Planned communities have increased in popularity over the last 25 years and continue to do so each year. Though not all communities are age-restricted, you’ll find plenty of retirees in each community seeking similar benefits. The conceptualizing, planning, designing, and developing of a community ensures that homeowners’ needs will be met. The developers not only create an environment conducive to a healthy, happy lifestyle, they create a true sense of community where residents can enjoy new friends and make new memories. It’s a place where you can find unity of body, mind, and spirit, if that’s what you are looking for.
For the Fourth consecutive year, Ideal-LIVING magazine’s editors have created a list for you to find the Best of the Best in amenities and the Top 100 communities, along with a few fun facts to showcase spectaular amenities. You won’t know until you go. So choose a few communities, and plan your summer and fall travel to these destinations.
State | Community | City | Region | Gated |
55+ |
Waterviews |
Clubhouse |
Hiking & Walking |
Golf |
Tennis/Pickleball |
Pool |
Fitness Center |
Equestrian |
Boating |
Fishing |
Spa |
Resort |
Community Garden |
Land Preservation |
Green Building |
Audubon Certification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AR | Fairfield Bay ► | Fairfield Bay | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
AR | Hot Springs Village, Arkansas ► | Hot Springs Village | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
AZ | Desert Mountain ► | Scottsdale | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
AZ | Robson Ranch Arizona ► | Eloy | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
AZ | Victory at Verrado ► | Buckeye | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
BLZ | Margaritaville ► | Ambergris Caye | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
CO | Graystone Realty at Fox Acres Country Club ► | Red Feather Lakes | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
CRI | Arenal Hills ► | Tres Esquinas, Provincia de Alajuela, Los Angeles, San Ramon | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
CRI | The Palms ► | Playa Flamingo | Coastal | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
CRI | Ventana del Pacifico ► | Ojochal | Mountains | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
DE | Bayside ► | Selbyville | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
DE | Heritage Shores ► | Bridgeville | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
DE | Noble's Pond ► | Dover | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
DE | Ocean View Beach Club ► | Bethany Beach | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
DE | The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay ► | Millsboro | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||
ECU | Las Olas ► | Las Olas | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
ECU | Montecristi ► | Montecristi | Mountains | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
FL | Amelia National Golf and Country Club ► | Fernandina Beach | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
FL | Babcock Ranch ► | Babcock Ranch | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
FL | Cresswind at Victoria Gardens ► | DeLand | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
FL | Del Webb eTown ► | Jacksonville | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
FL | Del Webb Nocatee ► | Ponte Vedra | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
FL | Del Webb Oasis ► | Winter Garden | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
FL | Del Webb Sunbridge ► | St. Cloud | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
FL | Encore at FishHawk Ranch ► | Lithia | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
FL | Glen Lakes ► | Weeki Wachee | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
FL | K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Parkland ► | Parkland | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
FL | Lakewood Ranch ► | Lakewood Ranch | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
FL | Latitude Margaritaville Daytona ► | Daytona Beach | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
FL | Medley at Southshore Bay ► | Wimauma | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
FL | Oak Harbor ► | Vero Beach | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
FL | On Top of the World Communities ► | Ocala | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
FL | Plantation Bay Golf and Country Club ► | Ormond Beach | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
FL | Quail Ridge Country Club ► | Boynton Beach | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
FL | Solivita - Taylor Morrison ► | Kissimmee | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
FL | Southern Hills ► | Brooksville | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
FL | SweetBay ► | Panama City | Lake | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
FL | The Isles of Collier Preserve ► | Naples | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
FL | The Lakes at Harmony ► | Harmony | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
FL | Valenica ► | Wimauma | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
FL | Villages of Citrus Hills ► | Hernando | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
GA | Cumberland Harbour ► | St. Marys | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
GA | Currahee Club ► | Toccoa | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
GA | Reynolds Lake Oconee ► | Greensboro | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
GA | Savannah Quarters ► | Pooler | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
GA | The Landings on Skidaway Island ► | Savannah | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
GA | Waterways ► | Richmond Hill | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
MD | K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Kent Island ► | Chester | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
MEX | TAO Mexico ► | Akumal, Q.R. | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
MEX | The Fives Hotel & Private Residences ► | Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | Albemarle Plantation ► | Hertford | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
NC | Beau Coast ► | Beaufort | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
NC | Brunswick Forest ► | Leland | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
NC | Carolina Colours ► | New Bern | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
NC | Champion Hills ► | Hendersonville | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
NC | Compass Pointe ► | Leland | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
NC | Cullowhee River Club ► | Sylva | River | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||||
NC | Encore at Briar Chapel ► | Chapel Hill | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
NC | Governors Club ► | Chapel Hill | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||||
NC | Grand Highlands at Bearwallow Mountain ► | Hendersonville | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
NC | Kingfish Bay ► | Calabash | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
NC | Landfall ► | Wilmington | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | McLendon Hills ► | West End | Lake | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
NC | Palmetto Creek of the Carolinas ► | Bolivia | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | River Bluffs ► | Castle Hayne | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
NC | Riverlights ► | Wilmington | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | Rock Barn Country Club & Spa ► | Conover | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
NC | St. James Plantation ► | Southport | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
NC | Summerhouse on Everett Bay ► | Holly Ridge | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | The Bluffs on the Cape Fear ► | Leland | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
NC | The Walk at East Village ► | Clayton | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
NH | Eastman Community Association ► | Grantham | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
NJ | K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Monmouth Woods ► | Howell | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||||
NJ | Paramount Escapes Ocean Breeze ► | Manahawkin | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
PA | Lake Naomi Club ► | Pocono Pines | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
PAN | Panama Pacifico ► | Panama Oeste | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
SC | Callawassie Island ► | Callawassie Island | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
SC | City Walk at Beaufort ► | Beaufort | Coastal | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||||
SC | Coosaw Point ► | Beaufort | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
SC | Cresswind Charleston ► | Summerville | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
SC | Dataw Island ► | Dataw Island | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
SC | Haig Point Club and Community ► | Daufuskie Island | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
SC | Hartness Greenville ► | Greenville | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
SC | K. Hovnanian's Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay ► | Summerville | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
SC | Keowee Key ► | Salem | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||
SC | Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head ► | Hardeeville | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
SC | Mount Vintage ► | North Augusta | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
SC | Palmetto Bluff ► | Bluffton | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
SC | Pinckney Retreat ► | Beaufort | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
SC | Savannah Lakes Village ► | McCormick | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
SC | Woodside ► | Aiken | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
TN | Fairfield Glade & Fairfield North ► | Fairfield Glade | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
TN | Fredonia Mountain Resort ► | Dunlop | Mountains | ||||||||||||||||||
TN | Jasper Highlands ► | Kimball | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||
TN | Rarity Bay ► | Vonore | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
TN | Southern Springs by Del Webb ► | Spring Hill | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||||
TN | Tellico Village ► | Loudon | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
TN | Tennessee National ► | Loudon | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||
UT | Red Ledges ► | Heber City | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||
UT | SunRiver St. George ► | St. George | Mountains | • | • | • | • | • | • | ||||||||||||
VA | Bay Creek ► | Cape Charles | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
VA | Birchwood at Brambleton ► | Brambleton | Inland | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
VA | Chickahominy Falls ► | Glen Allen | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||||
VA | Colonial Heritage ► | Williamsburg | Coastal | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||||||
VA | Fawn Lake ► | Spotsylvania | Lake | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | |||||
VA | Fords Colony ► | Williamsburg | River | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • |
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