Antique furniture can last for centuries, with it being passed through families or sold to people who will continue to cherish it. Compared to the average 15-year lifespan of modern furniture, it makes a huge difference to waste.While the process of buying antiques may be slightly different, with the ability to purchase from auctions, dealers and private collectors, there are plenty of reasons to buy antiques rather than new furniture. There’s no denying that antique furniture has character – something that most modern furniture is missing. Design features have been lovingly and carefully crafted by hand so that each piece is unique. Even small damage from over the years helps to add to the character of antique furniture and tells a story. Choosing antique furniture allows you to be part of that history and means that you get to preserve the heritage that people in the future will learn from.
What is an antique vs vintage store?
The primary difference between vintage boutiques and antiques shops, beyond the prevalence of Federal-style dressers, oil painting, and mahogany demilune tables, is the age of the goods. Vintage generally means the pieces are less than 100 years old, while antiques are the grande dames of the secondhand world.
In comparison, antique furniture tends to hold or increase in value for many years, meaning there is always a market for it. Antique furniture was also made from seasoned timber using techniques that mean any damage is often minimal, reducing the need to replace pieces.Antique furniture can tell you a lot about the period in which it was made. It is often also made using techniques that are not around now, which makes it important in terms of understanding our history.
A large amount of new furniture isn’t made to last more than a few years, which is why it can be sold so cheaply. Even new solid wood furniture loses half its value as soon as it leaves the shop floor, which can mean that it isn’t worth the hassle for the owner to sell it on when it’s no longer needed.
Buying antique furniture generally means that you are supporting a small or local business. Whether you buy from an antique shop or head to an auction, most sellers are not big chains. This means you are helping to support them and keep them in business while benefitting from beautiful furniture. While many furniture makers are turning to greener business practices to improve sustainability and reduce emissions, mass-producing furniture is always going to leave a larger carbon footprint. Between mass harvesting of wood, the manufacturing process and the transportation of furniture – often from overseas – modern furniture tends to lead to a greater level of emissions than antique furniture. Every item of antique furniture has a story to tell, both when it comes to who made it and who previously owned it. Whether it’s a piece that has been passed down to different generations in a family and so has a personal history attached to it or one that has been owned by many unconnected people over the years, the heritage is important.This is because antique pieces will have been made by hand, using materials that were gathered without large machinery. As much waste as possible would also have been used for other furniture or for other purposes.
If you haven’t purchased antique furniture before, you might be wondering why to start now when you can simply pop to a modern furniture store and walk away with something brand new. A Carbon Clear study in 2010 found that there is a huge difference in the level of carbon emissions when buying antique furniture instead of new. The research suggested that the carbon impact of buying a new chest of drawers could be 16 times higher than buying antique drawers. The sometimes subtle differences between thrifting, vintage shopping, antiquing, and estate sale hunting tend to boil down to the same result: a fascinating purchase. One upside to our country’s insatiable consumption, Powell says, is that we’ll never run out of things to uncover in the cluttered aisles of a thrift store — and no two shoppers’ tastes will ever look identical. There truly is something for everyone.
There’s an entire system to estate sales that can be intimidating to newcomers. There are previews, lines, set times, different prices for different days, bidding, negotiations and rifling through what often feels like a time capsule. There are days when you’ll go to a sale at an incredible mid-century house only to find nothing but romance novels and chipped china, and other times when a roadside sign leads you to a solid wood, delicately carved dresser for $40.
“Thrifting is all about being at the right place at the right time. You never know what you might come across,” adds Griggs. “And, sometimes you don’t find anything at all — which keeps you coming back.”Griggs explains that it’s often worth checking out the estate sales ahead of time to see whether their taste catches your eye. “With estate sales, there is usually a preview online or a walkthrough beforehand,” she says.
“Thrifting for your home is pure freedom. Whatever strikes your fancy, whatever you’re looking for to feather your nest — you can find,” adds Megan Powell, owner of Goods Resurrected, an online vintage shop. “Between creating a style all your own, saving money and saving items from a landfill — it’s truly one of the best ways to create a home.”
