Live Life on Vacation
A week in Florida may be nice, but imagine living in this tropical paradise for the rest of your life! Many folks choose to retire here and spend every day on vacation. Here are some great places to live your life on vacation!
Note: all statistics are from the U.S. Census.
On the Gulf Coast
Known for its slower pace of life and gentle waves from the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast is an excellent place to settle down, put your toes in the soft white sand, and enjoy a lifetime of sunsets on the beach.
Safety Harbor
Median Home Price: $268,800
Senior population: 21.6%
Nestled on the west side of Upper Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor offers visitors a unique small town setting that is home to a wide variety of things to see and do. This is a particularly lovely spot to settle if you love boating. The parks here offer a healing encounter with nature, and a particular favorite is Philippe Park by the water. Safety Harbor Marina and Fishing Pier is a popular gathering spot for fisherfolk and boaters alike, and is also a great place to watch pleasure boats and fishing charters sailing to and fro. If you’re looking for a little excitement on the weekend, it’s a simple drive to downtown Tampa for a busy, big city experience. You can then return to the safety of your home by the harbor.
In the safety of Safety Harbor, create your dream home in your ideal community. A local home community creator, Deeb Family Homes has been creating the perfect homes in Safety Harbor for over 70 years - so these are the people to trust when you are looking for your dream home. If you are looking for a company with financial strength, stability and longevity, Deeb Family Homes should be your builder. Review our past so you can plan your future with confidence.
deebfamilyhomes.com
Punta Gorda
Median home price: $189,000
Senior population: 54%
On the southwestern side of Florida is Punta Gorda, a waterfront retreat of a town to which many retirees are drawn. In fact, over half of the population in Punta Gorda are seniors, so you’re sure to have lots of company. This is yet another great destination for water lovers, too - you could spend your days relaxing on the beach or out on the boat. This is a great place to keep a boat, thanks to Charlotte Harbor, which is one of the U.S.’s largest natural harbors. The town’s Fisherman Village is a great place to find shopping, dining, live entertainment, and even sunset cruises. A perk of being located in Punta Gorda is that when family comes to visit, they can fly directly into Punta Gorda Airport! The bustling city of Sarasota is located just north, and the iconic beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel and Captiva Islands are located to your south.
One of Punta Gorda’s top retirement communities is Buttonwood Village, which is southwestern Florida living at its best: pristine landscaping, brightly-colored homes and villas with tropical decor, private lanais for watching the sunset, and stocked fishing lakes for the avid fisherman.
ci.punta-gorda.fl.us
buttonwoodvillage.com
Sarasota
Median home price: $359,900
Senior population: 27%
Sarasota is known for its cultural offerings, this a fantastic place to live if you love to indulge in the arts. Once home to the circus magnate John Ringling, it boasts The Ringling estate museum and gardens. Thanks to the Ringlings’ support of the local arts community, it is thriving to this day, and offers a variety of theaters, the Van Wezel Performance Center, the Sarasota Opera House, and a plethora of art galleries. For retirees, there are many beautiful retirement communities dotted throughout the Sarasota area (as well as its sister city, Bradenton). Many 55+ neighborhoods feature smaller homes that are easier to care for, with the benefit of swimming pools and other recreational activities for both you and visiting family to enjoy.
Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay is retirement living at its most luxurious, providing a new perspective on your life of retirement. Residences are designed to space and light, with views of downtown Sarasota, Sarasota Bay, or the Gulf of Mexico.
sarasotafl.gov
plymouthharbor.org
In the Panhandle
Home to some of Florida’s most historic and established cities, as well as beautiful waterfront towns, the Florida Panhandle is the place to be for those who enjoy life out on the waves.
Destin
Median Home Price: $332,000
Senior population: 18%
A favorite vacation destination for lovers of the water, Destin is known as “The Fishing Capital of the World.” Boaters from around the country gather here, particularly in the summer, to float on the emerald green waves and soak in the warm yellow sun. This could be one of the best places to spend vacation - let alone, the rest of your life! Neighborhoods range in size from modest ranch houses to grand mansions. Condos tower over the northern side of the harbor, where you can watch the boats sail in and out. The town has 12 beach access points, a gorgeous boardwalk, and lots of shopping in the busier part of the city, and a fabulous arts and culture scene includes concerts, wine walkabouts, and an annual weekend arts festival sponsored by the Mattie Kelly Art Foundation. The natural attractions here, apart from the water, include Henderson Beach State Park and Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park.
Riverwalk Landing takes you on a lifelong vacation with resort style living. Enjoy premier amenities, miles of walking trails, and boating and fishing on Choctawhatchee Bay within the securely gated community, while you are just minutes from the emerald waters and beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Riverwalk is pet friendly, and family will love to visit with Destin and South Walton County offering incredible dining, shopping, and golf and recreational facilities just a short drive away.
riverwalklandingfl.com
Apalachicola
Median Home Price: $156,000
Senior population: 22%
Perhaps one of the most iconic small towns of the Florida Panhandle is Apalachicola. As part of Florida’s “Forgotten Coast,” you can experience the breathtaking beauty of a bygone era captured in the well preserved historic architecture and amazing homes that line its tree shaded streets. Beautiful, peaceful, and archaically romantic, the area of Apalachicola Bay is amazing for all kinds of unique shopping discoveries. Riverside Mercantile in Downtown Apalachicola is an electric shop of vendors who offer vintage finds, handmade jewelry, home decor, candles, ornaments, and even delicious Tupelo honey. Art lovers should certainly visit the Sea Oats Gallery, which provides art with a focus on local artists and craftspeople. For the modern mermaid, Riverlily includes beauty collections from all over the world, as well as beautiful, vintage style jewelry, and more for your beach beauty needs. Become acquainted with the maritime lifestyle and history of the area at the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, founded to celebrate and preserve the area’s past in a hands-on learning environment with active sailing program and adventure programs, boat-building, restoration, and educational programs.
