Retirement may be years away for some but finding a place to retire isn't that far as you might think.

Natchitoches is one of three cities in the state that many retirees are visiting and where some are choosing to stay.

The world seems to stop when you're in Natchitoches. The small town feel and charm makes it a favorite on a visitor's destination list.

"Laid back, real quiet, easy going, beautiful, I think the trees here are beautiful, I like the lake and the little sidewalk down there," say visitors to the town, Dale and Margie Loven.

This is the Dallas couple's first visit. They say they're eating up everything about Natchitoches.

"And the food we found a good home cooking restaurant it was wonderful."

Parish Chamber of Commerce President Tony Davis says there are other factors that tie the oldest city in Louisiana together.

"Everything's awesome about Natchitoches. Great weather, beautiful scenery, great people."

He says this has Natchitoches moving up on another list.

"Smart money just named us a 'Retire Here, Not There,' one of three cities in Louisiana, you know cities like New Orleans, Lafayette and Natchitoches," says Davis.

Davis says there are many new faces in the sleepy town. He says they've come for the low tax base, which makes it affordable to live in the area.

But there are other amenities that makes this a great city.

"You can enjoy festivals year round, from Blooming on the Bricks, Green Markets all the up to the Christmas festival.
They can go to a dinner theater, they can catch a show. We have great recitals here, so they get that the symphony orchestra. They have opportunities that they don't expect to have in a town this size, so it's really the best of all worlds," explains Davis.