Plus, it’s not just furniture waiting to be found. Wallace adds that you can also pick up other household items at a bargain price while you’re there. “You can find items such as lighting, clothing, cookware, household cleaning supplies and even tools!” she says.For that reason, Powell says, “Antique stores can be easier to shop. Most dealers have a style or look, and you can hone in on the spots that work for you. Plus, in an antiques mall, I love knowing I’m supporting tons of small businesses in one spot.” Similar to vintage shops, antique shops and malls are more intentionally collected spaces — and often have higher price tags. The primary difference between vintage boutiques and antiques shops, beyond the prevalence of Federal-style dressers, oil painting, and mahogany demilune tables, is the age of the goods. Vintage generally means the pieces are less than 100 years old, while antiques are the grande dames of the secondhand world. The past two years have been good to the secondhand economy. Thrift shopping has gone from a catchy 2013 pop song to the way to find everything from a perfectly grandmillennial floral sofa or an almost-new Le Creuset, to a slim-lined Parsons-style desk. But so many terms get thrown around in one secondhand bucket — thrifting, vintage shopping, antiquing, estate sale hunting — what do they all mean? Can they be used interchangeably, and if not, what are their differences? And how do you start your own secondhand love affair?While antiquing, you’ll peruse artfully arranged vignettes and booths where dealers often specialize in a particular era or provenance. Love quirky Art Nouveau? There’s probably a dealer out there who hunts down the most stunning, intricate pieces. Prefer a simplistic Shaker style? Make your way over to one of the early American dealers.
Jamala Wallace, a thrifting fanatic and creator of the Instagram community that shares their finds under the hashtag #lifestyleofthethriftandfamous, notes that shopping for decor at charity-based thrift stores is often the best way to find intriguing (and unique!) furniture, art collectibles at affordable prices — plus, your purchase often goes towards a good cause.
Thrifting is straightforward. It includes scouring thrift stores, including those run by charities, churches, and other non-profit groups, as well as stores like Goodwill, for secondhand items. When you go thrifting, it’s all about the thrill of the hunt. You stroll down linoleum-covered aisles, squinting under the glow of fluorescent retail lights, eyes darting from mustard yellow Pyrex to abandoned wedding crystal. Beneath stacks of grocery store dishes, you spot a winner: a full set of 1950s Fiestaware. And the price? It can’t be beat.But don’t think that vintage shopping means there aren’t deals to be found. Powell shares an insider secret:“While the dealer has done the hunting and research for hours, there’s always that item that the seller might not know what they have, or that you value more.”
What are the oldest malls in Europe?
Galleria Vittorio – The World’s Oldest Shopping Mall.
If the idea of combing through someone’s grandmother’s belongings has you a bit uneasy, know that you’re not alone — but you’re also potentially saving these items from a dumpster.Dusty, mothball-filled closets and pantries full of pastel china often come to mind when thinking of estate sales, and while those images aren’t exactly wrong, they don’t even begin to scratch the (sometimes fragile) surface of all the gems waiting within the homes of those recently (but not always) departed.
As Wallace explains, “The pieces are less common because items are hand selected by their shop owners. Although prices may be slightly higher, the items are usually pristine and/or designer brand.” These days, vintage home stores are often associated with mid-century and 1970s decor, with their perfect marriage of minimalism and bold gaudiness. “Shopping someone’s actual home can be an odd thing, especially since most people have passed away, but it’s an amazing look into their life. You’re essentially walking in on collections after collections, cleaning products, family photos, toilet paper and anything else you can imagine,” Powell says. “If you’re willing to dig — you can find gold!” Finding these pre-loved treasures is about more than affordable price tags. “What I love most about vintage and antique goods is the story of the paths these pieces took to get here today,” explains Anne Griggs of Hoskins Creek Home, an Instagram vintage shop and antiques booth in Tappahannock, Virginia. “Where did they come from? Who did they belong to? It’s living history.”
