Sarasota, Florida – Sunshine, Sand And Fun

Old man winter is coming. Now is the time to start planning for your winter getaway. Those of you who live in cold climates may want to escape to the pleasant weather of Sarasota, Florida. Instead of fighting snow, dreary weather and ice you can be walking along the beach, playing golf or dining at an outdoor cafe.

Sarasota is located on the west coast of Florida and about an hour south of Tampa. Access is easy as you can fly right into Sarasota International Airport or Tampa International Airport. It is nicely situated along the Gulf of Mexico where the waters are clear and calm. This gorgeous beach town is a popular destination for people all over the United States, Canada and Europe. They come here to untie their knots and enjoy all of the fun and amenities that Sarasota has to offer.

Gorgeous Beaches

Siesta Key beach is one of the nicest beaches in the world and it is found right off the coast of Sarasota, Florida. People from all over the world visit here because of the beaches. Dr. Beach ranked Siesta Key beach as one of the best in the world. Many other experts think this beach is one of the prettiest.

Longboat Key, Lido Key, Nokomis and Anna Maria Island beaches also provide beauty and tranquility. These are great places to take the family and catch some rays. Longboat Key beach is quieter and more secluded. Lido Key is a very nice as well. Take a walk north to New Pass and you will see some dramatic water views. Anna Maria Island is at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The sand is soft and the beaches are fabulous. If you run south a little bit you will see the Casey Key beach. This is a great place to walk and admire some of the most amazing Sarasota Florida real estate.

Culture

Many people from big cities in the north come to Sarasota because of the rich cultural scene. Sarasota has been called the “cultural capital of Florida” because of plethora of arts and cultural venues. John and Mable Ringling Museum of Arts, Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Florida West Coast Symphony, Asolo Theatre and the Sarasota Film Festival are a few of the exciting places to get your art needs.

Tasty Meals

Do you enjoy a good meal. Head downtown and you can enjoy something good at Two Senoritas, Hyde Park Steakhouse, and Mediterraneo. If you like steak you should try Flemings or Ruth Chris Steakhouse. If you like looking at the water while you eat then dine at the Old Salty Dog, Ophelias, The Dry Dock or The Chart House. One thing is for sure. The residents of Sarasota have plenty of great places to eat out.

Sarasota Florida Real Estate

Real estate is very diverse in Sarasota. You can find anything from a great starter home in Gulf Gate all of the way to a palatial waterfront estate. Many of the home are vacation residences or winter getaways. People typically vacation in Sarasota and then ultimately buy a winter or retirement home. Many vacation here and then relocate here. It is that nice.

Golf

Do you enjoy chasing the golf ball? There are some great tracts in Sarasota. One of the newest courses include The Concession and the Founders Club. The Concession was recently ranked as the best new private course in the country. Some of the other great clubs include Lakewood Ranch, Laurel Oaks, The Oaks, Longboat Key Club, Ritz Carlton and the River Club. Golfers don’t have a hard time finding a great course.

Fishing

Do you enjoy hooking into a fish? There are plenty of great spots to hook into a fish. Hire a local captain and have him show you some great fishing holes. You can fish in the Sarasota bay or head out to the Gulf of Mexico. There are plenty of fish to catch.

Again, if you need to escape the snow and cold weather then plan your vacation to sunny Sarasota, Florida. This is a great escape to recharge your batteries and enjoy the superior quality of life.

Brandon Boyd – Lido Key real estate expert

Social Activities And Championship Golf In Beautiful Ford’s Colony

Ford’s Colony is a gated private real estate community that features one of the most unbelievable golfing experiences in Williamsburg Virginia. Consisting of 54 holes of beautiful fairways that meander throughout the neighborhoods of this gated community, Ford’s Colony has received numerous awards and accolades including a 4 1/2 star rating from Golf Digest’s Places to Play.

Three uniquely designed golf courses, Blackheath, Marsh Hawk and Blue Heron, make up the 54-holes of championship golf in Ford’s Colony. The courses layout offer challenging levels of play no matter what your handicap may be.

