Top Communities for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Top Communities for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Life doesn’t end at retirement. For most, it’s simply the next phase in a journey of new adventures and discoveries. And for a lot of 21st Century retirees, a period that inspires a healthy, active lifestyle. One way to make sure you remain vital and energetic is to get up, get out, and participate in all that nature has to offer. 

Here, we’ll explore the best places for active adults to retire. And retirement aside, these are some of the best places to live for outdoor lovers of all types and ages. 

So let’s step outside under the sun’s rays to breathe in that pristine air as we get the heart pumping and blood flowing. Because when it comes to capitalizing on the outdoor lifestyle, these communities have a lot to offer. 

The Idaho Club—Sandpoint, ID 

Surrounded by dramatic mountain views and crystal-clear lakes, The Idaho Club is a gated golf community in the acclaimed Pacific Northwest mountain town of Sandpoint, Idaho. Ranked as one of the “Top Ten Small Towns in the Western U.S.” by Sunset Magazine, residents are treated to four-season recreation including hiking and biking trails in the Rocky Mountains, winter sports at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, and boating, fishing, and kayaking on Lake Pend Oreille. 

 

Whitetail Club—McCall, ID 

Whitetail Club is an established mountain community about two hours north of Boise. This four-season destination in the family-friendly resort town of McCall is surrounded by thousands of acres of unspoiled high country wilderness. The list of outdoor activities is vast with alpine skiing and snowboarding, hiking and camping, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, boating on the glacial waters of Payette Lake, and fishing the nearby rivers and alpine lakes. 

 

Red Ledges—Heber City, UT 

Just minutes from Park City, UT, this immaculate community is among the best places for active adults to retire. Featuring a collection of neighborhoods designed to complement the rugged beauty of the surrounding high country terrain, skiing abounds in the winter. And in the warmer months, residents revel in a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, as well as biking, hiking, horseback riding, boating, waterskiing, and blue-ribbon fly-fishing on the famous Provo River.

 

The Porches of Steamboat—Steamboat Springs, CO 

Known as Ski Town, U.S.A., Steamboat Springs consistently ranks as one of America’s most family-friendly resort towns. Along with skiing, outdoor lifestyle opportunities include golfing, hiking, fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, and horseback riding. The Porches of Steamboat is a little slice of heaven for active adult retirees, offering fractional and whole ownership real estate options for those seeking vacation homes or full-time residences.

 

Frost Creek—Eagle, CO 

About 45 minutes west of Vail, CO, this secluded mountain community offers resort-style amenities and quick access to all the splendor of the Rocky Mountains. Outdoor activities include a championship golf course, swimming pool, sports courts, hiking and biking trails, fishing ponds, camping yurts, and more. Frost Creek also organizes off-site activities such as guided fly fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and member shuttle services to nearby ski resorts. 

 

Glade Springs—Daniels, WV 

Residents of Glade Springs can surely scratch their active lifestyle itch with a variety of amenities, including championship golf courses, a fitness center, swimming pools, fishing, and 26 miles of walking, hiking, and horseback riding trails. Just a half hour from West Virginia’s capital, Charleston, outdoor lovers have plenty of options for recreational pursuits such as skiing, fly-fishing, rocking climbing, and whitewater rafting.

 

The Greenbrier Sporting Club—White Sulphur Springs, WV 

Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier’s legacy spans more than 238 years, highlighted by visits from 26 U.S. Presidents as well as countless dignitaries and celebrities. Homeowners at this luxury mountain community receive full entry to the revered sporting traditions of its private club, as well member-only benefits to more than 55 onsite amenities and services—most of which encourage active, outdoor living. 

 

Avalon—Waynesville, NC 

This 400-acre Western North Carolina mountain community is situated high atop a mountain plateau with hardwood forests and panoramic mountain views. Affectionately tagged the “Land of Wonder and Enchantment,” nearby Avalon Park has hiking trails, a stocked fishing pond, waterfalls, wildlife viewing areas, and fire pits. Residents enjoy easy access to everything the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains have to offer outdoor enthusiasts. 

 

Buck Hill Falls—Buck Hill Falls, PA 

A popular getaway with a small town vibe, Buck Hill Falls is a 4,500-acre recreational country club community in the Pocono Mountains. A true paradise for outdoor lovers, it features top-rated recreational amenities and premier lifestyle comforts throughout all four seasons. Residents enjoy a 27-hole golf course, ten Har-Tru tennis courts, youth summer camp, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, 40+ miles of trails, three waterfalls, fly fishing streams, and over a dozen other recreational offerings.

 

Eastman—Grantham, NH 

Two hours from Boston and minutes away from Hanover and New London, Eastman encompasses more than 3,700 acres of environmentally protected woodlands with nature trails, an 18-hole championship golf course, a full-service community recreation center, and a sparkling 345-acre lake with boat docks and six private beaches. This setting has attracted an active and dynamic group of families and retirees from diverse backgrounds who share a love of nature and a true sense of community.