Bill Ness, 55Places.com Active Adult Community Guide

As the largest county in the state, Southern Delaware’s Sussex County has plenty to offer active adult retirees. It has a beautiful climate for those who enjoy experiencing all four seasons, family-friendly beaches for great summer getaways, and fascinating historic appeal. Sussex County is also home to many diverse active adult communities.

Delaware is the smallest state, stretching nearly 100 miles long and ranging in width from nine to 35 miles. Yet, this small state has significant weather changes between its northern and southern regions. Being the southernmost portion of the state, Sussex County generally has warmer temperatures, although its weather is subject to ocean effects. Summers are warm and sunny with highs in the 90s, while winters are cold with occasional snowfall.

As the country’s first state, Delaware has a long and rich history. Sussex County has roots which trace back through Native American tribes of the Algonquin Nation, and the first European explorations took place in the late 1500s. Early settlements were begun by the Dutch, though disputes soon arose with the English. Colonial Delaware was a key setting for several events during the American Revolution and history buffs will love exploring Sussex County’s historic sites and museums.

Today, Sussex County is home to both historic and modern attractions. Locals and visitors alike enjoy visiting the area’s numerous art galleries and performing arts centers. Sussex County also contains many fine wineries and breweries, such as Nassau Valley Vineyards and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.

Southern Delaware boasts some beautiful scenic areas and outdoor recreations are popular throughout the region. Fishing, boating, kayaking, biking, hiking, scuba diving and birdwatching are all common pastimes. It’s easy to get back to nature as the region lies along the East Coast and also offers several state parks including Cape Henlopen State Park and Fenwick Island State Park.

Though Sussex County has much to offer, it’s perhaps best known for its beautiful coastal beaches and scenic islands. Some of the better-known beach getaways include Lewes, Bethany Beach, Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island. These charming coastal towns feature fun boardwalks, unique shops and fabulous eateries. They are busiest during the summer’s peak tourist season when visitors flock to the area to experience its local, small-town charm.

For retirees who are considering a move to Southern Delaware, Sussex County contains several active adult communities. These amenity-rich developments include both age-restricted communities and those that are open to all ages. There are larger communities, such as the 2,000-home Heritage Shores, and more intimate communities such as Village of Cinderberry, which has less than 200 homes.

Active adults who want to live on the East Coast and experience all four seasons may find that Sussex County is an ideal fit. It is a particularly good option for those who don’t want to move too far from their families in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey or other surrounding areas. With its own small-town charm and plenty of diverse attractions, it’s easy to see why Sussex County is a great destination for active adult retirees.

This article originally appeared on 55Places.com. For more articles like this or for information about hundreds of 55+ active adult retirement communities across the country, please visit 55Places.com.

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The southwestern Chicago suburb of Lockport is home to the popular Lago Vista active adult community. This resort-style community is set on 350 acres of land and is designed around 22 scenic lakes and ponds dotting the community landscape. The community opened in 2004 and is planned to have 832 homes upon completion.

Homes at this gated Illinois active adult community are all one-story ranch style with floor plan options including single-family detached style homes and attached townhomes. Today interested home buyers can choose between either new construction or resale homes priced from the high $100’s to the high $200’s. There are five single-family style floor plans ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,196 square feet as well as three townhome floor plans ranging from 1,300 to 1,550 square feet. All of the homes include lawn care, landscaping, snow removal and full access to all of the wonderful community amenities. The monthly homeowner association fees vary based on home style.

The amenities at Lago Vista Illinois are centered around a wonderful community clubhouse. Here a full-time activities director ensures residents enjoy making new friends and meeting new people with an exciting line-up of events and activities. The 21,000 square-foot Club Lago is the heart of the community offering a comprehensive collection of amenities to encourage a physically fit and socially active lifestyle. There is a fitness center with an aerobics area, an indoor swimming pool and even a ping-pong room. Other features include studios for arts and crafts, a computer center, library, meeting rooms and a large banquet room. A sports lounge offers billiard and card tables as well as a large screen TV perfect for catching the big game. Finally, the community spa offers massage therapy and beautician services as well.

Outdoors the fun continues with another swimming pool, bocce ball courts, horseshoes, a picnic pavilion and miles of trails for walking or biking. The beautifully landscaped community is set amidst 22 sparkling lakes and ponds making for scenic vistas in every direction. Visiting grandkids will appreciate the children’s playground.

There is plenty to do within the community as well as an abundance of recreational opportunities available in Lockport and surrounding suburbs. Lockport is just a short drive from the popular town of Naperville offering exciting nightlife, shopping and cultural attractions plus downtown Chicago is just 40 minutes away. Surrounding areas offer fantastic golf courses, museums, shopping, dining, health-care facilities, continued education and much more.

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Reflection Lakes is an all-ages community in Naples, Florida offering gorgeous amenities and beautiful landscaping. While this is not an official 55+ Florida community, it does appeal to the active adult homebuyer thanks to its premiere Naples location and its attractively priced homes from the low $100’s.

Built by Engle Homes and Starwood between 2005 and 2008, Reflection Lakes is a gated community of 612 homes set amidst 30 acres of lakes and 26 acres of scenic preserves. The Naples location along Florida’s Gulf Coast offers residents wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities as well as fantastic shopping, dining, cultural venues, museums, golf courses, hospitals and more. Downtown Naples is just minutes away and the nearby waterfront and beach areas offer exciting activities including fishing, boating and more.

Homes at Reflection Lakes Naples are available on a resale basis in many styles including single-family, duplex and coach homes. Sizes range from 1,368 to over 3,000 square feet and prices range from the low $100’s to the low $400’s. There are approximately ten different floor plans to choose from offering between two and five bedrooms. Active adults will appreciate the ranch floor plan options offering single-level living.

