It's no secret that Florida is one of the top retirement destinations in the country. On Topretirements.com's list of the 25 best cities to retire in for 2008, Florida cities took up four of its spots, second only to Arizona. Five popular choices in the Sunshine State are Punta Gorda, Gainsville, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Venice.

Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda is a city of 17,000 in Charlotte County. With a median age of 65, Punta Gorda embraces retirees with open arms. Thanks to dragon boat rowing at Charlotte Harbor, yoga, a farmer's market and bike paths in the works, Punta Gorda is becoming a mecca for health-inclined retirees. The median price for a house in Punta Gorda is $150,000.

Sarasota

Sarasota has long been a favorite spot for new retirees. Located on the central west coast, Sarasota is privy to the breathtaking Sarasota Bay and is rich with 1920s architecture, theater, orchestra and dance. This city of 52,000 is considered to be one of Florida's cultural capitals.The average price of homes in Sarasota is less than $200,000.

Fort Myers

Founded in 1886, Fort Myers has history along with new development. This southwest city of 68,689 is right on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Baseball fans will enjoy the sports scene: Fort Meyers is the spring training location for the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins baseball clubs. This is a great option for affordable housing. The median house price is $84,000.

Gainesville

Located in northern Florida near the beaches at St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Gainesville is a good location for retirees looking for more of an urban environment. The University of Florida brings in young students from all over the country and has an enrollment of 52,000. There's plenty of activity going on at night, and the Florida Gators will keep football fans entertained. The median prices of homes in Gainesville is about $178,000.

Venice

Venice is a small city in Sarasota County with a population of 21,000. With rivers and canals running through the city, Venice has an obvious namesake. Venice has the strange claim to fame of being the "Shark's Tooth Capital of the World" due to the number of shark teeth that wash up on the beach. The beach in Venice is only a few blocks away from a charming downtown, rich in historic buildings. The median price for a home is $179,000.

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Punta Gorda, Florida

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