Vintage shopping for home decor is closely related to vintage shopping for incredible statement clothing items. You’re often hunting through thoughtfully curated boutiques for that one standout piece that will come into your home and announce, “I am here.” Perhaps it’s a mint condition Barcelona Chair, a lacquered Henry Link desk, or a lithograph from a 1960s pop artist.
Its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts, define Charleston, the charming South Carolina port city founded in 1670. That sense of history is reflected in the Charleston Antique District, with several stores offering furnishings, decor and garden accessories. The antique scene is regularly recognized by Southern Living and others as one of the best antiquing cities in the country.
Maine has more than its share of charming small towns. It has something to do with the water. Whatever the reason, Wiscasset is definitely among the delightful destinations. Full of 19th-century Federal architecture, Wiscasset is nestled against the Sheepscot River about 45 miles northeast of Portland. It was established as a Native American settlement, a history that lives on in the shops in the Wiscasset Antique District. Several shops are located in historic buildings. Antique and vintage storeowners specialize in art, antique weapons and nautical collectibles. The Wiscasset Antiques Mall features 100 dealers in a more than 13,000-square-foot showroom.
Paul Kennedy is Editorial Director of the Collectibles Group at AIM Media. He enjoys mid-century furniture, photography, vintage movie posters and people with a good story to share. Kennedy has twenty-five years of experience in the antiques and collectibles field, including book publishing. Reach him at [email protected]’s a Sisyphean task to pick the best antiquing cities in the U.S. simply because there are just too many to choose from. Emerging venues join traditional communities to offer a glorious patchwork of destinations for every antiquing experience imaginable.
What is the older town in Florida?
#1 Punta Gorda Nicknamed Florida’s Harborside Hometown, Punta Gorda is known for its relaxed lifestyle and friendly community surrounded by Charlotte Harbor. Seniors can enjoy cycling, golf, tennis, water-sports, or birdwatching in the city’s vast network of parks and trails.
From the small-town charm of Galena, Illinois, to the vibrancy of New Orleans, the best antiquing destinations in the U.S. offer something special for everyone.There are plenty of reasons to go to The Big Easy. It’s one of the most eccentric, vibrant cities in the world, filled with friendly people, amazing food, awesome live music and history. You can add antiquing to the list. Two reasons come to mind: Royal Street and Magazine Street. Magazine Street has more than 40 shops specializing in 18th and 19th century furniture, costume jewelry, vintage linens, Victorian decor, fine silks, and much more. Located in the French Quarter at the heart of the city, Royal Street is also ideal for enthusiasts looking for antique silverware, clothing, artwork, furniture, and jewelry among the wares here. Together, the streets feature thousands of square feet of high-end collectibles, antiques, and vintage delights.This picturesque community snuggled up against the banks of the St. Croix River is a mere thirty miles outside the Twin Cities. Forbes named the Stillwater Antique District in the bustling historic downtown one of the prettiest in America. Midtown Antique Mall is home to 65 vendors, offering a wide range of great items. If you enjoy Civil War memorabilia, primitives and the like, American Gothic Antiques is a worthy stop.
This charming small town in northwest Illinois, about 150 miles west of Chicago, is known for its well-preserved 19th-century buildings like the 1826 Dowling House. The Italianate Ulysses S. Grant Home was a gift from local citizens to the Civil War general who later became a U.S. president. Galena offers more than 16 antiques shops. A must see? Try the Galena Antiques Mall, which boasts more than 55 dealers. Known as “Helluva Half Mile,” Galena’s Main Street boasts half a mile of more than 125 independently owned shops and restaurants, one door after another. Whether it’s books, toys, advertising collectibles, antique furnishings, or vinyl, you’ll find it among the stocked shops of Galena.