Blackheath is considered by many to be the most picturesque of the three golf courses at Ford’s Colony. At 6,621 yards, don’t let it’s beauty deceive you as this is one of the most challenging courses with several elevation changes, water hazards, doglegs, and bunkers that guard the greens.

Blue Heron is a favorite among the members of Ford’s Colony. The course provides some room for error off the tee but challenges you around the greens with 17 of the 18 greens protected by bunkers. Much of the course is cut out of wetlands which are home to many species of birds, fish, and other wildlife.

Marsh Hawk is a traditional style par 72, 6,650 yard golf course with tree lined narrow fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and contoured holes with natural lakes and elevation changes which challenge your depth perception.

Recognized by the PGA as one of the best in the Mid-Atlantic, the pro shop at Ford’s Colony has all the golf equipment and apparel you need. Ford’s Colony also has one of the best golf academies in Williamsburg.

If golf is not your game, Ford’s Colony offers a wide array of social activities to keep it’s members busy all year long. Clubs and classes in fly fishing, computers, gardening, and many others are held routinely at the community.

Closing Comments

Memberships at Ford’s Colony are based on anticipated usage. Home owners and members can choose a package that best suits their individual needs and desires.

Get more information on Ford’s Colony Golf or get information on other Virginia Gated Communities on GatedCommunitiesUSA.com. Gated Communities USA provides information on some of the top gated and private communities in the USA.

Ocala Palms Offers Affordable Housing Opportunities

Home buyers are always seeking great value when shopping for a home. Ocala Palms Golf & Country Club located in scenic Ocala Florida, is a gated community that takes pride in their amenities and providing great value to home buyers.

This gated community was developed on a 500 acres former cattle ranch. The developers planned the community around the concept that the residents would be active adults. Many of these golf frontage homes are pastel colored and have light colored roofs.

Ocala Palms Golf & Country Club features an 18-hole championship private golf course that measures 6500 yards of lush fairways lined with beautiful oak trees, white sand bunkers, and perfectly maintained greens. Each of the 18 holes has four or five tee boxes for challenging play no matter the skill level. Practice your driving and short game on the practice facilities.

Not a golfer? Ocala Palms is designed for active adults and offer a multitude of sport and social activities. Inside the community gates is the 19,000 square foot Royal Palms Country Club which offers many activities, classes and engagements which can be enjoyed year round.

Inside the Royal Palms Country Club you will find a full size indoor heated pool that is available year round for residents. Outside you’ll discover an Olympic size pool and a heated whirlpool. Residents can also enjoy the tennis and volleyball courts, horseshoes, boccie ball, and shuffleboard.

Venture back inside the clubhouse and stay in shape in the fitness center. Take advantage of cardio and strength training equipment, exercise and aerobic classes, or dance classes in line, square, and ballroom dancing. Other activities include billiards and ping pong.

If you love the outdoors, Marion County has many natural lakes, rivers, and forests that offer many activities like fishing, boating, hiking and hunting. Marion County is also home to a large population of horse farms.

Final Thoughts

The amenities at Ocala Palms create a unique opportunity to live in Central Florida. Come see why this gated community is viewed as one of the most affordable communities in Ocala.

Gated Communities USA offers information on the best gated and private communities in the USA. Get more details on Ocala FL and other Florida Retirement Communities on GatedCommunitiesUSA.com.

Adults Seeking An Active Lifestyle Select Active Adult Communities

Many people search for active adult communities online but what is an active adult community and why are they so desirable? In this brief article we will explore these communities and explain why they are so desirable.

The demand from seniors aged 55 and older seeking a community of like minded neighbors who also had an interest in an active lifestyle, sparked the flurry in the construction of these communities over the past decade or longer.

A new wave of active adult communities is starting to emerge as “dinks”, couples over 40 years of age with no kids, have expressed an interest in these communities. Developers have started changing community rules and developing new communities to meet the demand.

Active adult communities feature fitness centers with top of the line exercise equipment. Many have personal trainers on staff who conduct a wide array of exercise and yoga classes. Many have both indoor and outdoor swimming pools available for year round use. Community social directors help to coordinate activities so that your calendar is always full.

