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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
Compass Pointe
Located on the southeastern coast of North Carolina, only 10 minutes from Wilmington, Compass Pointe is a gated, private community that offers an unmatched resort lifestyle. Every day feels like a vacation where you can relax by our award-winning pool, float along the lazy river, join one of 100+ community clubs, or get some exercise at our fitness center, indoor pool, or golf club. Come see for yourself why Compass Pointe was honored with the 2020 Best Health & Fitness Community and America’s Best Places to Live 2021.
Amenities:
- Private, Gated Entrance
- The Grand Lanai
- Resort Oasis Pool
- Compass Pointe Golf Club
- Clubhouse (under construcion) & Pro Shop
- The Pointe Wellness Center & Spa
- Indoor Pool
- Lazy River
- Tennis & Pickleball Courts
- Recreation Lawn
- Putting Greens
- Latitudes Restaurant and Bar
- Dog Park
- Cardinal Lake with Canoe & Kayak Launch
- Outdoor Amphitheater
- Sidewalks Throughout for Walking and Biking
- Golf Cart Paths Throughout
Future Amenities:
- Club Member Pool & Bar
- Club Member Fitness Center
- Club Member Golf Simulator
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!
Legacy Homes by Bill Clark
Legacy Homes by Bill Clark is the crown jewel in a long line of North Carolina home building history. As one of the Nation’s “Top 100 Builders” for over a decade, the Legacy Homes division is a trusted partner in the Wilmington, NC region that spans four counties, and is a featured builder in many of the South’s premier planned communities, such as Brunswick Forest, Bluffs on the Cape Fear, Compass Pointe, River Bluffs, Riverlights, St. James, Summerhouse, with more to come. The Legacy Homes’ mission is to walk alongside each client as the dream of their new home becomes a reality… Best known for thoughtful floor plans, maximized living spaces, attention to detail, and custom trim work, any Legacy Home is destined to be a showstopper.
The goal at Legacy Homes is to make the homebuilding process as seamless for each client as possible. Whether choosing from one of the professionally designed available model homes or building from the ground up, a Legacy team member will be with you each step of the way. As a semi-custom builder, you will have the opportunity to create the dream home that fits perfectly with your lifestyle.
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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