As long as we’re thinking warm, let’s visit Palm Beach. Please. With its reputation as a resort town for the rich and beautiful, Palm Beach has created a wonderful antiquing district. Antique Row West Palm Beach is a charming district with more than 40 antique shops offering an impressive selection of 17th to 20th century antiques, fine and decorative arts, period deco, vintage and modern furnishings. All within walking distance, a vast array of quality antiques stores is complemented by several award-winning restaurants, specialty shops and art galleries. Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Art & Antiques, and House Beautiful have all heralded Antique Row as one of the east coast’s premier antique shopping districts, considered the “antique design center” of Florida.
Selected by Fodor’s as one of the ten “Best Antiquing Towns” in the U.S., Clinton’s Antique District boasts more than 20 shops with antiques and collectibles, the largest such collection in the South. Although rich in Americana antiques, there’s a fair amount of European pieces throughout the stores as well. The oldest of the antique shops is Burrville Antiques, a sprawling shop located in the old Wender’s Dry Goods building. Burrville specializes in primitives and home furnishings including salvage.
Size doesn’t matter in the antique business. Take Hazel, Kentucky, population 410. Hazel is well known in the region as Kentucky’s Antique Capital: 14 stores that feature a combined 40,000 square feet. Fodor’s named the area one of its best antiquing towns in the U.S. Blue Moon Antiques specialties in items for the home with antique furniture, bird cafes, and kitchen items, while Mantiques boasts an amazing collection of advertising signs and gas pumps. The Horse’s Mouth carries a wide variety of depression glassware, lamps, and all kinds of furnishings.Nestled within the steep slopes of the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains, Buchanan, Virginia, is rich in history and natural beauty, Buchanan is the quintessential example of “Small Town America.” As such, Buchanan has found antiques and collectibles to be a natural fit. For more than twenty years, entrepreneurs have worked to restore once dilapidated storefronts to their former glory filling the once empty storefronts with unique finds and treasures from the Shenandoah Valley, the Roanoke Valley and beyond. Several shops are housed in historic properties. A 1900s hardware store-turned-antiques shop, Best Places Antiques, features country and antique furnishings like furniture, glassware, crocks and lighting fixtures. Explore the two floors of the shop and discover a unique find, then get picking at Picker’s Paradise down the street. Another popular stop is the weekly Buchanan Flea Market, featuring vendors from throughout the Shenandoah Valley and the state.Micanopy is Florida’s self-proclaimed antiques capital. Named in honor of a Seminole Indian chief and settled in 1821, the Alachua County town of Micanopy – about 15 minutes south of Gainesville – features dozens of antiques shops, many on tree-lined Cholokka Boulevard. The street also is the site of Micanopy’s annual Fall Harvest Festival – think music and crafts. The scene is heavy on greenery, making Micanopy a pleasant spot to while away an afternoon beneath the oaks. In addition, the nearby Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park allows you to spot bison (yes, bison!) and wild horses from a 50-foot-high observation tower.
What city in Florida has the most antique stores?
Micanopy, Florida has been dubbed the “Town that Time Forgot” with its unique history and perseverance through the years. However, what many Floridians don’t know is that Micanopy has also dubbed itself the “Antique Capital of Florida.”
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Is 50 years old antique or vintage?
A piece of furniture is considered retro, a subcategory of vintage, dating from the 1950s to 1980s. The piece of furniture must be defined as a style during a specific time period. The understanding: anything 50 to 100 years old is vintage and anything 100 years old or older is considered an antique.
YP – The Real Yellow Pages – helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. These factors are similar to those you might use to determine which business to select from a local Yellow Pages directory, including proximity to where you are searching, expertise in the specific services or products you need, and comprehensive business information to help evaluate a business’s suitability for you. “Preferred” listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. YP advertisers receive higher placement in the default ordering of search results and may appear in sponsored listings on the top, side, or bottom of the search results page.
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What is the largest antique mall in the country?
