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What You’ll Gain From Reading This Article: This article provides valuable information about the appeal of Florida’s Treasure Coast as a retirement destination for active adults with pets. The article also provides pet-friendly 55+ community recommendations.
Florida’s Treasure Coast is one of the nation’s top destinations for retirement. Active adults love the region’s climate, beaches, culture, and numerous age-restricted communities. But it’s not just a great area for people—dogs love the Treasure Coast as well! If you have a furry friend and you’re searching for affordable 55+ pet-friendly communities in Florida, we have some Treasure Coast communities for you to explore.
Owning a Dog in a 55+ Community
When searching for pet-friendly communities, it’s important to understand the pet policies of each community. Even if a community says they’re pet friendly, there may be restrictions or certain guidelines for pets. Active adults with four-legged companions should also consider the dog-related amenities. Explore the community and the surrounding area to ensure your best friend will have an enriching life.
Studies show that taking care of a dog improves both the mental and physical health of active adults. According to American Humane, having a furry friend reduces stress, combats loneliness, lowers blood pressure, and helps you stay active. Certain breeds may be a better fit for the 55+ lifestyle than others, but any dog can support a healthy and happy life.
Retire to the Dog-Friendly Treasure Coast
With year-round pleasant weather, sandy beaches, and dog parks, the Treasure Coast is a prime location for active adults with pups. The area even sponsors plenty of annual dog-themed and dog-friendly festivals and events. For example, you and your dog can participate in the Mutt March 5K/10K and Festival, an annual fundraiser for the Humane Society hosted in Stuart, Florida.
If this sounds like your place to be, we’ve put together a list of Treasure Coast 55+ communities ideal for humans and dogs alike.
PGA Village Verano – Port St. Lucie, FL
Mid $300ks – Low $1Ms
PGA Village Verano is a master-planned community that would make any golfer wag their tail. Featuring 1,800 single-family and attached homes, the residences span a range of floor plans and styles. Homeowners have access to miles of sidewalks and walking paths, allowing for quality walks around the community with their furry friends. Also, pet owners can easily walk to the community’s dog park which features separate areas for large and small dogs.
In addition to the dog park, there are plenty of resort-style amenities. The clubhouse features a fitness center, an arts and crafts studio, a library, a game room, and a ballroom. Residents enjoy indoor and outdoor pools as well as athletic courts and a fire pit. Also, the championship golf course features 54 holes of meticulously kept fairways, roughs, and greens.
Nearby veterinary office options include Faith Animal Hospital, North Port St. Lucie Animal Hospital, and Kelly’s Animal Hospital. Additionally, owners can bring their dogs to local dog parks such as McChesney Dog Park and Lyngate Park. Dogs can get their paws sandy at dog beaches like Walton Rocks Beach Dog Park. Also, plenty of restaurants nearby offer outdoor seating so pets don’t need to stay at home when homeowners go out to dinner. Port St. Lucie prides itself on its dog friendliness when it comes to walkability and pet stations.
Del Webb Tradition – Port St. Lucie, FL
Mid $300ks – High $600ks
Renowned 55+ community builder Del Webb has a reputation for creating communities ideal for active adults and their furry friends. Del Webb Tradition is no exception. This community offers resort-style amenities, a bustling social calendar, a convenient location, and thoughtfully crafted homes. Active adults searching for somewhere to retire on the Treasure Coast will find Del Webb Tradition one of many affordable 55+ pet-friendly communities in Florida.
Several resort-style amenities accompany the 550 single-family and attached homes of Del Webb Tradition. Residents enjoy a community clubhouse, a social building, a fitness studio, an outdoor resort-style pool, and athletic courts. Additionally, the community’s walking and biking trails wind around scenic ponds, lakes, and nature preserves, perfect for dog walks. Del Webb Tradition will soon also have a new dog park for residents and their pets to enjoy.
The surrounding area is full of parks and greenspaces for residents and their pets. Explore Woodland Trails Park, Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area, and Spruce Bluff Preserve. The coast and its scenic beaches can be reached in about 45 minutes, and pet owners can spend a day in Downtown Port St. Lucie. Dog owners at Del Webb Tradition can also visit nearby vets such as the Animal Health Center of Port St. Lucie, Martin Animal Clinic, and Kindness Animal Hospital.
