Central Florida’s lakes and rivers offer amazing views from a seaplane. Whether you want to go up just for the view or learn how to fly one yourself, this is sure to be an awesome bucket list item!

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When the topic of retirement begins to come up, thoughts of Florida are sure to follow. That’s no surprise since 23 cities in The Sunshine State are on the “Top 100 Places to Retire in 2014” list.

We here at Central Florida 55+ love our whole, beautiful home state, but we’d like to share with you 6 fantastic reasons why you’d love retirement in Central Florida.

1. The Weather

There’s no question that the majority of the country spends the winter as frozen as the margaritas you could be enjoying on a perfect, sunny winter day in Central Florida. Wouldn’t you rather be the object of envy, than the envious one? Retire in Central Florida; soak up Vitamin D all year round, and leave the snow days for ski vacations.

2. The Outdoor Adventures

Speaking of that beautiful year-round weather, another fabulous benefit of retired life in Central Florida is the ability to enjoy outdoor activities whenever you want! Central Florida is home to multiple lake chains, golf courses, scenic walking trails, springs and just about an hour drive from multiple beaches on either coast. From golfing, to bass fishing, or simply getting in a game of Pickle Ball with some friends, there’s always something to enjoy outside in the sunshine.

3. The Nature & Wildlife

It’s scientifically proven that spending time in nature can improve how we feel physically and mentally, and it’s pretty easy to verify by observing it for yourself. Luckily, here in Central Florida, we are surrounded by nature’s beauty.

4. The Culture

Yes, Central Florida weather is mostly amazing, but there’s no denying that it gets warm and it does rain. Luckily, the diverse culture throughout Central Florida delivers indoor opportunities for fun. Central Florida is home to the Florida Film Festival, held at the quaint and fabulous Enzian Theater. Mount Dora has a huge art festival annually. Bob Carr and the Orlando Ballet bring live shows. If you prefer doing the dancing, there’s plenty of that to enjoy as well! Not to mention Central Florida Community Arts, which not only puts on amazing performances throughout the year, but also allows you to be a part of it.

5. The Appeal to Your Grand kids

Your grand kids will be antsy to come visit when you are so close to the happiest place on earth! Central Florida is home to Disney World, Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Legoland, and much more. Not to mention the nearby beaches and all the fun they can have swimming in your pool!

6. The Community

There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by like-minded people, and one of the great things about living in a 55+ community in Central Florida is that everyone is in the same stage of life. From the vast amount of amenities, clubs, classes, and events within your community to Meet Up groups tailored specifically to the things you enjoy; you’ll find yourself surrounded by other people loving retirement in Central Florida just as much as you!

There are so many great things about living in Central Florida, with one of the highlights being the beautiful West Orange Trail. The trail is 22 miles of scenery, history, and activity. Whether you walk, run, bike, or roller blade, this excellent amenity is one of our biggest assets!

1. It’s scenic.

Certain parts of the West Orange Trail go through active little suburban areas, while large sections enjoy amazing scenery. Lakes, forests, and tree canopies scatter across the 22 miles, creating a fabulous view. The trail connects to the Oakland Nature Preserve, which is a great stop-off spot to take a break and enjoy hiking trails, shady pavilions, habitat gardens, and an expansive visitor’s center.

2. It’s historic.

The West Orange Trail winds through the two historic towns of Oakland and Winter Garden. In addition to riding through these quaint and lovely towns, there’s also a chance to stop and visit the Winter Garden Heritage Museum. The trail also runs along original railroad tracks. They are no longer active, but intriguingly beautiful with giant trees growing up between them.

3. It’s convenient.

The West Orange Trail is 22 miles, and also connects with South Lake Trail, Lake Minneola Scenic Trail, North Hancock Trail and The Lester Road Extension, which opened in the middle of last year. This extends the trail to almost 36 miles, and makes it possible to get from Clermont to Winter Garden and even Apopka, without a car, easily and safely. There are multiple entrances with parking, restrooms, water fountains, and benches to rest. Need a bike? Bike & Blades at the Killarney Station, Winter Garden, Wheel Works at the Winter Garden station, and Clermont Waterfront Bikes & Boards: all hook you up with a rental, right on the trail!

