If you’re at all like today’s active adults, you have no plans to slow down now that you have an empty nest. In fact, for many people over the age of 55, this is an era of reawakening, adventure and fun. And the home and neighborhood in which you live must support that desire to enjoy a dynamic and energetic life. Fortunately, there are numerous active adult communities across metro Atlanta that cater to a variety of modern senior lifestyle preferences. Here, we look at two specific lifestyle categories and the neighborhoods that could be the perfect one for you to call home.
The Outdoor Enthusiast
Metro Atlanta is known for offering residents access to some of North Georgia’s most incredible outdoor amenities. From mountains to lakes and so much more, the area is replete with opportunities to get outside and commune with Mother Nature. If this is what speaks to you most during your golden years, then you have a number of active adult communities to consider as you search for your new home—ones that not only boast exceptional residences, but also gateways to unparalleled outdoor adventure.
To start, Lake Arrowhead, a gated mountain, lake and golf master-planned community located just outside of Canton, has become one of the area’s most popular destinations for home buyers 55 and older, thanks in large part to its natural environment and outdoor appeal. At the heart of the community is a 540-acre lake with over 21 miles of shoreline, a marina, lakeside park and more. Boating and fishing are popular activities throughout the year, while swimming fills those hot summer days. Of course, the fall season is an ideal time to check out the community’s numerous hiking and jogging trails, which cover more than 16 miles in total and range in length and terrain, taking walkers, runners and hikers of all levels through woodlands, along creek beds and much more, giving them a chance to get out there and explore. While some of the trails require a community membership, others are open to the public.
Walking and jogging will also take center stage at Soleil Belmont Park from Patrick Malloy Communities. Situated on more than 400 acres conveniently located between Canton and Milton, the community soon will be home to a paved five-mile walking trail, which will feature fitness stations along the way. What’s more, a community garden will give home horticulturists a chance to flex their green thumbs right in the heart of the community. These amenities are currently under construction, which officially got underway this past summer.
Also coming soon is Lakeside at River Green, located in Canton’s renowned master-planned community. Lakeside, developed by The JW Collection, will feature a wide array of onsite amenities, including a number of walking trails perfect for today’s active adult. What’s more, the property features access to the Etowah River, as well as Legacy Lake, which is a great spot for catch-and-release fishing from sun up to sun down.
On the other side of metro Atlanta, Southwyck Homes is just starting to develop a first-of-its-kind active adult community on Lake Lanier: The Lake Society. Avid boaters undoubtedly will love not only the lakeside and lakeview homes available within the community, but also unfettered access to two community docks that will include a total of 130 boat slips (as well as a 40,000-square-foot self-storage facility for boats and recreational vehicles). Getting out on the lake at any time will be a breeze for active adults in Gainesville thanks to the 211-acre Lake Society, which is being developed on a heavily wooded peninsula on the northern side of Lake Lanier.
For those local residents who really want to get out into nature, each of these communities also are a short drive from the North Georgia Mountains. Hopping on I-75, I-575 or even State Route 400 and heading north opens the door to both the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, where hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, tubing, kayaking and much more await.
The Social Butterfly
Staying close to home doesn’t mean that you’re a hermit. In fact, if you decide to become a resident of one of these metro Atlanta’s communities, then your social life just might skyrocket as soon as you move in, thanks to the many onsite amenities and activities available for active adults today.
For instance, Lake Arrowhead homeowners often spend their days and evenings at the Lake Arrowhead Yacht & Country Club, which provides access to a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with indoor and outdoor dining. Residents also have access to Red Cloud Park’s swim and tennis facilities and the 40-acre Great Festival Park, which also includes a swimming pool, open fields for frisbee and football and much more. The community also boasts a full-time lifestyle director who works onsite to maintain a bustling event calendar that includes everything from fitness class options like Tai Chi to fishing and hiking clubs. What’s more, Lake Arrowhead offers easy access to the championship Highlands Course, which is considered one of the best golf courses in Georgia and a great place to gather with friends for a friendly round of golf. Furthermore, Lake Arrowhead is adding a dog park, an event lawn adjacent to the lake, a corn hole lawn and more.
The clubhouse at Soleil Belmont Park is one of the most highly anticipated amenities for the community. It is slated to include a resort-style pool, a coffee and cocktail bar, tennis and pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, an arts and crafts studio, a gourmet catering kitchen and more. Construction on the clubhouse began in May, and once it is completed, it will be home to a lifestyle and travel director who will help residents continue to build the impressive social network that has already started to develop throughout the new community.
There are also plans to provide residents of Lakeside at River Green with a central location to meet with neighbors for a wide range of activities. In fact, the community will not only allow homeowners to enjoy the already established 10,000-square-foot Heritage Club, but also the Evermore clubhouse for those 55 and older. Between these two facilities, residents will be able to play tennis and pickle ball, swim and enjoy a host of events throughout the year. Similar opportunities will be found at The Lake Society, which features plans for a clubhouse with a restaurant, a pool with cabana gathering areas and more.
Whichever community—or lifestyle option—speaks to you the most, you can expect to enjoy the hustle and bustle of an active adult lifestyle, complete with new neighbors and friends, a full social calendar and a sense that the best is yet to come.
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