Swimming pools and tennis courts are available to residents year round in many cases. Some communities even have golf courses for avid golfers. Those that do not have golf courses generally have arrangements with local public and semi-private courses.

Another feature of these communities is the low maintenance homes. Many are what is referred to as patio homes where the home sits on a concrete slab foundation that rests level with the ground. Low maintenance features like brick veneer and vinyl siding, aluminum and vinyl eaves and soffits, vinyl windows, and asphalt shingles allow for easier cleaning and protection from the exterior elements.

Manufactured and modular homes are popular choices for developers who construct these communities due to there reduce construction times and flexibility with options.

Final Thoughts On Active Adult Communities

With people living longer now due to active lifestyles and better medical care, active adult communities show no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Seniors and dinks looking to get more out of life will likely continue to fuel this growth for years to come.

Active adults seeking for a active adult community turn to Gated Communities USA. Featuring active adult communities around the USA.

Top 5 Affordable Golf Vacations In Canada

There is no better way to unwind on a vacation than by playing golf. If you combine golfing with a series of other fun activities offered by a resort, your vacation will be one of the best you have ever had. British Columbia has some of the most affordable and attractive golf vacation packages available in Canada.

Whistler offers many different golf vacation options, some starting from just five hundred dollars. At the Big Sky Golf and Country Club, you can enjoy a variety of activities along with golfing at one of the top ten locations to golf in Canada. Services are outstanding and this has pushed Big Sky Golf and Country Club at one of the top places to golf in Whistler.

By selecting to take your golf vacation in Whistler, you are able to see one of Canada’s most charming and beautiful villages. After golfing, there are a variety of sights, stores, shops, restaurants and spas to explore.

Vancouver Island is another great stop for golf vacations. Not only do visitors get to experience some of Canada’s finest courses, Vancouver Island has been voted North America’s number one destination to come and visit. Here you can find a variety of different golf vacation packages, including corporate packages at places such as Parksville Golf. The vacations offered here are affordable and include plenty of golfing on a beautiful course.

There are other courses in and around Invermere that offer affordable packages. Greywolf Golf Course in Panorama is a beautiful resort with time-share condos. If you don’t wish to purchase a timeshare or real estate, guests are welcome to enjoy the resort and stay in the condos on a nightly basis. Panorama is a small community and has top notch restaurants and spas.

Kelowna also offers many choices in terms of affordable golf packages for your vacation. With the warm and dry climate along with a fabulous nightlife, the Okanagan truly is a great place to golf, relax and enjoy. The Okanagan Golf Escape offers two nights and rounds of golf at your choice of three of the best golf resorts in town.

One of the best places to find a golf vacation package in BC is Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa. Located in Kimberly, BC, people have the option of purchasing real estate and enjoying the luxury of their own ski and golf condo in an outstandingly beautiful location. The resort condos are fully furnished and managed. Buyers can move in immediately and make a long term investment while enjoying fabulous golfing vacations. Golf packages are affordable and by combining the beautiful setting with top amenities, you are sure to have a wonderful vacation experience that you will never forget. By going with Kimberley real estate, you get the luxury of a year-round outdoor heated pool and spacious outdoor terraces and living spaces, private owner’s storage lockers in every suite and many more attractive extras. Check out real estate options and start enjoying some of the best golfing in Canada.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf vacations are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery, take time to enjoy the magnificent BC real estate.

Luxury Living In Pipers Landing Yacht And Country Club

Buying a home in Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club has its advantages. Located in along the banks of the St. Lucie Waterway in Palm City, this gated equity share golf community features many luxury amenities to offer its residents. This brief article will outline some on these benefits and amenities.

One of the highlights of the community is it’s gated entry and 24 hour security personnel that keeps the communities 600 acres secure. The security officers are also trained in First Aid care, CPR certified, and are trained to use defibrillators in the case of a medical emergency. Additional services provided include unlocking houses for authorized service personnel and checking on vacant houses.