The Factory Antique Mall In the fall of 1996, The Factory Antique Mall opened its doors. Nestled in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, the mall is the largest antique mall (over 140,000 sq. ft.) in America-and still growing!
In the past Kimbel had helped her friends with home d\u00e9cor but she hadn\u2019t done it professionally. She had more interaction with the community in the first several weeks of the opening than she\u2019s had in the past five years, she said.
Why shop antiques?
Antique furniture can tell you a lot about the period in which it was made. It is often also made using techniques that are not around now, which makes it important in terms of understanding our history. Every item of antique furniture has a story to tell, both when it comes to who made it and who previously owned it.
Over the years, the property at 1003 S. Collins St. in Plant City had gone through its transformations as a pizza shop and then an Allstate insurance office, before becoming Long Journey.For the first two weeks, Long Journey was open every day so that they could determine when their busiest hours peaked and what would be the best days to close. They finally settled on operating from Wednesday to Sunday, leaving Monday and Tuesday as their weekend.
What city in Florida is known for antiques?
Micanopy is Florida’s self-proclaimed antiques capital. Named in honor of a Seminole Indian chief and settled in 1821, the Alachua County town of Micanopy – about 15 minutes south of Gainesville – features dozens of antiques shops, many on tree-lined Cholokka Boulevard.
Browse a digital collection of our other publications, magazines and special sections such as Season Magazine, Health Matters, Holiday Gift Guide and more. Constructing outdoor artwork is also an idea where the ladies would like the community to take part. They would like the exterior to be redesigned and become a noticeable landmark that stands out on a busy Collins Street. \u201cA lot of people that have stopped in, have been back two and three times, and they seem to be bringing people in with them, or someone will say so and so told them about it,\u201d Feola said. \u201cI like that. I like the word of mouth.\u201dKimbel has been a stay-at-home mom for the past five years. In passing, she would notice Feola setting up the shop one item at a time and was intrigued by the unique furniture and antiques that were being housed inside. As a full-time parent, she had little time to socialize with others, but that soon changed when Feola requested her help in maintaining Long Journey\u2019s day-to-day operations.\u201cIt\u2019s everything I thought it would be and more,\u201d Feola said. \u201cI\u2019m just really impressed by everybody coming in and making me comfortable. I\u2019m trying to make them comfortable and they\u2019re making me comfortable, and I love that.\u201d
Feola gave her establishment that name because of the lengthy history behind the shop’s items, plus the time and effort she put into constructing it. It took a year to renovate the building. In fact, her now-retired husband was the agent that worked out of it when it was used as an Allstate office.
“I wasn’t ready for a job,” Kimbel said. “I wasn’t ready to leave my family, then I bumped into her outside, because I’ve been watching the process. I’m like, ‘This is so exciting. I’m so excited for you,’ and she’s like, ‘Can you help out?’ I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I’d love that, because I love doing that. I love decorating’.”
Feola gave her establishment that name because of the lengthy history behind the shop\u2019s items, plus the time and effort she put into constructing it. It took a year to renovate the building. In fact, her now-retired husband was the agent that worked out of it when it was used as an Allstate office.
“A lot of people that have stopped in, have been back two and three times, and they seem to be bringing people in with them, or someone will say so and so told them about it,” Feola said. “I like that. I like the word of mouth.”
What is antiques store?
DEFINITIONS1. a shop that sells valuable old objects.
She has plans to eventually turn one of the rooms into the “Man Cave” where guys can shop and hang out. Also, a part of the agenda is adding what several customers have been suggesting – art classes. It could be an opportunity to offer activities such as drawing, painting, refurbishing antiques, and building furniture“I love for a man to be able to come in and leave and be just as happy as the wife or the girlfriend,” Feola said. “I have been pleased to see that there’s been a lot of men that come in or the wife goes home and comes back with the husband.”
“I feel that this will be a big part of Plant City, places for them to go and buy some neat stuff,” Feola said. “They don’t have to drive all around Lakeland and Tampa. They can stay in their hometown.”
