The 10 Brainiest Places to Retire

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I'm surprised San Diego did not make the list. Despite its beach culture, San Diego is home to one of the greatest clusters of biotech research institutes and companies in the world. They are located on the Torrey Pines Mesa adjacent to the research intensive University of California, San Diego (UCSD). UCSD currently has eight Nobel Prize winners on staff. This does not include several more Nobel Laureates who work for the local research institutes.
The most recognizable institute (Salk Institute) was started by Jonas Salk, creator of the polio vaccine. The university and biotech institutes offer research seminars, which are open to the public, virtually every day.
If you would like to learn more about the biotech cluster in San Diego, I began a weekly series on my blog a few weeks ago that profiles the work being done and the ways in which the community can participate with each of the research institutes: http://thebestplacesinsandiego.com/blog/2008/torrey-pines-home-to-world-class-research/
(If you are wondering, this is the same Torrey Pines that will be home to the PGA's 2008 U.S. Open in June.)
UCSD is also home to the La Jolla Playhouse, which has been the starting point for over three dozen Broadway Shows, including Jersey Boys and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
I could go on and on about why San Diego is the Brainest Place to Retire including the opportunity to go behind the scenes at SeaWorld's Hubbs Research Institute and the World Famous San Diego Zoo, not to mention broadband internet usage is higher here than in Silicon Valley or Seattle.
As you can see, San Diego is more than just surf and sun. I'll look forward to seeing San Diego on next year's list. Best Wishes from Sunny San Diego.

Tim from San Diego of CA 10:58PM May 23, 2008

Calcutta has the highest number of Nobel Peace Prize winners. How about that? I lived in Berkeley and they may be smart, but altogether extremely misguided (delusional) by their own idealistic theories e.g. no American flags allowed on Firetrucks, Banning the U.S. Marine Corp recruiters, Punks welling up into a mob (usually once a year) and rioting down Telegraph St. and last of all Peoples Park which has become a first stop for ex-cons exiting San Quentin Prison in order to get food, clothes, a place to sleep, drugs, and a job selling drugs. Berkeley Police Department have a very tough job.

Kurt Rankin of 9:48PM May 22, 2008

i found that there are so many places that i gotta visit.
if i can't, i swear i will in my next life!
by the way, it's nice to read this article while listening "tennessee"

of 12:44PM May 22, 2008

Agree that earthquake victims need all the help they can get.
In doublt that china is the brainiest place of all. At least not now.
Maybe in future, I hope.

dblt of MA 10:44AM May 22, 2008

Its like a suburb of something you would see outside a Chicago.. In close proximity to a major city, but very suburbian as well as having a taste for aesthetics and intellect.

Chris of NC 8:59AM May 22, 2008

Really? Reston? If you like office parks, chain restaurants and boredom...Reston's great.

Daniel of 8:29AM May 22, 2008

How are most of these any better than Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where the University of Illinois is. The same point about Purdue or others is true of this town, just as it would be for some other major university towns. The U of I has one of the best libraries in the nation, great performing arts, lectures, music, engineering open houses, and much more.

David Berkson of NY 12:22PM May 21, 2008

Thank you for your comments. I come from china. There are many people who sufferred with the earthquake need help.The goverment have tried their best. We need your help.

of 11:47AM May 21, 2008