Residents of Marquis Residences and their guests are a stone’s throw away from Miami’s well-known Design District, the Performing Arts and Museum Park. Being at the heart of cultural entertaining you can enjoy the sounds of cultural music, dance and cuisine of south Beach. This elegant 67-story structure is made of three interconnecting enclosed completely in glass to make the view simply marvelous.

Residents are greeted home in a double height, grand lobby that is split from the hotel entrance. The amenities here are exceptional. On the 14th you have a open air sky pool deck,with plenty of amenities. The pool deck looks over the Biscayne Bay area and is enclosed by extra-large cabana style curtains. Towel service along with cool face towels are also available. On hot days you can expect to have frozen fruit anytime you desire. Juice, and a snack bar presenting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and fruit smoothies. You also have a full gourmet kitchen, huge screen TV and plush seats in a club room right across from the pool deck.

A beautiful restaurant on the ground floor that has inside and outside seating. Signature Spa and fitness center and a 56-key boutique. High speed Internet and valet parking are also available.

The penthouse alone is 8,042 square feet of extraordinary beauty with rooftop terraces, a whirlpool outside,and many more features. Their is a variety of floor plans available from elegant single level to airy two level town homes. Each floor plan has its own unique design to add to the beauty.

The concierge, valet and housekeeping services are magnificent and also include in-suite dining services. Miami residents are delighted to stay in such a fine and outstanding condo. The views, the service and the style itself are a warm and inviting welcome to residents and hotel guests. This is almost like a city itself. [Visit website]

Bicycling Magazine recently came out with their list of America’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities and two Florida cities made the list. Gainesville which is a college town built around the University of Florida is one.

According to Bicycling Magazine approximately 5 percent of Gainesville residents (mostly students) commute by bike. I’ve visited Gainesville many times and I’ve also spoken to several people who lived there or went to school there and their only complaint is that it can be darn near impossible to find an open spot in a bike rack at most places. Other than that its great for bicyclists.

To the surprise of many, the other city chosen as most bike-friendly in Florida is Miami. According to the magazine, Miami has made big strides in recent years to make the city more conducive to cyclists.

“In less than two years, Miami has gone from being one of the worst bike cities in America to one that strives to be one of the best. Former mayor Manny Diaz hired the city’s first bike-ped coordinator, and the city has hosted a number of ciclovia events. New bike lanes, sharrows and trails are in the works.”

With great weather most months out of the year, Florida is a great place to retire if riding is your passion.

But these days, as baby boomers are so diverse in the types of activities they enjoy, over 55 communities in Florida are focusing on other activities when promoting their communities.

One example of this I saw recently is in the marketing of Lake Weir Living near The Villages. The community is marketed as a “motorcycle rider’s paradise” as it is very close to the location of the Leesburg Bikefest and only an hour From Bike Week in Daytona. Not too mention there are several riding trails popular with motorcyclists in the area.

Its one thing to talk the talk on your website, but Lake Weir focuses on this demographic of motorcycle enthusiasts in all of their marketing. Just last week I received a brochure package from Lake Weir Living and I was very surprised to see a local Harley-Davidson ride map enclosed with the brochure. This is an unusual but highly welcome and thoughtful touch that ties into their marketing perfectly. You can see from the picture below that there are other not so slight hints that say “hey, we’re a Biker’s heaven.”

I have not seen too many other communities personalize their marketing in such a way to target one particular demographic outside of golfers. What I would really be interested in seeing is a community that asks about people’s interests on their contact forms, and then personalizes the brochure or welcome packet based on the response.

For instance, if I don’t play golf, I probably don’t need 5 pages of information about your golf course. But, if I tell you I’m an avid tennis player, let me know about your tennis facility and include a note from the head pro about all the activities going on each month.

I think that as competition among communities heats back up, you will see a more targeted, niche approach. This will be good for the communities themselves, and great for the retirees considering moving into them.

Over on my website for the book, I just posted an article on a story that NPR had on The Villages. Its well worth a listen if you are looking for retirement communities in Florida, no matter whether you are thinking about The Villages or not.

It’s exciting and interesting for me to see mainstream media report about retirement communities, especially those in Florida. Like most reporting these days, the story is not entirely accurate but it does give an outsider a look inside one of Florida’s most talked about communities.