However, she was initially apprehensive to open up, being that it was a new line of work for her, but she eventually took the leap of faith, she added.\u201cI wasn\u2019t ready for a job,\u201d Kimbel said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t ready to leave my family, then I bumped into her outside, because I\u2019ve been watching the process. I\u2019m like, \u2018This is so exciting. I\u2019m so excited for you,\u2019 and she\u2019s like, \u2018Can you help out?\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018Oh yeah, I\u2019d love that, because I love doing that. I love decorating\u2019.\u201d
\u201cI feel that this will be a big part of Plant City, places for them to go and buy some neat stuff,\u201d Feola said. \u201cThey don\u2019t have to drive all around Lakeland and Tampa. They can stay in their hometown.\u201d
\u201cI love for a man to be able to come in and leave and be just as happy as the wife or the girlfriend,\u201d Feola said. \u201cI have been pleased to see that there\u2019s been a lot of men that come in or the wife goes home and comes back with the husband.\u201d
“It’s everything I thought it would be and more,” Feola said. “I’m just really impressed by everybody coming in and making me comfortable. I’m trying to make them comfortable and they’re making me comfortable, and I love that.”
In the past Kimbel had helped her friends with home décor but she hadn’t done it professionally. She had more interaction with the community in the first several weeks of the opening than she’s had in the past five years, she said.
In the rooms of the shop can be found offerings such as clocks, table pieces, vases, mirrors, chandeliers, paintings, signs, jars, bags, tools, chairs, benches, dressers, statues, lamps, tables, suitcases, jewelry, and even clothing. Each item adds to the vintage feel of the shop, with some going back hundreds of years.
Instead of selling the building, the couple decided to hold on to it so she could open her own shop. Feola has many antiques and items in her home and in storage that she wanted to put on display and share with the community.She has plans to eventually turn one of the rooms into the \u201cMan Cave\u201d where guys can shop and hang out. Also, a part of the agenda is adding what several customers have been suggesting \u2013 art classes. It could be an opportunity to offer activities such as drawing, painting, refurbishing antiques, and building furniture
Kimbel has been a stay-at-home mom for the past five years. In passing, she would notice Feola setting up the shop one item at a time and was intrigued by the unique furniture and antiques that were being housed inside. As a full-time parent, she had little time to socialize with others, but that soon changed when Feola requested her help in maintaining Long Journey’s day-to-day operations.
An antique car is 50 years old or older. The Antique Automobile Club of America defines classics as being 25 to 50 years. The Classic Car Club of America has a bit of different years and times, but overall, follows just about the same measurements. The DMV will also care if your car is considered vintage or antique for license plate purposes. Depending on the license place there are regulations in place to follow.
The definition of vintage from Merriam- Webster states, “denoting something of high quality, especially something from the past or characteristic of the best period of a person’s work.” What does this mean? This means vintage is an older item that was designed or manufactured in its prime time. A real leather jacket from the 1940s would be considered vintage clothing.
A piece of antique jewelry must be over 100 years old or older to be considered an antique. For a piece to be considered vintage it’s between 50 to 100 years old. In the jewelry world, more than likely, an antique piece of jewelry will not be worn. It would be displayed in a protected glass box. This is because the jewelry is higher quality materials and seen as too valuable to be worn. Your great grandmother’s necklace might be all the rage right now! This is what people understand as vintage clothing. The clothing is still older, but not seen as something too valuable not to wear.
With both of these meanings sounding so similar, it can be confusing to understand what makes something vintage and what makes something antique. These are some great examples to show the difference between the two.The understanding: anything 50 to 100 years old is vintage and anything 100 years old or older is considered an antique. Within each of these examples, there are subcategories for vintage style. For vintage cars, they are considered classics. For vintage furniture, it’s considered retro!
What state has the best antique malls?
10 Best Antiquing DestinationsCharleston, South Carolina. … Buchanan, Virginia. … New Orleans,Louisiana. … Galena, Illinois. … Hazel, Kentucky. … Clinton, Tennessee. … Palm Springs, California. … Palm Beach, Florida.
