Find the perfect Retirement Community in Virginia

Finding Peace in Retirement

What makes Virginia Retirement Communities so ideal? Some residents of Virginia retirement communities say they love to stroll Virginia’s Atlantic coast beaches, or sail the wide expanse of the Chesapeake Bay. Others love picturesque Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia and Monticello, designed and built by Thomas Jefferson. Visiting civil war battlefields and historic plantations in the Piedmont region is heaven for some. And many grandparents forge lasting bonds with their grandchildren on a trip to colonial Williamsburg.  

Our favorite area is the Shenandoah Valley. Residents of Virginia retirement communities in the Valley can revel in what poets, songwriters, and landscape artists have called the most beautiful scenery in the nation. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, the Luray Caverns, the Appalachian Trail -- these wonders are unsurpassed, even in a State as extravagantly beautiful as Virginia.

Shenandoah Valley Retirement Living

A number of fine retirement communities dot the landscape of the Valley, and almost all offer the amenities today’s active adults are seeking. According to our independent survey, the best of the Virginia retirement communities is near Winchester, at the northernmost tip of the Valley.  It’s called, quite simply, Shenandoah.  Native American legend has it that the stars found the Shenandoah area so beautiful they could not bear to leave it, and indeed stars may be seen nightly reflected in the waters of Lake Frederick. The Indian name means “daughter of the stars.”

Lake Frederick is 120 Acres of Serenity

Lake Frederick is the centerpiece of the Shenandoah active adult community. The lake is the amenity that puts the community at the top of our list of worthy Virginia retirement communities. The 120-acre lake, which the community surrounds, is under the protection of the State’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, insuring that it will be perpetually maintained in pristine condition.

Although there are myriad other communities close enough to mountains, streams, caverns, and small lakes, the Shenandoah community offers a composite of what’s best about Virginia retirement communities. The bonus of living at Shenandoah and enjoying its 120-acre lake, is the additional pleasure afforded by stunning views of the mountains that have helped to make the Valley famous. What could be better than views of both mountain and lake as you swim in one of the two swimming pools, or dine in the café? You’ll never tire of the ever-changing views of the lake and the two mountain ranges – the Blue Ridge and the Allegheny. If you like backpacking, hiking, biking, skiing, or fishing, you’ll find endless trails and streams. If you prefer to enjoy nature in a more tranquil way, take a drive along the Skyline Drive – breathtaking in any season, but especially when the mountains are dressed in vibrant fall colors.  

Retirement and Adventure Go Hand-in-Hand

The Shenandoah Valley's natural splendor is only part of the reason Virginia retirement communities are drawing active adults to the region. The area is also a dynamic center of commerce, business, scientific development, education, and the arts. No fewer than nine colleges and universities make the Valley their home (residents of the Shenandoah community benefit from study at three of these). Area wineries offer tours, tastings, seminars, and picnic facilities. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley has a state of the art building and room after room of fascinating displays. But perhaps most important, for those seeking the best in Virginia retirement communities, is the knowledge that superb health care is close at hand. Again, the Shenandoah active adult community shines. Valley Health, the Shenandoah Valley’s broad-based health system, is consistently named one of the nation’s top hospital systems for cardiac care, and Shenandoah is a reassuring 20 minutes away from the central Valley Health System facility.  

Here’s why we recommend the Shenandoah Active Adult Community above all other Virginia retirement communities:

·       Located in an area of unsurpassed natural beauty

·       Surrounding a pristine 120-acre lake

·       Easy to access via two Interstate highways and modern, well-maintained local roads

·       One and one half hours from the urban excitement of Washington DC

·       A state of the art fitness center and a social center with comprehensive services, including dining

·       Full time activities and events director

·       Full time Homeowners Association advocate

·       High speed fiber optic connections in all homes and public buildings

·       HOA fees include landscaping, trash removal, snow removal, street maintenance

·       Close proximity to outstanding medical services

·       Close ties to community resources, such a health care, education, outdoor recreation

·       Residents’ committees with active participation from a broad base of homeowners

To read more about the Shenandoah Active Adult Community, best of the Virginia retirement communities, please go to:  Shenandoah Active Adult Community