California has long been one of the most popular retirement destinations in the United States. It is famous for its beautiful beaches, varying climate and diverse culture. In general, California typically has mild winters and dry and hot summers. Farther inland, higher altitudes have a climate more typical of a four-season cycle including colder winters. Closer to the coast, winters have more precipitation, and summers are hot and humid. California is full of cultural and social activities. Affordable homes can be found in California; however, the state's overall cost of living is relatively high. There are numerous retirement communities in the state that offer a luxurious style of living. Among these are Toscana Country Club, Indian Ridge Country Club and The Citrus Club.

Toscana Country Club is a gated community for active adults in Indian Wells, California. The community is composed of just over 650 homes that range from the low million to the mid-$3 million. Toscana Country Club is noteworthy for its truly extravagant homes and beautiful mountain views. There are several collections of homes in this community, the first of which has homes that range from 2,400 square feet to just under 2,600 square feet. These homes have two to three bedrooms, 2.3 to 3.5 bathrooms, and a garage for two or three cars.

The second collection has homes that range from just under 2,800 square feet to just over 4,000 square feet, and they have one to four bedrooms, three to 4.5 bathrooms and a garage. The third and fourth collections offer the same features as the first two though they have differing floor plans. Two additional collections contain homes that range from 3,679 square feet to nearly 5,500 square feet, and differing models include up to four bedrooms, 3.5 to 4.5 bathrooms and three or four-car garages. The majority of the homes in this community also feature private pools and guesthouses.

In Toscana, residents pay a monthly homeowners' association fee that covers the maintenance of home exteriors and common areas. Additional fees are required to allow residents access to the golf course, clubhouse, spa and tennis courts.

Toscana Country Club is well-known for its lavish amenities, most of which are featured in the 90,000-square-foot clubhouse. The clubhouse features a restaurant, lounge areas, several saunas and a golf pro shop. A separate facility, the Sports Club, features a fitness center, and just outside of its doors, residents can play tennis or volleyball and swim in a resort-style pool. The true highlights of this community are two 18-hole golf courses. One is designed to challenge even the most experienced golfer, while the other caters to the beginner and mid-level golfer.

Indian Ridge Country Club is a premier gated community in Palm Desert. This community's real estate includes more than 1,060 homes that range from the low $400,000s to the low $2 million. Completed in 2006, Indian Ridge Country Club features a variety of homes with an array of floor plans, with the smallest home at 1,527 square feet and the largest just under 4,600 square feet. These homes have anywhere from one to four bedrooms, two to 4.5 bathrooms and attached garages.

At the heart of this community is a 42,000-square-foot clubhouse that offers residents a vast array of amenities including a full-service day spa, rooms for card games, four restaurants and a bar. Also within Indian Ridge is a 22,000-square-foot Sports Club where residents can exercise on modern workout equipment and relax in the saunas and steam rooms. In the outdoors, residents can play tennis on one of 14 courts, swim in the club's pool or one of the 34 pools spread throughout the community, or spend some time with man's best friend in the dog park. Indian Ridge also features two award-winning 18-hole Arnold Palmer golf courses.

The Citrus Club is a gated community in La Quinta, California. The Citrus Club's real estate includes 625 homes that range from the high $600,000s to the high $1 millions. Buyers can choose from three attached-home floor plans that range from 2,400 to 2,500 square feet and feature three bedrooms and bathrooms and an attached garage. Buyers can also choose from 18 single-family floor plans that range from 2,400 to 4,700 square feet and feature two to four bedrooms, 2.5 to 4.5 bathrooms and an attached garage.

The Citrus Club has a range of amenities for residents to enjoy. Among other luxurious features, The Citrus Club has a bar, lap pool and a 15,000-square-foot fitness center. In the outdoors, residents can improve their golf game on an 18-hole golf course designed by Pete Dye. Additionally, residents of the community have access to unlimited tennis on 23 courts and the fitness facilities at La Quinta Resort. They also have access to the 42 pools spread throughout the resort.