Resort-style living has become one of the most trendy and sought-after residential options in recent years. The reason is simple: the resort lifestyle is the perfect combination of luxury, location, convenience and comfort. Fortunately, for home buyers looking to achieve that special blend in their own lives, metro Atlanta homebuilders have crafted communities across the area that offer just that. Here, KNOWAtlanta looks at the resort lifestyle and its many benefits, as well as two communities in particular that represent each of the characteristics that make it such a coveted opportunity in today’s market.

What is resort-style living?

“A resort lifestyle is a special kind of managed community that offers many of the amenities you seek in a resort vacation, but they are offered in a residential community setting,” explains Bryan Allen, general manager of Traditions of Braselton in Jackson County. “When you buy a property in a resort-style community, you have access to recreational facilities (fitness centers, golf courses, tennis courts and pickleball courts), fine dining and entertainment outlets (coffeehouses, restaurants, bars, movie halls), wellness facilities (saunas, spas, yoga), a chance to indulge in outdoor activities (trails, cycling, hiking, camping) and, most importantly, round-the-clock safety measures to guard and keep the resort-style community safe and secure.”Judie Woodall, a managing member of Strategic Real Estate Advisors, agrees, adding, “The resort lifestyle is a managed community that provides residents with an upscale quality of life and includes amenities, lushly landscaped streetscapes and manicured grounds and home sites that are visually impeccable, similar to those of a high-end resort. The wide variety of recreational options and amenities offered in these communities allow a property owner to enjoy activities at their leisure versus having to jam pack an array of amenities into a two-week vacation or a long weekend. It offers the ideal staycation.”

Woodall continues, noting that the term “resort-style community” has become quite overused in recent years, as every neighborhood tries to set itself apart in the competitive home buying market. However, she states, “The use of the phrase should mean more than a pool and a few tennis courts.” The resort lifestyle is a complete package, and it often is marketed to those in the active adult living market, or home buyers who are over the age of 55 and looking for age-restricted communities that offer every possible need not just close home, but also practically right outside residents’ front doors. And it can be a challenge to navigate the process of finding the right resort-style living situation. Fortunately, the local market is replete with communities that truly meet the expectations that come with the “resort living” label.

For instance, on the northwest side of the metro area, Lake Arrowhead fits the bill perfectly. A gated mountain, lake and golf master-planned community located just outside of Canton, Lake Arrowhead has been honored with the prestigious “America’s 100 Best Places to Live” by Ideal Living magazine and “Top Master-Planned Community in the Country” by Private Communities. It centers around a 540-acre lake that is surrounded by mountains, pristine wilderness and more. With nearly 20 miles of magnificent shoreline, Lake Arrowhead’s crystal-clear waters boast depths of over 80 feet, and the community itself  features 11 miles of neighborhood trails, outdoor concerts, drive-in movies under the stars, golf tournaments, wine tastings, horseback riding, health and wellness activities and more.

Additionally, heading to the northeast side of metro Atlanta, home buyers can find Traditions of Braselton, a community that boasts beautiful, plush homes with brilliant interiors, nestled within a professionally landscaped community. Residents enjoy a resort lifestyle with access to a full-scale golf club and course, a well-maintained community club that includes a swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts and more than 50 social clubs. According to Allen, “The core concept of our resort-style living is to provide a relaxing, small town charm with comprehensive amenities surrounded by nature, which is otherwise lacking in a crowded and limited land-access older or suburban community.”

What kinds of onsite community amenities can I expect to find in a resort-style community?

Woodall reveals that the list of onsite amenities within a resort-style community should be extensive and include such options as spa-like zero-entry or invisible edge swimming pools; fitness centers with personalized wellness programs; sports courts and facilities; formal and grill dining for all occasions; outdoor activities like boating, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and fishing; and an onsite activities or lifestyle director who provides a high level of services 24 hours a day, seven days a week and offers access to activities like yoga, golf, painting, bird watching, trivia, bingo, cooking classes, wine tastings and more.She says, “Many resort-style communities have amenities that you wouldn’t typically find in a single-family neighborhood, such as community spas, multiple pools, fire pits, dining verandas, a grill or bar, pro shops and concierge-level services. And because the communities are professionally managed, property owners have the peace of mind that their management company is maintaining all community amenities at a high level.”