The gem of the community is it’s newly renovated world class golf course by award winning architect, Gene Bates. This 2005 winner of the Course Architect of the Year award, headed the 2007 renovation project which has created a more challenging and breathtaking course and playing experience. Florida State grad, Mike Eye is the local assistant golf professional and holds a PGA Class A Certification.

Pipers Landing is more than just a golf community. They also tailor to the tennis enthusiasts as well. The community has five tennis courts, one of which is lighted, with a popular Har-Tru playing surface. The community has a local USPTA certified teaching pro named Cullen DeWindt who many know from his 2007 USPTA Clay Court Doubles National Championship.

Pipers Landing also provides a variety of activities and social events which are available online for viewing 24 hours a day. The community clubhouse has a golf pro shop fully equipped with the best gear and golf apparel, male and female locker rooms, and formal and casual dining options.

If you love boating then the Sheltered Harbor and Marina at Pipers Landing. This deep water marina is suitable for yachts up to 100 feet long and allows boaters access to both the St. Lucie Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. So if you like spending your days deep sea fishing or just cruise the waterway, you’ll enjoy all the marina has to offer.

Closing Comments

These are just some of the luxury amenities at the Piper’s Landing Yacht & Country Club. Next time you are visiting Palm City you may find that you too will want to call Piper’s Landing home.

Hubert Miles is the founder of Gated Communities USA which features the best Gated Communities in the USA and Internationally. Find information on Florida Golf Communities.

Visit The Golfing Capital Of Canada

Set between the Purcell Mountains and the Rockies, the town of Kimberley boasts stunning views and attracts tourists from around the world. Visit the golfing capital of Canada and you might find not just eighteen holes, but even to a real estate agent. If not, just be happy with improving your game.

Golf courses here include Bootleg Gap. This twenty-seven hole course hires out pull carts and clubs if you travelled light. Look for junior rates and play a round with your teenager, or just use the driving range for some practice. Kimberley Golf Club dates back to the early twentieth century and continues to thrive among the competition. Find yourself some gear in the pro shop then stop for a meal after your game.

Shadow Mountain is the newest golf course in Kimberley. Enjoy eighteen holes or nine, with short breaks in between each hole to simply admire snow-capped mountains and lush green mountain forests. The gift shop sells clothing for men and women plus accessories and souvenirs. Arrange for group or private lessons with a certified instructor. Golfing classes have been broken down according to age, with some also set aside for ladies only. Even send the kids to golf camp so they can develop a passion for this popular activity.

With a visit to St. Eugene Mission comes the opportunity to play golf by day and hit the casino at night. Instead of worrying about how to get back to your hotel room after a few drinks and some slots, stay right at St. Eugene. Arrive with a group and split up, some heading for tee time, others to a local spa. Eat out in style or opt for a casual barbecued steak at the on-site restaurant.

Golfing packages make it easy to spend the weekend golfing and hanging out. Stay in a chalet, condo or guest house. Bring a big group of eight to twelve people and split the cost, saving money to enjoy what you came for: eighteen holes. Some rentals include barbecues, hot tubs or even a fireplace.

Trickle Creek Golf Resort offers stay and play packages including a round on their green plus a room a the Lodge. Eat at the lodge restaurant then walk to golfing just minutes away. Come back to soak in a hot tub, swim a few lengths in their heated outdoor pool or burn calories in the fitness room.

Trickle Creek also sets families down right by ski hills, which could get them thinking. What about moving here? Perhaps compromise, laying down just holiday roots. Purchase property in the area for those gaps in a busy calendar that let you get away to golf or ski, alone, with friends or with family.

Should such a plan become viable, remember this is a high end location. BC Real estate can be scarce and expensive in Kimberley, but conveniently close to a local airport for commuting to and from Calgary and other cities. Purchase yourself a fabulous view and plant yourself close to places like Wasa Lake, Radium Hot Springs, and the Canadian Rockies.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf vacations are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery, take time to enjoy the magnificent BC real estate.

Come And Stay: BC Summer Activities

Whether you enjoy relaxing with a glass of wine in your hand or challenging yourself to the rigours of rock-climbing, BC summer activities provide something for your. Tour the province to witness for yourself a breathtaking variety of eco-systems including desert, rain forest and meadow. Hire a houseboat, kayak or bicycle so you can get close to the wonders others have only read about in tourist brochures.