Like many other Tampa retirement communities, perhaps the biggest allure of Black Diamond is the country club and golf courses located within the community.

Forty five Tom Fazio designed golf holes comprise the three majestically beautiful golf courses at Black Diamond Ranch. These courses have been named in the top 100 courses in the nation by Golf Digest for the past 19 years

The Quarry Course gets its name from the old limestone quarry it was built around. It’s impossible to select a favorite hole on this course, but the 14th, 15th, and 16th are carved around canyon walls and writer Dan Jenkins said they are part of the five best consecutive holes of golf anywhere in the world.

Finished in 1997, The Ranch Course with its two tiered greens and elevation changes is as challenging as it is beautiful. Tom Fazio said the 16th, 17th nd 18th “represent the three best finishing holes I have ever designed.”

You can see forever on the nine hole Highlands Course which was also completed in 1997. This 36 par course has a slope rating of 147, making it one of the most challenging courses in America. It can be played alone or in tandem with either of the other two courses at Black Diamond Ranch.

Black Diamond Ranch offers a 28,000 square foot clubhouse complete with Black Diamond pool, fitness facilities with personal trainers, restaurants, and Har-Tru Tennis Courts. Full equity memberships, social memberships, and invitational memberships are all available for the Black Diamond Club. Nothing rounds out a day of golf like an evening at the club with friends.

Homes at Black Diamond Club are beautifully designed with spacious lawns and landscaped lots in keeping with the ambiance of the development. Three and four bedroom homes with two and three car garages to golf cottages with two bedrooms range in price from the low $200,000 up to well over the million dollar mark. Both resales and new construction homes are available. [Visit website]

Ovation is located in the heart of St Petersburg, Florida. Within walking distance of the condominiums are various blocks full of fine shopping, boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. For those who are interest in cultural events, museums and theatres are also located nearby. The Ovation’s location is also ideal for a sports enthusiast as the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team plays just a few blocks from the building. The building is also located near various public transportation options that provide access to the Tampa International Airport, the beach, and all that Tampa and St. Petersburg have to offer.

While Ovation is located in the heart of a busy and vibrant city, the interior amenities are as nice as you’ll find in any other luxury building. Ovation has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool which contains many pool deck chairs and covered cabanas which encourage residents to lounge outside. There is also a two-story lobby and multiple clubrooms which encourage residents to socialize among one another. For those looking to stay in shape, Ovation has a state of the art fitness center and spa which contains both high end cardiovascular machines and free weights. Ovation also has an onsite concierge who will help all residents plan events and figure out ways to spend their day.

The best part of Ovation is the residences themselves. The units within Ovation range from around 2,300 square feet up to over 5,300 square feet. Both half floor condos and full floor penthouse condo residences are available. Each unit has high end finishes with luxurious kitchens and bathrooms as well as 10 foot ceilings. The views are spectacular as each unit has at least 180 feet of linear glass windows. [Visit website]

Local Area and Things to Do
Tampa is a great place to live in all seasons. Temperatures are mild and moderate and the weather is always pleasant. The Slade at Channelside is located close to downtown Tampa where you’ll find arts, theater, shopping, dining and anything else that suits your fance. Tampa’s attractions include St. Pete Time Forum where you can enjoy over 150 events a year including the circus, ice shows, family events, concerts and indoor sports. The Slade at Channelside is also located close to the Museum of Art where they have photography, sculpture, paintings and antiques. Perhaps a nice stroll through Hyde Park would interests you more, Ybor City, or the Florida Aquarium may be nice as well. Whatever your interests, you’ll find it close by while living at The Slade at Channelside.

The Condo and Amenities
You can choose from many different but all spacious floor plans at The Slade at Channelside. There are condos with one, or two bedrooms available as well as options for an additional den. All of these can be viewed in detail on their website. All of the condos are single level and have beautiful cabinetry, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and beautiful flooring. While living here at The Slade at Channelside, you’ll find every convenience at your fingertips including a our unique infinity pool, salt water pool, whirlpool, clubroom, a spacious roof top sun deck and relaxing landscaped courtyards.

