Ideal Living’s Top Places To Retire
Taking a break from media doom and gloom, remember why you want a place in the south. Isn’t it time to re-ignite your passion and dream?
Based on our reader surveys, the “lifestyle” is most desired…
Active year-round outdoor activities, small-town flare with big city access, a sense of community, golf, boating, abundant walking trails and more.
Your feedback revealed the top 5 best places for retirement. Here are the top 5 with some communities for you to explore.
1. The North Carolina Coast: Consistently ranked in the top 5 US retirement destinations, It is home to Wilmington, New Bern, Cape Hatteras, The Albemarle Sound region and more. Check out these communities:
- Waterside at The Point (Edenton, NC)
- Compass Pointe (Wilmington, NC)
- River Landing (Wilmington, NC)
2. The Florida Coast: The Sunshine State has no state income tax and some of the best real estate deals in the U.S. To Explore Florida Opportunities on the web, click here.
3. The South Carolina Coast: “Run, Forrest Run!” Forrest Gump was filmed in the Coastal Town of Beaufort. When you think of that movie, think of the SC Low Country. And when you think of golf, remember Myrtle Beach, SC with more than 140 golf courses. Take a look at:
- Callawassie Island (Okatie, SC)
- Dataw Island (Dataw Island, SC)
- Bermuda Gardens and Tupelo Bay (Surfside Beach, SC)
4. The Tennessee Mountains It’s easy to see why the Smoky Mountains made LiveSouth.com’s top picks. No state earned income tax, beautiful vistas and one of the most affordable retirement destinations. If you want to get on “Rocky Top”, have a look at these communities:
- Long Branch Lakes (Spencer, TN)
- Ladd Landing (Kingston, TN)
- Rarity Bay (Vonore, TN)
5. The North Carolina Mountains: Rounds out our top 5, the Blue Ridge Mountains have gained popularity over the past 5 years, primarily because Asheville, NC has become a national retirement destination. If you step outside of the mainstream, you’ll discover quaint mountain villages and a lot more. Each of the communities below is near Asheville.
- The Cove at Celo Mountain (Burnsville, NC)
- The Preserve at Wolf Laurel (Burnsville, NC)
- The Settings of Black Mountain (Black Mountain, NC)
Like what you see? Many of the listed regions will be on display at the 2009 Live South Fall Shows Presented By Ideal Living Magazine. Find a show near you and to request complimentary tickets, please click here: www.livesouthshows.com
leeh is
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Please send me information and 4 tickets to the south retirement community expos in my area
Delighted to see that NC holds the #1 and #5 position in top places to retire.
Let me take a moment, however, to crow about the Brunswick Islands, which was not mentioned in your section on the Coast.
Home to Bald Head, Caswell Beach/Oak Island, Holden Beach, Ocean Isle and Sunset Beach, the Brunswick Islands have it all. I’ve often tried to figure out why the Outer Banks gets all the attention, when it is primarily home to summer renters. The Brunswick Islands have full time, residential communities (I live in Caswell Beach) and while we appreciate tourism, there are year-round activities for an active retirement market.
Dont’ forget us when next thinking about the Top Places to Retire!
Toby J. Bronstein
Are you limited to the US?
It’s obvious that it is Living South on the East Coast. What about Austin, Texas, San Diego, Ca. and many places in Arizona?
You’re very biased–due no doubt to your advertisers.
Jerry Lee
Dear Jerry, thank you for your feedback. The areas you’ve mentioned are great places, we agree. They too consistently rank as best places to retire. However, this ranking was devised from our reader surveys and analytic study of visitors to our websites. Our primary focus is on the Southeastern US, thus we do attract site visitors and survey respondents who are interested in this region.
Respectfully,
Ideal Living Magazine
Bet Jerry Lee isn’t a native Texan. The true natives in WNC are cautiously proud of the recognition. However, the influx of not-so-hospitable personalities certainly shows in the neighborhood. I think if I hear, “That’s not the way we did it back in……….” one more time!!!!!!!!!! Several of us have offered free, one way, return bus tickets to wherever that ‘great place’ is.
While I realize you are covering the southern states, I feel compelled to agree with Jerry Lee that some other regional states can be beautiful states to retire in. Take for example some beautiful gated communities in Arizona like Sereno Canyon, my folks are considering this as a choice for their new home. I went and checked it out with them and the community was gorgeous.
My wife and I retired here in the Myrtle Beach area in the summer of 2000. We had been planning it for 9 years and we spent the last 5 years prior to living in Florida just to make sure we really wanted to live in Myrtle Beach. It didn’t take us long to realize that the Florida move was a mistake but we lived thru it until that wonderful day arrived.
We jumped into our car and headed to Myrtle Beach in search of a place to lease for a short time while we found just the right area to buy our last home. This chore took awhile, there were so many different areas of the Grand Strand that we liked. After a long search we settled on the Murrells Inlet (Seafood Capitol of South Carolina) area and have loved it more as every day goes on.
Finally my dream had come true, play golf almost every day, relax on the beach, meet nice folks, enjoy all the entertainment and just kick back.
Well, believe it not, I finaally got bored with retirement and returned to my real lifes passion, real estate. Returned to the business five years ago and have never been happier. Every day brings new friends, new challenges and new rewards.
Take it from me, you owe it to yourself to take a few days and visit our wonderful area before you make a decision, you’ll certainly be glad you did.
Doug