4. It’s healthy.

The West Orange Trail is a great place to get in a work out, and much more than just for biking. It allows access to bicyclists, walkers & runners, skaters, and even horseback riders. It’s 14 ft. wide, allowing plenty of room for everyone, and 100% animal friendly, as long as your furry friend is on a leash. If you still need a little extra challenge, the Lake Minneola Scenic Trail has the highest elevation of any other bike trail in Florida.

5. It’s fun.

Over 80,000 people enjoy the West Orange Trail and it’s connectors each month. This beautiful trail runs alongside playgrounds and lakeside beaches, making it a perfect family activity. The trail leads straight through downtown Winter Garden, which is filled with restaurants, shops and cafés. You can bike from Clermont to Winter Garden on a Saturday morning to enjoy the weekly Farmer’s Market.

6. It’s getting bigger.

Plans are brewing to expand the trail into a coast-to-coast project. That means it will eventually become a fantastic 250 mile long trail, leading from the Gulf to the Atlantic.

On March 23, the Clermont City Council approved a master plan that will serve as a blueprint for the city's future during the next five, 10 and 20 years and our new office will be right in the middle of it all!

The Clermont community is committed to ensuring the ongoing social, cultural and economic value of its downtown and waterfront. For the last 100 years, the hills, historic downtown, adjacent neighborhoods and the Lake Minneola waterfront have been the defining characteristics of the community, creating a setting for a livable, small town feel that is connected to friend and family, the local Florida environment, and an emergent identification with healthy living. The downtown and waterfront is the place which all of Clermont takes ownership in, and it is a place where residents, business owners, and institutions have invested themselves to enjoy the high quality of life of this intimate community.

Clermont and its waterfront are also emerging as a regionally significant address. Since the development of the South Lake Trail, the Olympic Training Center, and the strong regional growth, the South Lake County area has developed a unique character brand and identity associated specifically with Clermont. Today, Clermont has become a destination for tourism, athletic training and competition, recreation, commerce, and culture. The community’s current challenge is to leverage these assets while protecting and enhancing the character of the ‘real Clermont’ to the benefit of those who live and work here.

As a community, Clermont has engaged in discussions about its character, vision, and future. This was accomplished, in part, through an extensive visioning process and recently adopted re-branding. The outcome of these efforts is the development of a platform of engaged stakeholders who are optimistic about the future, and prepared to tackle challenges in order to maximize Clermont’s potential as a beautiful, livable community of choice.

Download complete PDF here.

Golf originated in Scotland in the 15th century, and still remains the country with the most golf courses per capita.

While many of us would love to go to Scotland (and hopefully some of you have had the privilege!), it’s not the most convenient or cost efficient green to get to. Fortunately, the U.S. is filled with fabulous golf courses from coast to coast, and guess what? Florida has more than any other state, with over 1,050 courses to choose from. Four of the Sunshine State’s courses made it to Golf Digest’s Top 100 Golf Courses in the country!

Here in Central Florida, we have access to lots of golf clubs, and one of our favorites is The Monarch located in Leesburg. This semi-private, member-owned course winds through the beautiful active adult community, Royal Highlands, and is open to members outside the community. Golf expense does not impact the low monthly community HOA fees. There are monthly memberships, or “pay as you play,” also open to the public. Don’t forget to stop by the community’s restaurant and bar, The Crown and Shield, which is another great reason to live in a golf community! Golf views, community restaurant and bar, and world class golf course, make Royal Highlands one of our favorite 55+ active adult communities!

The Monarch is wonderful for seasoned golfers; but for those of you who have recently picked up the game, or are interested in doing so, there are golf pros on site. In fact, the head golf professional at the Monarch took some time to give Nicky and her Central Florida 55Plus customers a small tip.

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Royal Highlands is just one of many 55+ communities in Central Florida featuring one or more golf courses.

Visit http://www.golfnow.com/orlando/courses/course-map to customize a map based on your interests!

Finally, one of the best things about golfing in Central Florida is we can play year round, and we can do it wearing shorts! Grab some friends, enjoy a game while soaking up the Vitamin D, and create your very own Caddy Shack “Cinderella Story.”