These wonders include the marvelous animal life one can spot with a little patience and research. Whale watching from Vancouver Island or norther BC provides a popular attraction. Pods of Orcas travel from Alaska to Mexico each year, so find a guide or just spend some time in the water in a pleasure craft or ride the Ferry from Twassen to the Island. You might see a whale without even trying. Bears offer a similar attraction, these beautiful creatures who remind us of our teddy bears yet possess a strength you do not want to mess with. On the other hand, bears rarely approach humans. In fact, they prefer a solitary life. Find a hide from which to view their salmon-catching antics or travel Highway One. Your best opportunity of seeing a bear is by watching the road. They appear out of nowhere, only to disappear into the bushes once more like ghosts.

Explore aquatic scenery and a rugged coastline around Vancouver and further north up the channel in a sea kayak. This affords another chance to get close to whales and marine birds. Hire a kayak inland and explore lakes such as Postil, Hidden Lake and Gardom Lake, all in the Shuswap and Okanagan.

Consider golf vacation packages, play eighteen holes at The Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna before heading to one of numerous wineries. These include Tinhorn Creek, a carbon neutral winery boasting a fabulous product. For a wine festival come in August to the Okanagan Summer Wine Festival held at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon. Other festivals include Roots and Blues with its eclectic mix of musical acts held in Salmon Arm annually.

There is little mystery as to what brought people to places like Salmon Arm or Barkerville. Gold, building the railway, farming: these were all important attractions for immigrants from other parts of the country or from Europe. Visit places like Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke to see restored buildings such as the general store, the smithy or the one room school house. Some places even feature costumed actors and re-enactments of court proceedings.

Royal BC Museum is a large and fascinating establishment where visitors can explore the changing shape of the province. Take a look at natural history, indigenous cultures, the progress of the railroad and more. Other museums to check out include the Canadian Military Education Centre in Chilliwack, near Vancouver. Explore the military history of the country with some hands on displays and historic machines. Be sure to golf during a BC vacation.

River rafting is just one of the many water-sports attracting those who love to experience the wildness of provincial waterways. Choose your timing carefully to get the highest class of rapids or a gentler ride. Your fastest water in summer will likely happen early in the season, not long after the heavy spring run-off. Look into Adams River or Thomspon River tour companies, or just take yourself out onto one of numerous lakes for tubing and water-skiing.

Rock climbing makes another popular attraction for those unafraid of heights. Combine your interest in natural scenery with some vertical exertion. Once at the top of the cliffs at Skaha Bluffs near Penticton or Liard River in northern BC, do a bit of bird watching and let the world go by way below you.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf condos are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery, take time to enjoy the magnificent BC real estate.

BC Summer Activities For Everyone

One thing you hear people from BC saying is that they have no need to leave their province for a holiday. There is plenty to do without boarding a plane or renewing their passports. Whether you like rock climbing, rafting or a glass of wine, come for some BC Summer Activities.

Mention the west coast of Canada and many minds instantly turn to wildlife sightings. Though the best times to see bears is spring and autumn, you can still find great look-out spots during your summer holidays in places like Kicking Horse near the BC/Alberta border. Any time you drive past Kamloops towards the next province you have a chance of spotting bears close to or even on the Trans Canada Highway. Whale watching from Victoria or Telegraph Cove on Vancouver Island is another popular pastime. Boarding a zodiac, cruise ship, or even just taking the ferry between island and mainland will offer the opportunity to spot a pod of Orcas making their majestic way.

Try ocean kayaking to get even closer to whales, or choose kayaking on one of many clear, freshwater lakes. Bowron Lakes in the Cariboo Chilcotin Region makes a popular destination. Get down low in the water and really see the loons, grebes and numerous other native and migratory aquatic birds which frequent these waters.

