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Guide to the Top Active Adult Communities
Guide to the Top Active Adult Communities
Active adult communities are designed for retirees and working seniors who prefer a dynamic lifestyle in a fun, social environment. These master-planned communities offer resort-style amenities such as clubhouses and pools, as well as lively social and activity calendars
While many active adult communities are age-restricted—which typically means that at least one member of the household must be 55 years or over—others welcome residents of all ages.
Homes Built for Comfort and Entertainment
Single-family, one-story homes are the norm in active adult communities. They can be customized to each household’s needs. Homes usually offer layouts and features that are standard in modern homes. Generally, master suites are complete with a spacious closet and an en-suite bathroom with a walk-in tub. Newer homes also include office spaces for working seniors.
Houses in these neighborhoods are made for entertaining. Open living spaces, large patios, and screened porches make for ideal social gatherings. Visiting friends and family can stay overnight in the guest bedrooms.
Elevated Amenities for Residents
While many active adult communities operate independently, some are located within larger master-planned residential developments. Both types of communities offer exclusive amenities such as pools and clubhouses.
Workout facilities deliver classes and programs that cater to all fitness levels. Low-impact aerobics and yoga are some of the most popular programs offered.
Those who would rather be outdoors can take advantage of walking trails, parks, and picnic areas. Pickleball courts, tennis courts, and lawns for croquet and softball games are available for athletic residents to use.
Active adult communities may also include services that cannot be found in regular neighborhoods. Residents can walk to onsite restaurants, golf courses, and water features like lakes or ponds. For those who want services to come to them, hair stylists and physical therapists may be available on-call.
Hubs and Clubs for Various Interests
Activity directors help new residents connect with their neighbors. They organize clubs for community members of various interests such as gardening, cooking, and woodworking.
Residents can keep sharp by attending academic classes and visiting lectures in the community centers. Live concerts and film screenings will appeal to those who love performance arts.
Community service clubs are popular, too. Neighbors can organize charities, drives, and other public service events for the community at large.
Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations
The best active adult communities are located near town or city landmarks. Hospitals and healthcare facilities, for example, are situated nearby. Residents have easy access to physicians and dentists that specialize in senior wellness.
Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.
Sample Communities to Discover
Woodside
Enhanced by the region’s lucrative cost of living, mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and charming
Southern hospitality, Woodside’s 3,000-acre community is ideally located in one of the Southeast’s best-kept secrets, Aiken, SC.
Meticulously designed from concept to creation for discerning active-active adults, downsizing retirees, and anyone else with a taste for the finer things in life, Woodside’s location in one of Southern Living Magazine’s “South’s Best Small Towns” offers residents walkable access to the best of both worlds. On top of Woodside’s world-class amenities, including 4 championship golf courses, 2 clubhouses, more than 60 member-led social groups and clubs, 2 resort-style pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, over 21 miles of hiking and nature trails, 7 landscaped parks and green spaces – including a Certified Butterfly Park – Woodside residents enjoy 10-minute access to downtown Aiken’s Gilded-Age avenues filled with exceptional local restaurants, designer boutiques, art galleries, and more.
Whether you envision yourself perfecting your swing on our Nicklaus Design course, dozing by the pool,
or creating new memories with friends you’ve yet to meet, life at Woodside is designed to deliver you a
home that extends far beyond your property line!
Kissing Tree
Find yourself at Kissing Tree.
Perfectly placed in the Texas Hill Country halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Kissing Tree is a master-planned resort community by Brookfield Residential. Designed specifically for those 55 and better, Kissing Tree offers 1,300 acres of views, brews, and barbecues. Here, hundred-year-old live oak trees welcome you home, and friendly neighbors provide a genuine sense of community and connection.
When you live at Kissing Tree, every day is what you make it. Start the day enjoying the views from a workout class at the two-story Fitness Center, followed by coffee with friends at Independence Hall. Or play a leisurely round of golf on the 18-hole semi-private course designed by Gary Stephenson before having lunch at Tarbox & Brown, the onsite restaurant. Relax by the resort-style pool or swim some laps at the indoor Junior Olympic lap pool. Explore your creative passions in the Art Studio, or take on new neighbors in a friendly game of pickleball or bocce. Dance beneath the stars to live music at the Biergarten. You can be as active — or as relaxed — as you choose to be.
Here at Kissing Tree, you’ll find gorgeous homes designed for the ways you live and entertain by Brookfield Residential and David Weekley homes, priced from the $300s to $1 million plus. Whether you prefer to live large or downsize, there are floor plans to fit your style, structured in thoughtful neighborhood enclaves that encourage camaraderie. Choose from an inviting variety of architectural elevations, design options, and interior finishes that allow you to build a home that reflects your individual tastes. Or get in on the good times faster by choosing a professionally designed home that’s all ready to move in.
As a bustling college town with ample options for live music, restaurants, and festivals, San Marcos is the perfect backdrop for your next adventure (and the Mermaid Capital of Texas). Named one of Forbes’ “25 Best Places to Retire” three years in a row, San Marcos is a historic small town with big city conveniences. There are cool rivers to float and fish, clear lakes for boating, miles of trails, amazing scenery and wildlife, and winding backcountry roads for exploring on two wheels or four.
Ready to write your next chapter? Come for a visit and see how exciting life can be at Kissing Tree.
Carolina Riverside by Del Webb
Ideally situated near historic downtown Belmont and bordered by the South Fork of the Catawba River, you’ll find Carolina Riverside, a vibrant 55+ community of new homes designed by nationally recognized Del Webb home builders. Active lifestyles begin here, with a future recreation hub featuring an exclusive 19,000 square-foot clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, an onsite lifestyle director who will plan regular events and activities, pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, and more. Carolina Riverside will offer 11 flexible, open-concept ranch-style floorplans designed with the buyer in mind. Residents will have easy access to the Catawba River, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, kayaking, and more. Carolina Riverside is located minutes from downtown Belmont with great local restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. If you’re interested in a bustling scene, residents have easy access to Uptown Charlotte’s sporting events, shows, and entertainment.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top active adult communities, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
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