Palm Coast Ranked on List of 50 Best Cities to Live

Folks who have visited the Palm Coast of Florida will not be surprised that it has recently been voted “one of the best 50 cities to live in the country” by 24/7 Wall Street.  Baby Boomers nationwide are relocating to charming small coastal towns in Florida because they offer a big bang for the buck. Homes here average under 200K. The warm weather year round, abundance of outdoor activities, lush tropical landscaping, ocean access, rich culture and a thriving economy with a job growth at 5% from 2012 through 2014 compared to the 1.8% national average add the to beach community’s appeal.

Adorned with majestic palm trees and towering oaks, Palm Coast is situated on 70 miles of saltwater and freshwater canals between the Intracoastal Waterways (ICW) allowing for easy ocean access for boating enthusiasts via the Ponce Inlet in St. Augustine.  Home shoppers will enjoy finding an abundance of waterfront properties available with deepwater dockage to satisfy the desire to spend quality time boating and fishing in this spectacular waterfront region. 

Flagler Beach in Palm Coast offers 19 miles of wide hard-packed coquina sand beaches providing the ultimate retreat from the harsh winters of the east.  There are over a dozen picturesque parks, 125 miles of walking and biking trails and fishing from the shoreline or from the ocean which provides additional activities for anglers nationwide.  The island setting creates a great escape from the norm of cold weather climates and also provides outdoor venues to keep ambitious and age-defying Boomers active and healthy. Many who visit to the exquisite Palm Coast resorts end up coming back to shop for that ideal Palm Coast home for sale for the ultimate retirement experience.

In addition to desirable year round temperatures, there is plenty to do on the Palm Coast.  Nature lovers can enjoy bird watching at St. Joe Walkway and Linear Park which are designated as Great Florida Wildlife Trails while watching dolphins happily parade along the ICW at Waterfront Park.  For added excitement, from March through December, whale watching is popular as they proudly display their newborns while migrating through the region.  For culinary delights, Palm Coast offers over 65 restaurant selections ranging from elegant 5-star dining to enjoying the “fresh catch of the day” found at local seafood shacks scattered throughout the region.  A sunset stroll on the beach enriches the soul and offers the perfect balance to a challenging round of golf or tennis that can be played at the exclusive properties found here even in the middle of winter!  

Discerning retirees can enjoy Broadway shows, symphony concerts and nationally-recognized celebrity talent at the state-of-the-art 1,000 seat Flagler Auditorium which offers first class entertainment year round.  People exploring small coastal towns in Florida are rapidly relocating to the Palm Coast which has experienced a population surge of 14.8% in the last 5 years which has created a demand for that perfect Palm Coast home for sale.

Whether it’s fishing, boating, tennis, golf, hiking, biking, bird watching or sunset cruises, active seniors have discovered the rich and fulfilling life that the Palm Coast offers its residents.  Visitors often become locals which is one of the reasons Palm Coast Florida makes the “Best 50 Cities to Live in America” list.

Now is a great time to book a trip to the Palm Coast Florida, where the weather is warm and the skies bright blue. While shopping for a winter retreat or retirement destination, here’s some of the Palm Coast neighborhoods we find of interest:

GRAND HAVEN 

When shopping for a worry free gated community, Grand Haven is a good place to start.  The majority of the 14,000 acre property is located directly on the frontage of the Intracoastal Waterway and offers some incredible water views.  With exotic natural landscaping as the backdrop to the property and two Flagler County parks adjacent to the neighborhood at Grand Haven “every day is a vacation, and a vacation is every day”.  Home options include single family homes, villas and townhomes that come with first-class country club amenities offered for the resident that call Grand Haven home.  Golfers cherish the superb 18-hole championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus as well as the 17,000 square-foot clubhouse with beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway.  The second clubhouse, the Creekside Athletic Center has a resort-styled pool and 7 championship croquet lawns. The neighborhood is also a great place to ride a bike.  An active lifestyle is the “way of life” at Grand Haven with an ambitious social club, fitness classes and year round community events, Boomers are discovering that Grand Haven offers an affordable retirement lifestyle near Flagler Beach. Send us your wish list and we’ll send you an ideal Palm Coast home for sale that matches your criteria.  Here is the list of amenities found here:

GRAND HAVEN GOLF CLUB AMENITIES

• 24 hour Manned Gated Entrance
• 17,000 square foot Golf Clubhouse overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway
• Jack Nicklaus designed 18 hole Championship Golf Course
• The Village Center with heated Olympic-size Swimming Pool, Fitness Center, Spa, Tennis Courts, Bocce Ball Courts, Waterside Cafe
• Creekside Athletic Center with resort-style Swimming Pool and Championship Croquet Courts
• Community Parks and Walking Trails

TIDELANDS ON THE INTRACOASTAL

If you’re looking for a low maintenance condominium on the Intracoastal Waterway, the Tidelands on the Intracoastal is a place to shop for a smart Palm Coast home for sale in one of the most charming small coastal towns of Florida.  Tidelands is an 80-acre property located on the ICW midway between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach and is virtually surrounded by water from three sides.  The community clubhouse features a fitness center, swimming pool, hot tub, outdoor fire pit, billiard room and entertainment center.  The community boasts 60% of “protected green space”  with a walking trail along the Intracoastal Waterway and offers both single family homes and luxury mid-rise condos.  There are approximately 150 single homes and 350 condos ranging in price from the low $100k’s to the mid $300k’s for single family homes.  With a thriving economy and an ultimate lifestyle in one of the most beautiful places in the country, Tidelands on the Intracoastal offers luxury waterfront living at an affordable price.  Here is the list of amenities found at Tidelands:

