If you can deal with the cold weather in the winter, I'd highly recommend Northern Minnesota. For 8 months out of the year, it is beautiful. For the other 4 months, it's cold, but there isn't many things better than a weekend afternoon ice fishing or riding a snowmobile through the trails in northern MN. If you are an outdoorsmen at all, the combination of 10,000+ lakes and the acres upon acres of national forest is a great resource to have.

We just recently bought some land near Leech Lake in Minnesota....It's one of the 5 biggest lakes in the state....You wouldn't believe all the deer on the 60 acres of land we bought. The first year hunting I harvested a 7-pointer with an 18 inch spread....I didn't think it was too bad since we hadn't even had time to scout out the area before hunting season.

Even though I'd like, at some point in my life, to experience other parts of the US, I can fully guarantee I will retire in Northern MN.