Florida is the most popular retirement destination in the country. Not only does it attract retirees because of its tropical climate, sandy beaches, and tax-friendly environment, but it also draws the 55+ crowd thanks to the numerous active adult communities found throughout the Sunshine State. There’s a wide selection of age-restricted communities that range from small and charming communities to large master-planned developments.
These larger 55+ neighborhoods are designed as self-sustaining communities that provide retirees with world-class amenities as well as daily conveniences like on-site shopping. These amenities make it easy for residents to have everything they could want or need within walking or golf-cart driving distance.
With more retirees wanting to remain active during retirement, they’re seeking communities that offer a walkable environment that will fit their lifestyle. If you love to shop and you want to be within walking distance of incredible amenities, check out these 55+ communities in Florida with on-site shopping.
VillageWalk at Lake Nona – Orlando, FL
Mid $200s – Low $900s
VillageWalk at Lake Nona is an active lifestyle community in Orlando, Florida. It’s a 489-acre neighborhood within the 7,000-acre, master-planned development of Lake Nona. This picturesque community was designed around a 26,000-square-foot Town Center that’s the central hub of activities and amenities, and nearly all of the 1,300 homes are situated along an intricate network of canals.
Among the many amenities found within VillageWalk at Lake Nona are convenient shopping options within walking or biking distance of the Town Center. The community has an on-site beauty salon, a day spa, a deli and market, a gas station, and a pet boutique, making it easy for residents to get what they need without having to travel far from home.
Del Webb Ponte Vedra – Ponte Vedra, FL
Mid $200s – Low $600s
Retirees love living in Del Webb Ponte Vedra, a gated 55+ community within the award-winning, master-planned development of Nocatee. Del Webb Ponte Vedra is a quiet enclave with 1,988 homes and the 38,000-square-foot Anastasia Club.
In addition to private amenities for the 55+ section, residents also have access to the master-planned amenities in Nocatee that include the Town Center, which opened in 2010. The Town Center, which is a one-stop shopping center for all residents, features many on-site shopping options like a grocery store, banks, dry cleaners, gas stations, restaurants, and medical facilities.
The Villages – The Villages, FL
Mid $100s – High $1Ms
As one of the largest age-restricted communities in Florida and in the world, The Villages has everything active adults could want or need just a bike or golf-cart ride away. The massive community, which spans three counties, three zip codes, and more than 20,000 acres, is connected by over 100 miles of golf cart-legal streets and trails.
The community is also a self-sustaining town that comes complete with storefront shops, restaurants, banks, post offices, healthcare centers, recreational facilities, and numerous amenities. Residents can visit the three town squares that host an assortment of cafes, restaurants, movie theaters, and boutiques.
Sun City Center – Sun City Center, FL
Below $100k – Mid $500s
More than 11,000 residents call Sun City Center in the Tampa Bay area home. This 55+ community was opened in 1961 and will host 9,500 homes when completed. Sun City Center was designed as a self-contained village that provides everything residents need.
Residents get around the massive development via golf-cart permissible streets where they can get to various retail shops, restaurants, amenities, grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks. Sun City Center is also home to four large shopping centers as well as ten worship centers that offer a variety of denomination services.
On Top of the World – Ocala, FL
Below $100k – Low $400s
Located in Ocala, the acclaimed Horse Capital of the World, On Top of the World is a beautiful age-restricted community that offers retirees an exciting lineup of amenities and activities. The community also has a variety of home designs that come in different styles and prices.
On Top of the World has a rich lineup of amenities like several clubhouses, fitness centers, swimming pools, sports courts, three 18-hole golf courses, and a not-for-profit learning center. This planned 10,000-home community is one of the largest in the Sunshine State and provides retirees with daily conveniences like on-site shopping found at the Circle Square Commons. This entertainment and social hub features several everyday conveniences such as an ice cream parlor, a deli, a farmers market, a design studio, a cultural center, and a spa.
Fiddler’s Creek – Naples, FL
High $100s – Mid $2Ms
Fiddler’s Creek is a master-planned development located in the beautiful city of Naples. This large community will consist of 6,000 homes upon completion and offers residents a myriad of home designs as well as amenities and activities that promote a healthy and social lifestyle within a low-maintenance environment.
Residents have access to a wide selection of resort-style amenities like the 54,000-square-foot Club & Spa, an 18-hole Arthur Hills Creek golf course, and the Tarpon Club, which is a private amenity for residents who opt to purchase a membership to utilize the facilities. The Tarpon Club offers on-site retail and a day spa as well as access to a beach pavilion, concierge services, beachfront bar and grill, a restaurant and lounge, locker rooms, private beach access, a marina, and rental slips for dry and wet boat storage.