LakePark at Tradition – Port St. Lucie, FL
High $200ks – High $400ks
Located in the master-planned Tradition development, LakePark at Tradition offers residents the atmosphere of a small town with the benefits of a larger community. The community plans to build 644 single-family and attached homes, with new and resale homes available. Residents live a low-maintenance lifestyle thanks to a homeowners’ association (HOA) that takes care of lawn care, common area maintenance, cable, high-speed internet, and alarm system monitoring.
For dog owners, both LakePark at Tradition and the master-planned development offer many dog-friendly amenities. Residents of LakePark have access to their own two-sided dog park. There’s also a clubhouse, an outdoor pool, and athletic courts. Additionally, residents can access all of the amenities at the neighboring community—TownPark at Tradition.
Tradition offers many additional dog-friendly amenities. For example, Tradition Trail connects more than 300 acres of parks and preserves. Residents can also take their dog to Tradition Square for shopping and dining or to Southern Grove Amphitheater for an outdoor concert. This new amenity will feature year-round performances when completed. Another new addition to Tradition will be Western Grove Tradition Regional Park, which will allow dog owners to bring their pets to a baseball or soccer game.
Cresswind at PGA Village Verano – Port St. Lucie, FL
Low $300ks – High $500ks
Cresswind at PGA Village Verano, located in the master-planned PGA Village Verano development, includes 249 single-family homes. Homeowners enjoy the 27,000-square-foot Club Talavera Social Clubhouse which houses an auditorium, a ballroom, a demonstration kitchen, and a game room. For an additional cost, residents can access the 54-hole championship golf course, the 35-acre PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance practice facility, and the PGA Historical Center Museum.
The single-family homes start in the low $300s, making Cresswind at PGA Village Verano another option for affordable 55+ pet-friendly communities in Florida. The energy-efficient homes range from 1,571 to 2,576 square feet. They also feature two to four bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. The homes feature first-floor primary suites and outdoor spaces that dogs are sure to enjoy as much as their owners.
The surrounding area of Port St. Lucie provides numerous opportunities to go on adventures with your pup. Residents of Cresswind at PGA Village Verano can easily reach several dog parks and dog beaches. You can also visit places like the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens and Savannas Preserve State Park. Many local breweries and restaurants welcome and encourage dogs at their establishments. Additionally, several local services allow owners to take their dogs on kayak tours of the local waterways.
The Windjammer – Stuart, FL
High $100ks – High $300ks
The Windjammer is a 55+ community on the Treasure Coast with 130 condominium homes. When it comes to affordable 55+ pet-friendly communities in Florida, The Windjammer offers waterside living with prices starting in the high $100ks. The homes offer 1,137 square feet of living space with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and plenty of room for a furry friend. Residents have access to a clubhouse with multipurpose gathering spaces, two outdoor resort-style pools, and even a private boat dock with slips available for residents.
Residents of The Windjammer enjoy a completely maintenance-free lifestyle since the HOA takes care of all interior and exterior home maintenance, common area maintenance, and grounds maintenance. The ability to lock up and go at any time allows homeowners to travel with their pets or explore the local community at any time. No yard work and no do-it-yourself maintenance means more time spent walking, playing with, and spoiling the dog.
Feel free to explore nearby Haney Creek Dog Park and Poppleton Creek Dog Park. Veterinary services can be found at Indian Street Animal Clinic, Stuart Animal Hospital, and Monterey Animal Clinic. Stuart also has many nearby restaurants and shops that welcome dogs. Residents can take their pooches on a 15-minute car ride to Stuart Beach year-round and walk along the scenic Treasure Coast.
55places Can Find the Right Place for You and Your Pet
If you’re seeking the perfect 55+ community for you and your pet, 55places is here to help! Our experienced real estate agents can help you navigate community tours, pet policies, and every step of the homebuying journey. Make your Florida retirement a reality—your dog will thank you! Contact us today to get started.
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