The Slade at Channelside is the place to find the exciting lifestyle or the relaxation that you are looking for. Please visit the website to learn more, request information, see photos and discover that the Slade at Channelside is the place for you. [Visit website]

The Place at Channelside is an amazing apartment complex located in the heart of Tampa. The Place at Channelside is within walking distance of downtown Tampa, the historic Ybor City, and the Westshore Business District. At these locations, residents of The Place at Channelside have an unlimited amount of options for entertainment, nightlife, and shopping. For those interested in marine life or sports, the apartment complex is also nearby the Florida Aquarium and The St Pete’s Time Forum, which is home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

While The Place at Channelside offers residents an amazing location in the heart of Tampa, the amenities found inside of the complex are unmatched by any other apartment complex in Tampa. The Place at Channelside has a breathtaking pool which is large enough for lap swimming, but contains an appealing sun deck which encourages residents to spend an afternoon lying out. For those looking to stay in shape, the complex has a state of the art fitness facility with top notch cardiovascular and weightlifting machinery. Residents who are looking to just relieve stress can find relaxation in the complex’s whirlpool spa, sauna, community lounge, or meditation garden.

Also onsite at The Place at Channelside is a concierge desk to help residents find alternative forms of entertainment. The building also has security with a 24/7 doorman, secure access elevators, and remote garage door entry.

All units within The Place at Channelside are built with only the most luxurious finishes. These luxury residences range in size from 1BR / 1BA units up to 2BR / 2.5BA plus den units. Rental rates at The Place at Channelside start at an affordable $968 per month. [Visit website]

Located in the heart of Tampa, Florida, the Ventana offers their access to all of the entertainment an cultural options that the city of Tampa has to offer. The Ventana is located at the corner of Kennedy Boulevard and Channelside Drive, which provides immediate access to everything that the Channelside District has to offer. The Channelside District has many shops, boutique, restaurants, cafes, and bars which can be enjoyed by all residents of The Ventana. The Ventana also has access to public transportation which can be taken to anywhere in Tampa.

While the Ventana has access to many exciting cultural and entertainment options outside of the complex, there are many interior amenities that are unmatched by other residences. The Ventana comes with a well equipped fitness center which contains various cardio vascular machines and a weight room which encourages exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

The Ventana’s club room is designed by the Chancey Design Partnership and has stylish furniture and artwork which encourages many people to relax and socialize with other residents. The pool in the Ventana is unmatched by other Tampa condo complexes. The pool is large and contains a poolside deck that has many pool chairs and cabanas. Also onsite is a concierge who can help organize activities within and outside of The Ventana.

Within the Ventana there are 84 different residences which range from 1,100 square feet to over 2,600 square feet. All residents within the Ventana are well upgraded with only the most beautiful finishes. Now may be the best time to purchase a Ventana condo. Homes have recently sold for $205,000 and buyers can get FHA approved 3.5% down payment financing. [Visit website]

For anyone looking to scale down on the amount of homeownership responsibilities and wants to live in an exciting area, purchasing a Tampa condo within The Grand Central at Kennedy may be an excellent option.

The Grand Central at Kennedy is well located in the heart of Tampa. Located just off of Channelside Drive, the Grand Central at Kennedy offers their residents access to many amenities in the neighborhood. Within walking distance, there are many different restaurants, shops, boutiques, and bistros. Also near the Grand Central is access to public transportation which allows residents to access all the cultural and entertainment options that the city of Tampa has to offer.

While the Grand Central at Kennedy is located in a vibrant location, the amenities located within the master planned community are unmatched by any other complex. Inside the Grand Central at Kennedy there are two ninth floor pool decks which provide beautiful panoramic views of the city. For those residents looking to stay physically fit and stay healthy, a Powerhouse Gym is located on site. This gym has exceptional equipment and a dedicated personal training staff. Also on site is a beautiful lounge which contains a piano and beautiful furniture which encourages residents to socialize with other residents. The Grand Central at Kennedy also has an on site dry cleaners.

Within The Grand Central at Kennedy are 392 residential units that range from studios to two bedroom units. Each unit comes complete with a fully upgraded kitchen, floor to window ceilings, and plenty of beautiful finishes. Units within the Grand Central at Kennedy can be either purchased or leased. [Visit website]