As Allen notes, the amenities afforded to residents in a resort-style community should make the shift from work to play as convenient and seamless as possible. He observes, “The ability to disengage from work and literally step out from your home and walk to the golf course, go to the pool or meet friends at the clubhouse is very appealing.” In fact, the social aspect is one of the most important elements in a community like Traditions of Braselton. He adds, “Perhaps the most unique aspect of living at Traditions is the culture of the community. It is truly a welcoming, social, get-to-know-your-neighbor kind of place. Residents are very socially active. The fun, friendships and fellowship is contagious. It is a common bond; people are proud to be part of the community, and it’s not something you can fake.”

Of course, nearby amenities should be considered as well when searching for a home in a resort-style community. Lake Arrowhead is in close proximity to Northside Cherokee Hospital, the Wellstar Health campus, fabulous dining and shopping in downtown Canton and the premiere Cultural Arts Center at Reinhardt University. Residents who want to venture into the city to attend a sports event or a fine arts performance can do so easily. Traditions of Braselton offers comparable access to offsite entertainment and recreation, as it is close to the North Georgia Mountains, which has become a growth area for wineries with more than 70 in the area; what’s more, Lake Lanier, the largest man-made lake in the United States, is just 30 minutes from Braselton.

What are the homes like when it comes to the resort lifestyle?

While the overall neighborhood has to offer a wide array of amenities and conveniences, the homes in a resort-style community are just as important as their surroundings. In Lake Arrowhead, for instance, there is a mix of multi-family, townhomes, single-family homes and villas, as resort-living communities tend to have something for everyone both in housing product, lifestyle and home price ranges.

Furthermore, Woodall reveals, “The new construction homes are being built by some of the most legendary Atlanta builders. John Wieland with the JW Collection, Tony Perry with Rezide Properties, Matt Wilkes and Allan Morris with Majestic Lifestyle Builders and Steve McKenzie with TIH Homes offer buyers a broad level of experience and a true commitment to excellence. So whether you are looking for a master-on-the-main mountain cottage, a single-family ranch home or you’ve fallen in love with the maintenance-free golf and lake villas, there is something for everyone with new construction prices ranging from the mid-$300s to the mid-$900s”

Traditions of Braselton also offers a diverse range of styles, interests and layouts for buyers, and the community’s builders offer customized finishes in all homes. Allen says, “Like a resort, there is a mix of sizes and prices in our community. While there are certainly higher-end homes, Traditions is intentionally not a gated community. We do believe the mix of generations and people from different backgrounds and past residences adds to the flavor and inclusion of our community. The common bond is the love of community. At Traditions of Braselton, resort-style living is a reality.”

How do I choose the right resort-style community for me?

Choosing the ideal resort-style community can—and should—be a process. Before making a decision about a particular community, Woodall recommends that home buyers stay on property for a long weekend if possible to “take a test drive.” She explains, “This will allow you to attend activities and events, ask current property owners the pros and cons of living in the community and get a sense of the overall vibe.”

Allen also suggest spending a weekend within a resort-style community to get a real feel for it. Additionally, he advises home buyers to look at the community as a whole, considering everything from the live-work-play atmosphere and the access to both onsite and offsite amenities to what the developer and homeowners association have done to create and maintain the resort lifestyle that is being touted. In the end, after careful consideration, it is possible to find a forever home in a community that feels like a vacation spot right in the metro Atlanta area. As Allen concludes, “Just imagine—all state-of-the-art facilities in resort-type living. Besides waking up to the serene views of the rising sun and a starry night, what more could you ask for?”