The collection of amenities includes everything needed to enjoy a socially active and physically fit lifestyle. There is a state-of-the-art fitness center, a resort-style heated swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, bocce ball courts, volleyball courts, a picnic pavilion and a children’s playground too. There is a large multi-purpose room with a catering kitchen offering the perfect space for special events, holiday parties and more. There is a card room with luxurious card tables, a billiards room, a business center and library plus plenty of elegant spaces to socialize with friends.

A full-time lifestyle director is on-hand coordinating a wide variety of events such as neighborhood parties, group trips, fitness classes and more. Those in search of a community offering ranch homes without an age restriction will be impressed by this beautiful gated community in Naples, FL.

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Sun City West is a massive, resort-style community with 16,900 homes and the famous Del Webb lifestyle. Built between 1978 and 1997, this retirement destination is one of the most popular 55+ communities in the country.

The homes of Sun City West are available in a wide variety of prices and styles. Over the years the community was in development there were over 140 different floor plans offered including single-family homes, attached homes and villa condominiums. The single-family homes are sized from 920 to 3,500 square feet and the attached homes and villa condos range from 744 to 1,996 square feet. Pricing ranges from under $100,000 to the mid $700’s. The selection of resale homes at Sun City West range from those in original condition to homes that have been completely updated with today’s most sought-after features such as hardwood flooring, stainless steel appliances, solid-surface countertops and more. Whether you’re looking for a fixer-upper at a fantastic price or an updated home, still at a great value, you’ll likely find exactly what you’re looking for at this sprawling Arizona 55+ community.

Amenities at Sun City West are spread among four large recreation centers. Whatever your interests are its easy to find plenty of activities to enjoy thanks to the comprehensive collection of amenities. The recreation centers are homes to fitness centers, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and walking tracks, studios for dance and aerobics, hobby and craft rooms, computer lab, library, theater space, ballrooms and more. Outdoor features include multiple sports courts for bocce ball, tennis, horseshoes, pickleball, lawn bowling, volleyball, basketball and softball. Other unique features include a miniature golf course, bowling alley, greenhouse, garden plots and dog parks.

This is just a hint of what the Sun City West community has to offer. There are also nine golf courses and plenty of everyday conveniences located right within the community. There are supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, restaurants, churches, a post office and even the Del E. Webb Hospital, all located within the community and easily accessible thanks to golf cart legal streets.

Residents enjoy living an exciting social lifestyle and will find plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make new friends in the over 100 chartered clubs and special interest groups. It’s easy to take up a new hobby or perfect a favorite pastime. The convenience of having so many amenities right at your finger tips gives you more time to really enjoy all the wonderful social, educational and recreational opportunities available at this fantastic 55+ community.

Another perk of living at Sun City West is the fact that the majority of the community is located in an unincorporated area without schools. Therefore, residents enjoy some of the lowest property taxes in the nation. In addition, the yearly association fee is only $325 per year. All these perks combined with the attractively priced homes and fabulous collection of amenities makes Sun City West a fantastic choice for an Arizona retirement destination.

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The newest active adult community in Denver, Colorado is the Fairway Villas at Green Valley Ranch. The community opened to rave reviews in 2011 and is planned to be an intimate sized neighborhood of just 220 single-family style homes. Fairway Villas is located within the larger Green Valley Ranch community which boasts a fantastic golf course complete with a clubhouse, pro-shop, restaurant and more.

The Green Valley Ranch Golf Course is a par-72 course offering 18-holes of exciting golf, ideal for players of all skill levels. This impressive course is also home to the Colorado Open Golf Championships. The golf course clubhouse boasts a full-service pro-shop where residents can take advantage of special discounts, exclusive rates and preferred tee times. The Green Valley Ranch Golf Academy is a golfers dream come true with an indoor/outdoor driving range and personalized instruction opportunities. The Eagles’ Nest restaurant is the perfect dining destination and will also deliver meals to residents of the Fairway Villas Denver. The golf course is easily accessible via a direct path which leads to the site of the future resident clubhouse for the Fairway Villas.

The future clubhouse for residents ofThe Fairway Villas at Green Valley Ranch will offer 7,400 square feet of luxurious amenities. Plans call for a fitness center, lap pool and spa, two hobby rooms and computer facilities. There will also be an outdoor swimming pool, an event lawn, miles of trails for walking and biking plus wonderful outdoor dining spaces including a terrace and fire pit area.

Although the clubhouse is still in the planning stages, residents are still able to enjoy the golf course and some special perks. Residents can take advantage of a complementary monthly spa treatment and have already started meeting their new neighbors at special events such as potluck dinners, poker tournaments, book club and more.

Homes at this Colorado 55+ community are all single-family style sized from 2,090 to 2,764 square feet. All of the homes offer a unique option to the traditional basement named “Smart Space” by Oakwood Homes. This is an extra room located on the main floor of the home that can be customized for any need whether it’s a home office, guest room, storage room or hobby room. Oakwood Homes is also dedicated to energy savings and guarantees energy rates for two years in their Energy Star qualified homes. If monthly utility costs exceed those estimates, Oakwood Homes will cover the difference. Prices for the energy friendly ranch homes at the Fairway Villas range from the mid to high $200’s.

The smart home designs, energy efficient features, fabulous golf and ideal Denver location all combine to create a sought-after Colorado retirement destination. The location of the Fairway Villas is just 15 miles to downtown Denver while even closer yet residents will appreciate having convenient medical facilities, recreation, shopping, dining and more.

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