Annual festivals across the province include Roots and Blues in Salmon Arm, featuring acts from around the world performing everything from rock and roll to African drumming. Drive a little way south east and explore the Okanagan wine region. Here you can taste an number of reds, whites, or fortified fruit wines from wineries that make this glorious region their home on a self-guided tour or enjoy the annual Okanagan Summer Wine Festival at Silver Star Mountain near Vernon in August. While you are in the area, try golfing at one of the numerous Okanagan Golf Clubs. These include Championship courses such as Black Mountain, a public course with a par of 71. BC real estate is thriving, so make sure to check out some of the fabulous investment opportunities.

History comes alive in places like Three Valley Gap near Revelstoke or Barkerville in the Cariboo. Look for restored buildings taking you back to cowboy days and the gold rush. At Barkerville, costumed interpreters re-enact scenes from daily life such as a realistic criminal trial.

Stop in at a BC museum to see collections from the natural and cultural world around us. Aboriginal artifacts include masks and totem poles, some of which can be seen at Royal Museum in Victoria. Revelstoke Railway Museum houses many train engines and carriages showing what train travel was like during different eras throughout the past century.

Thrill seekers may want to try rafting on one of many rivers suitable for the sport. Guides will take you safely over everything from a class one to class four. Your summer rafting trip will likely reach highs of class three since most of the spring run off will have passed through, but anything can happen in the wilds of BC so come prepared.

Mountaineering and rock-climbing provide popular challenges for the fit and prepared visitor. A visit to the north offers locations such as Cassiar, Omineca and Terrace for those looking to get off of the well-worn path and see natural wonders up close, including glaciers. Alternatively, tavel east to enjoy some of the wonderful Kimberly real estate. Follow an arduous day with a trip to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park along the Alaska Highway. You do not have to climb there, only walk the boardwalks to one of two pools boasting tropical temperatures.

It’s not surprising that BC is considered Canada’s golf capital. BC golf vacations are attracting golfers from all over the world, With the beautiful mountains and picturesque natural scenery in British Columbia. Plan your next golf vactaion package, and be the next to tee off in beautiful BC.

Great Brook Preserve at Sunny River Gated Community in Western Maine

Great Brook Preserve at Sunday River offers country and log homes on private acreage surrounded by trees with views of the Mahoosuc Mountains. If golf is your passion, the award winning Sunday River Golf Club offers you challenging play. Snow skiers will enjoy the slopes at the Sunday River Ski Resort. These are just two of the many amenities and activities located just a few minutes from Great Brook Preserve. It’s no wonder why this makes a great location for a secondary or seasonal home.

If skiing and snowboarding is your passion, then you will love the 131 world class ski trails that weave in and out of 8 interconnected mountains at that make up the Sunday River Ski Resort.

The Sunday River Golf Club is located 9 Miles away from Great Brook Preserve. This award-winning Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course was named one of the top 10 best new golf courses in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine and the number one course in Maine by Golfweek Magazine.

If you have a love for the environment and want to see natural woodlands protected you’ll find the deep rooted compassion for the environment shown by Great Brook Preserve refreshing. Tall timbers dominate the mountain landscapes inside the community, with hundreds of acres donated to the Conservation Land Trust. The donated land has been set aside to remain undeveloped to preserve the communities environment and natural beauty.

Sites vary from 3 to 566 acres of preserved mountain land with touring trees, steams and brooks, waterfalls, and panoramic mountains views. Homeowners can hike over 180 mile hut and trail system located adjacent to the community located next to the community or the Grafton Loop Trail which has 40 miles of hiking other natural features in Grafton Notch. Not into hiking? Why not they the cross country skiing or snowmobile down the many trails and paths in the Mahoosuc Mountains.

The community is located just outside of historic Bethel. Known around the world as “The greatest ski town in the universe” after earning the recognition from SKI Magazine for it’s variety of activities for all seasons, shopping and dining options.

In Closing

If peace and serenity is what you are searching for in your seasonal or secondary home purchase in Maine, then Great Brook Preserve would be a great choice. See for yourself today.

Hubert Miles is the founder of Gated Communities USA which features the best Gated Communities in the USA and Internationally. Find information on Great Brook Preserve.

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