Top 10 Communities Who Have Shopping Within Walking Distance

As Black Friday quickly approaches, shopping has become the focus as folk’s prepare for the gift giving season. Baby Boomers often ask us, where can they find neighborhoods close to shopping because people don't want to fight traffic when they're retired. Brand name department stores such as Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue are not typically located in residential neighborhoods. Here are 10 walkable communities with grocery stores, medical offices, banks, and restaurants all within walking distance of a neighborhood:

NORTH CAROLINA

BILTMORE PARK - ASHEVILLE

Built in 2007, Biltmore Park Town Square combines Asheville contemporary homes and rental apartments with brand name shopping, excellent dining choices, entertainment and office space. The Asheville YMCA, Regal Cinema, Barnes & Nobble and Hilton Asheville Hotel are located in the square. Ingles Market is situated about a half a mile down the road, the local food market. Biltmore Park Town Square is a high density 42 acre neighborhood easily visible from Interstate 26 and is only three miles from the Asheville Airport. Wide sidewalks, decorative lighting and benches accent Biltmore Park. Asheville home styles include condominium-style townhomes, flats and single family homes can be found at the park or surrounding the square. One bedrooms start at $200k, two bedrooms in the mid $200k’s and three bedrooms can be found just under $400k. It is possible to live at Biltmore Park without owning a car. If you’d like more info, ask us to introduce you to our trusted colleague who can show you the best neighborhoods in Asheville NC.

BRUNSWICK FOREST - WILMINGTON

Built in 2011, The Villages at Brunswick Forest is a 500,000 square foot town center spread across 160 acres. Anchor tenants include Lowes Food, 40,000 square foot New Hanover Regional Medical Center, CVS Pharmacy, and Hampton Inn. More retailers include BB&T Bank, Brunswick Forest Veterinary Hospital, State Farm Insurance, and Port Java Coffee. Brunswick Forest residents can access The Villages via a network of paths and trails, without ever leaving the neighborhood. The Brunswick Forest lifestyle is focused around wellness and outdoor activities. In addition to Cape Fear National Golf Course, this North Carolina coastal community has a comprehensive 18,000 square foot Fitness and Wellness Center. Buyers searching for Wilmington NC real estate can find brand new single family homes at Brunswick Forest priced under $300k. Ask us to send you Discovery Package information, so you can shop and explore this walkable community.

LANDFALL - WILMINGTON

Spread across 600 acres, Mayfaire at Town Center has been voted Best Shopping Center in Wilmington NC for six years in a row and is Wilmington’s most exciting retail development, less than a mile from Landfall’s entrance. The town center has more than 65 name brand stores, dozens of restaurants, a Regal Cinema and two hotels. Landfall Country Club is an established luxury North Carolina golf community offering condominium villas, waterfront and golf course homes, due west of Wrightsville Beach. Forbes Magazine named Landfall as one of the Best Places to Live and Work in America. If you’re searching for Wilmington NC real estate, ask us to introduce you to our trusted colleague who show you Landfall Country Club, Brunswick Forest or urban townhomes at Mayfaire.

SOUTH CAROLINA 


DANIEL ISLAND - CHARLESTON

Tucked between the Cooper River and Wandoo River, west of the Charleston Harbor, Daniel Island is an self sustaining 4,000 acre island. The Charleston neighborhood is best known for the annual Family Circle Cup held in the spring, branding Daniel Island at the country’s Best Tennis Community. The island’s downtown center is home to schools, churches, medical offices, boutiques, and restaurants, all within bicycling distance from the neighborhoods on low traffic streets. The island has hundreds of acres of community parks and a private golf course.There are approximately 2,700 homes built to date on the island. Condos can be found under $180k, townhomes from the mid $200k’s and cottage homes for sale at Daniel Island are priced from the mid $300k's. When you explore Charleston real estate with our Mount Pleasant expert, be sure to take a look at Daniel Island.

KIAWAH ISLAND - CHARLESTON

This well known resort-style South Carolina beach community has just about every lifestyle amenity you can imagine. Nicknamed the Hampton the South, you’ll find seven golf courses, three swimming pools, a tennis facility, world class spa, fitness center, miles of white sandy beaches and 30 miles of bicycle and walking trails behind the gated entrance. Before the entrance of Kiawah Island is Freshfield’s Village, an adorable retro small town square with restaurants, home decor stores, apparel, medical care, banks, postal center, dry cleaner, outfitters and Newton Farms, a gourmet food market. Freshfields Village is the site of festivals and seasonal events. Kiawah offers Charleston real estate buyers a variety of home choices. Kiawah villas can be found in the mid $200k and single family homes begin over $500k. Our trusted colleague in Charleston lives at Kiawah Island. Ask us to introduce you, so you can learn more about from a Kiawah expert.

