Sun City Huntley among 'best places' to retire

If you're 55 and considering retirement in the near future, Sun City Huntley might just be the place for you.

The largest 55-plus active adult living community in the Midwest recently was dubbed one of the best places to retire in Illinois and the nation.

"We didn't have to apply for it. We didn't have to pay for it. I think that that's genuine," said Renee Swanson, Sun City Huntley's marketing manager, of the recognition, which is a first for the community. "We were super pleased to be chosen. It was unexpected."

Tripping.com, an online search engine for vacation rentals, picked a 55 or older active adult community in every state for its "best places to retire" list. Communities were chosen based on the amenities they offered, the quality of facilities, top retirement-living resources and residents' reviews.

"While each community offers a different set of amenities, residents can enjoy having neighbors who are at a similar stage in life and can often enjoy the convenience of maintenance-free living as well as resort-style luxuries like fitness centers, pools, and spas," according to the website.

"We have many users who are in the 55-plus demographic, so we crafted our retirement community selection criteria to feature what interests them the most," said Tripping.com CEO Jen O'Neal. "According to our data, a 55-plus Tripping.com user enjoys spending time outdoors, keeping up with health and fitness, and staying in well-maintained accommodations with plenty of amenities. Sun City Huntley easily met these standards."

The 2,300-acre Del Webb community off Route 47 is home to roughly 9,500 residents. It was the first Del Webb community to be built outside Arizona, Nevada and Florida.