TIDELANDS ON THE INTRACOASTAL AMENITIES

• Gated Entrance
• Community Clubhouse with Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Hot Tub, Outdoor Fire Pit, Billiard Room and an Entertainment Great Room
• Resort-style Swimming Pool and Cabanas overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway
• Two lighted Tennis Courts
• One mile private Walking and Biking trail system

BEACH HAVEN

Beach Haven is a great new home beach community near one of the famous Palm Beach resorts.  It is located 1.5 miles south of Marineland between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.  Beach Haven is an refreshing neighborhood with pastel colored designer homes set within preserved natural landscaping.  This seaside retreat even has its own private beach walkway leading to the infamous Coquina Sand beach located nearby.  For a historic getaway, St. Augustine is only 20 minutes away and offers a multitude of activities to enjoy the rich history that Florida has to offer.   A reflective lake adorns the amenity center and the community offers homes with water views starting from the low $300k’s which makes Beach Haven a prime choice when searching for a Palm Coast home for sale.  There are 6 models to choose from featuring one level ranch style homes or 2-level properties ranging from 2,790 to 4,405 square feet.  There are 15 homes built to date and commendable builders are ready to help design that perfect space to call home.  When seeking a beach home, here’s an affordable option across the street from the ocean. Here is the list of amenities found at Beach Haven:

BEACH HAVEN AMENITIES

• Private beach walkover leading to Coquina Sand Beach
• Resort-style Swimming Pool overlooking the lake
• Open Air Pavilion with Bath House
• Footbridge over scenic lake
• Walking trails

SUNSET INLET

Boating enthusiasts are drawn to the boating community of Sunset Inlet located across from the beach and on the Intracoastal Waterway.  The charming two story pastel colored homes native to Florida each feature an assigned deepwater boat slip that is located within a protected inlet and provides easy access to the Atlantic Ocean via the ICW.  Within the neighborhood, residents have the luxury of boat ramps and a waterfront park. Health conscious boomers can easily enjoy the bike paths found along A1A that lead to small town shopping and local restaurants as well as the City Park that features a weekly Farmer’s Market where locals shop for healthy produce.  Sunset Inlet is located on A1A in Beverly Beach and is only 2.5 miles from downtown Flagler Beach where an evening stroll is the norm and includes a scoop of ice cream or a sunset dinner while enjoying some fresh local seafood. The laid back lifestyle here and friendly residents is what makes Sunset Inlet an ideal destination to enjoy the finest in life. Here is the list of amenities offered at Sunset Inlet:

SUNSET INLET AMENITIES

• 31 Deepwater Boat Slips with power and water
• Protected Inlet off the Intracoastal Waterway
• Sunset Dock on the Intracoastal Waterway
• Private Beach Access
• Nature Preserve and Boardwalk

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT

Anyone who’s visited Palm Coast likely knows about one of the best Palm Coast resorts found here.  It has everything! Whether it is spa treatments, golf, fitness, boating or dining at one of the six excellent restaurants, vacationing families who know the difference between average and superb choose Hammock Beach Resort.  Because of the resort’s diverse offerings, residents hardly have a reason to leave this “paradise found.”  For families, “The Kid’s Crew” provides supervised activities for kids 4-12 year of age daily, including beachside events.  There is even a 9-hole kid’s championship putting green for youngsters practicing the sport.  

Boaters have access to the Yacht Harbor Village on the Intracoastal Waterway that has 209 deepwater boat slips.  Tennis lovers can spar with their friends on the 8 lighted hydro-grid clay courts at the tennis center. The 4,000 square foot Spa at Hammock Beach Resort is frequently written about for the high quality wellness amenities and pampering services. Golfers flock to the impeccable Ocean Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus for a round of golf overlooking the calming seas of the Atlantic Ocean.  The list goes on and on. Many Boomers have chosen vacation homes offered at the Hammock Beach Resort to enjoy the good life every chance they get. Condominiums for sale can be found under $200k while beachfront homes can easily exceed $1 million. Here are the amenities found at Hammock Beach Resort:

HAMMOCK BEACH RESORT AMENITIES

• The Conservatory Golf Course designed by Tom Watson
• The Conservatory 44,000 square foot Golf Clubhouse
• The Ocean Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus
• Nine hole kid’s Championship Putting Course
• The Tennis Center at Yacht Harbor Village with 8 Lighted Tennis Courts
• Yacht Harbor Village with 209 boat slips to 100’ in length
• 4,000 square foot Spa at Hammock Beach Resort
• Seven Resort-Style Swimming Pools and Children’s Water Features
• Beach Volleyball Courts
• Six Restaurants on property

February is a great time to visit the ‘Quieter Side of Florida’.  As you get to know the area, you may agree that it is one of the “top 50 cities to live in the country.”  Don’t be afraid to ask us about all of the Palm Coasts resorts that grace the area or for help in finding your dream Palm Coast home for sale.