Apalachicola Realty, Inc. specializes in commercial and investment properties, with a focus on downtown Apalachicola. An active real estate broker since 1973, Leon Bloodworth brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business.
apalachicolarealtyinc.com
On the Atlantic Coast
This coast moves at a faster pace and the ocean waves are more exciting, with iconic beachfront towns and experiences like rocket launches, NASCAR races, cruises, and more - for a life of constant excitement.
Daytona Beach
Median home price: $153,000
Senior population: 20%
As one of the most iconic vacation destinations throughout the decades, Daytona Beach is an excellent place to spend your years. Classic beachfront experiences like a boardwalk, city pier, and bandshell concerts will have you hearkening back to days gone by. Travel a little inland, and you can visit the world famous NASCAR racetrack, tour beautiful arts and culture destinations, and shop ’til you drop. Despite being an international vacation destination, Daytona Beach still offers that heartfelt hometown feel and is a wonderful place to settle down.
Winner of 17 National Association of Home Builders Awards including Best 55+ Community of the Year, Latitude Margaritaville is certainly the truest way to live your life on vacation every day. This resort style retirement community is inspired by the lifestyle of singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffet, who has built a faithful following over the years that focuses on chilling out and enjoying the paradise around you. Masterfully crafted new Minto Daytona Beach homes for sale let you hang your hat where your heart is. You can even wiggle your toes in the sand at the private beach club overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
latitudemargaritaville.com
Stuart
Median home price: $315,000
Senior population: 29%
Any New Yorkers looking to retire on Florida’s Atlantic Coast may want to check out Stuart, located less than hour north of West Palm Beach and famous as the spring training home of the New York Mets! As a part of Martin County, which is known for its natural beauty and scenic roadways, it’s also a popular spot for auto lovers to motor around. You can also hop onto the iconic A1A and road trip up to St. Augustine or down to Miami (if you’re feeling quite adventurous, you could keep going to the Florida Keys). The combination of fun things to do with small-town living is most likely what spurred Coastal Living Magazine to award Stuart the prestigious “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” designation in 2016.
The Pointe at Ocean Boulevard is a top choice for senior living communities in Stuart, providing “casually elegant” living in spacious apartments with a focus on ease of access and peace of mind. Onsite are chefs to prepare your meals, a fitness center, transportation, and 24 hour onsite staff.
cityofstuart.us
thepointeatoceanboulevard.com
Vero Beach
Median home price: $269,900
Senior population: 28%
North of Stuart is Vero Beach, which is a favorite of many retirees thanks to its plethora of recreation centers and, of course, its pristine beaches for which it is named. 27 percent of the population here is seniors, so you’ll make lots of friends, and there are many retirement communities here from which to choose. Vero Beach has the sensational knack of combining world-class luxury and an arts and culture scene featuring theater, art museums, ballet, and opera, with small-town charm, which is why residents and visitors alike find it so attractive. This is probably why, like Stuart, Coastal Living Magazine chose it as one of the “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns” in 2018.
Fairlane Harbor Homes is a retirement community for active adults, located on 40 acres beside the Indian River Lagoon with the Atlantic Ocean just minutes away. This desirable community offers manufactured homes with relaxing porches and stellar views, as well as a community clubhouse that hosts lots of social events. Take a swim in the pool, hit the shuffleboard court, or fish off the community dock.
covb.org
fairlaneharborhomes.com
In Central Florida
Anyone who desires the feeling of a small hometown in the climate of a tropical paradise will love to live in Central Florida.
The Villages
Median home price: $295,000
Senior population: 82%
The Villages is a huge retirement community in Sumter County, located in Central Florida. Sometimes referred to as “Disney World for Adults,” The Villages is a rapidly growing, lifestyle-based community that offers more than 2,000 activities for residents. You can choose between seasonal or year-round living here, with homes and villas that are unique in their styling to set each apart from each other, so that rather than feeling like you’re in a cut-and-paste subdivision, you feel like you’re living in a beautiful neighborhood. This is the ideal spot for golfers, as The Villages has their own Executive courses, and residents receive free lifetime membership to all of our Championship Country Clubs, including Palmer Legends and Nancy Lopez Legacy - you could play golf every day, if you wanted! For social gatherings, there are the previously-mentioned activities, as well as three old-fashioned town squares, shopping and dining, entertainment including live performances, and social clubs.
thevillages.com
More Places to Live in Florida
Winter Haven
Median home price: $198,500
Senior population: 25%
Also in Central Florida is Winter Haven, known for its Chain of Lakes and interconnected canals that provide endless activities for water lovers like boaters and fishermen. The surrounding area also features many attractions like the Lake Wales Historic District and Bok Tower Gardens. The gardens provide acres of tall oaks, fragrant flowers, and historic architecture, and is a great place to bring the family or perhaps just spend some time by yourself with a good book. Winter Haven’s economy is built on small businesses and entrepreneurs, and there is a strong music, theater, and arts culture - just a couple of the reasons that the community here is a strong and happy one, which makes Winter Haven truly feel like home. While the median age range is younger here than other choices on our list, some retirees prefer to live in a town with a variety of ages. Many retirees choose to buy a home here thanks to great prices, although some find that Winter Haven’s retirement communities are the best places to live. Spring Haven Retirement, part of Meridian Senior Living, is located on five acres of lakeside land, with scenic views and a convenient location close to town. They offer both independent and assisted living, depending on your needs, and encourage social living with lots of community activities.
mywinterhaven.com
meridiansenior.com