It’s understandable why people interchange these two phrases so much, they seem very similar! However, certain items are differentiated between these definitions.Not sure how to figure out if the car is vintage or antique? Take the current year and subtract it with the year the car was manufactured and there you have your answer!
Dictionary.com offers several definitions of the word antique: “of or belonging to the past; not modern;” “dating from a period long ago;” and “noting or pertaining to automobiles approximately 25 years old or more.” What does this mean? This means antique represents an item that is significantly older of date.
A vintage jacket, an antique car, a classic vehicle, antique furniture. The world of antiques and vintage items often find the words being used interchangeably; however, there is a difference between an item that is considered an antique and one that is vintage.Furniture is based on the same guidelines as the other items above when it comes to vintage and antique. A piece of furniture is considered retro, a subcategory of vintage, dating from the 1950s to 1980s. The piece of furniture must be defined as a style during a specific time period.
Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark northeast of downtown Tampa, offering lively nightlife, museums, and authentic Cuban and Latin American cuisine.
When the grandchildren come to visit, seniors may plan a river cruise or even a short stay at Capt. Hiram’s Resort, which includes a delicious riverfront seafood restaurant and live music in the SandBar.
Miami-Dade County sponsors an Active Older Adults program, which offers programs such as Zumba, sewing, adaptive aquatics, and fitness classes to residents age 54 and over. With multiple senior centers in and around the city, retirees are bound to connect with people who have similar lifestyles and interests.Sebastian, Florida, situated next to the Indian River, offers a cool breeze all year long. With low property taxes and housing prices, many retirees settle in Sebastian to maintain their independence. Many 55+ gated communities with tennis courts, swimming pools, and activities give seniors their own space without the maintenance hassles and added costs of homeownership.
With its beautiful weather and Gulf of Mexico beaches, Naples and the entire Fort Myers area is one of the best places to live in Florida for retirees.Situated roughly in between Orlando and Miami, Port St. Lucie ranked #3 in U.S. News & World Report’s “Five Best Places to Retire in America” the past two years. With affordable housing and high-quality healthcare, Port St. Lucie delivers what many retirees seek when they head south.
Located in Northern Florida, Ocala offers many ideal options for seniors. The Villages, a nearby 55+ retirement community, has been rated one of the best places in Florida for retirees. There are a variety of neighborhoods to choose from, each with its own charm and personality. Many seniors within The Villages drive golf carts to get around, which can help eliminate stress for seniors who are no longer comfortable driving a car.
With Florida’s unique landscape and pleasant year-round weather, it’s very common for senior citizens to either move here permanently or become “snowbirds.” Many cities in Florida offer ideal places for seniors to live.
Sebastian is known as a laid-back city with a small-town feel. Bird watching is one of the most popular hobbies in this city, but more active seniors may enjoy snorkeling, hiking, or golf. Sebastian is home to Pelican Island, the first designated wildlife refuge in the U.S.
In addition to its warm climate, Florida offers beautiful beaches and natural preserves as well as high-quality dining and entertainment. With home values below the national median and #29 ranking as far as cost-of-living, it’s not surprising many retirees flock to Florida. But where are some of the best places to live in Florida for retirees?The gorgeous sunrises and sunsets on the beach are a huge plus for seniors who love the outdoors. The city is also known for its golf courses and is home to the New York Mets spring training camp. Port St. Lucie is also ranked as one of the safest and crime-free areas in the state.
You don’t need to leave Sarasota for entertainment, though. The Sarasota Opera House is a cultural fixture in the town, while The Ringling offers rotating art exhibitions, shows, and cultural programming and classes for the whole family. The Ringling features a Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, and Bayfront Gardens.Whether you enjoy walking, biking, hiking, or dining and shopping, you’ll find plenty of fun and fulfilling ways to spend your retirement in Punta Gorda.
