out the educational opportunities at SeniorsPlus, a nonprofit source for information and assistance. There are many ways to stay active and engaged, with a multitude of volunteer opportunities. One can join the Rotary, volunteer with Literacy Volunteers, or help out various soup kitchens or arts events. The summer season brings the Auburn Community Band to Auburn’s outdoor festival plaza for a free concert every Wednesday night. With all that LA has to offer, it’s no wonder Forbes recently named Lewiston among the top 25 places to retire in America!