OLDFIELD 1732 - OKATIE

This 860 gated South Carolina waterfront community is located directly across the street from a planned Publix Shopping Center. Okatie is half way between Beaufort and Hilton Head Island. Right at Oldfield, residents can ride their bikes to the community’s old fashioned general store for homemade ice cream. Oldfield is a spacious bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhood with wide streets and minimal automobile traffic. Lifestyle amenities at Oldfield include golf, wellness amenities at The Sports Club, boating and equestrian activities. Oldfield has one of the finest private outfitter programs in the Southeast. Buyer’s searching for Beaufort County real estate can find new cottage homes at Oldfield under $400k. Ask us to send you information about Oldfield’s Discovery Package, so you can experience the lifestyle first hand.

TENNESSEE

LADD LANDING - KINGSTON

Located about 20 minutes west of Knoxville, this Tennessee lake community on Watts Bar Lake was built around the 100,000 square foot Ladd Landing Town Center. Food City, Ace Hardware, Curves Fitness Center and Verizon are just a few of the retail businesses in the center. A salon, veterinarian, restaurants and medical services, to name a few more. Ladd Landing is urban-style community with homes seated up on the hill overlooking Watts Bar Lake. Amenities include a new community clubhouse and outdoor swimming pool along with 7 miles of lighting walking trails. Buyers searching for Loudon real estate on a Tennessee lake will find single family homes and condominiums at Ladd Landing. Ask us to send you more information.

PROVIDENCE - MOUNT JULIET

One of Nashville’s newest neighborhoods, the 830,000 square foot Providence MarketPlace is located at this Tennessee community’s entrance. Anchor tenants include a Target, JC Penney, Best Buy, Belk and Kroeger Grocery Store. The shopping center has a variety of restaurants, apparel stores, and retail businesses. There are eight distinct neighborhoods at Providence, all with dedicated walking and biking trails leading to the Providence MarketPlace. Each Providence neighborhood has its own style; pastel colored cottage homes, mountain rustic architecture, Lowcountry homes with wide front porches or classic Craftsman style homes. Providence townhomes and condominiums can be found under $200k or single family homes begin in the mid $200k’s. Ask us to introduce you to our trusted colleague who can show you any Nashville neighborhood, in addition to Providence.

WESTHAVEN - FRANKLIN

Named by us as our 2012 Best Tennessee Community of the Year, Westhaven is a classic example of new urbanism neighborhood, homes built around parks, schools and shopping. The Westhaven Town Center has an eclectic mix of retail, dining and professional services in addition to a Harris Teeter grocery store. Established in 2003 this Nashville neighborhood has townhomes, bungalows, carriage homes, cottages, villas and condominiums featuring Classic Revival, Greek Revival and American Classic architecture. The narrow streets are decorated by colorful homes with wide front porches, white picket fences and balconies overlooking 12 community parks and ornate water fountains. Garages are accessed by alleyways behind the homes. Westhaven amenities include a 15,000 square foot clubhouse, swimming pools, tennis, and a golf course. Home prices begin in the mid $400k’s. Ask us to send you the latest builder floor plans for Westhaven.

GEORGIA

REYNOLDS PLANTATION - LAKE OCONEE

Located in Central Georgia, Reynolds Planation is the epitome of an all inclusive resort community on Lake Oconee. This Georgia lake community built its own 609 acre shopping village at the community’s entrance. Anchor tenants at the Lake Oconee Village include Publix grocery store, CVS Pharmacy and Spotlight Theatres. Excellent restaurants and home decor stores are more retailers, to name a few. In addition to the village, a stunning Ritz-Carlton Lodge is located at Reynolds Plantation. This Georgia lake community has six championship Lake Oconee golf courses, five clubhouses, six resort-style swimming pools, 16 tennis courts, a 38,000 square foot fitness center and 36 miles of bicycle and walking trails paralleling uncrowded streets. Buyers searching for Lake Oconee real estate would be wise to tour Reynolds Plantation. Ask us to connect you with our trusted colleague who lives at Reynolds Plantation.

We hope you find this information helpful. If there’s a walkable community you know of that we missed, please let us know by leaving a comment.