Lakewood Ranch Retirement Guide

Lakewood Ranch is a large master-planned community that is located about halfway between Bradenton and Sarasota on Florida's west coast. Lakewood Ranch offers more than a dozen different neighborhoods offering both age-restricted and family-friendly living across more than 31,000 acres.

Several readers as well as personal friends of mine have moved there, and I can say from experience it is definitely worth a look in your quest to find the perfect retirement community for you.

Lakewood Ranch Neighborhoods

With everything from low-maintenance condominiums to huge single-family houses, Lakewood Ranch offers a neighborhood option for just about every type of family and budget. You can search available Lakewood Ranch homes here.

Each neighborhood has its own unique mix of home styles, amenities, and budgets, so make note of which ones get you most excited so that you can narrow down the options and find the perfect destination for your family.

There are even some 55+ neighborhoods like:

Cresswind Lakewood Ranch

If you'd like the help of a Realtor who has helped several of my readers explore and buy in Lakewood Ranch, you can get in touch with him here.

Life at Lakewood Ranch

From shopping and dining to healthcare and activities, everything about life at Lakewood Ranch is designed to be special. And because of its size, the community is able to offer a wide range of features to appeal to many different types of residents.

Shopping and Dining

With more than 200 shops and restaurants spread across three commercial districts, you are never going to be very far away from a delicious meal or a first-class shopping spree here at Lakewood Ranch.

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch offers residents the ideal downtown experience filled with an eclectic collection of boutiques and eateries. Main Street is also the home of Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, as well as regular concerts and festivals throughout the year.

At the northern end of the community, Lakewood Ranch residents can enjoy the 37-acre retail development known as The Green at Lakewood Ranch. There are more than two dozen businesses here, including Earth Fare and LA Fitness.

Waterside Place is the newest commercial destination at Lakewood Ranch, and it offers a wide range of restaurants and retail stores that are perfectly integrated with apartment living, all right on the water.

Parks and Trails

While many of the Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods are built around walking trials, the entire community has access to a vast collection of parks and trails. Whether you are looking for a casual stroll, an exciting hike, or a trip to a dog park, there is something for every type of outdoor enthusiast to enjoy here!

Bob Gardner Community Park, James L. Patton Community Park, Heron’s Nest Nature Park, Greenbrook Adventure Park, Summerfield Community Park, and Country Club Community Park are all located within the community, and that isn’t even getting into the dozens of state and local parks located just outside the community.

Healthcare

Outstanding medical care is also a staple here at Lakewood Ranch, and there are nearly a dozen different medical facilities spread out across the community. With so many to choose from, residents here have access to multiple options without ever having to travel outside the community.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center is a 120-bed acute care hospital with an extensive system of fully-integrated inpatient and outpatient services.

In addition, there are a number of on-site general practitioners, dentists, and specialists, plus facilities like the Lakewood Ranch YMCA and a number of fitness centers designed to improve everyone’s quality of life.

Lakewood Ranch has also been selected to be the home of the Brain Health Initiative, which is described as “a landmark, multi-generational research initiative that will have a global impact on brain health.”

Clubs and Activities

Clubs and activities are another essential part of the Lakewood Ranch experience, and like everything else around this community, residents have more than a few options at their fingertips.

Several of the Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods have their own lifestyle programming, which includes a team of employees that is completely focused on coming up with fun things to keep residents busy throughout the year.

Then there are the resident clubs and groups, which cover just about every activity and interest you could possibly imagine from sports and hobbies to social organizations and religious groups. It may not have as many clubs as The Villages, but the number is steadily growing.

Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 50 different charities that work to keep residents busy through giving back to the community and various other causes.

Residents can get involved with groups like the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club, and the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch.

The Market at Lakewood Ranch

Finding fresh produce is never a problem thanks to The Market at Lakewood Ranch, which is a farmers’ market held in the parking lot of the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center every Sunday morning from 10 am to 2 pm.

The Market at Lakewood Ranch usually features more than 50 local vendors, so there is never a shortage of delicious options and healthy produce.

Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club

With 54 holes of golf across three courses, two award-winning clubhouses, and a 400-yard practice range, everything about Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is designed to create a world-class experience.

In addition to being the community’s hub for golfers, there are also lots of social events that happen here, and residents also have access to a 24-hour fitness facility, 20 tennis courts, 12 pickleball courts, and a state-of-the-art golf academy.

Premier Sports Campus

While the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is a prime destination for golfers and tennis players, residents interested in other sports can pursue their passions at the Premier Sports Campus.

This massive facility offers 140 acres of fields that are designed to serve everyone from young people learning sports to semi-professional level adults looking for serious competition. There are a total of 22 full-size fields that host a wide range of sports leagues, tournaments, and camps.

Sarasota Polo Club

The Villages is well-known for their polo club, but not many people know that polo is also big at Lakewood Ranch, and has been for almost three decades now.

The Sarasota Polo Club boasts a total of seven polo fields across their 130-acre complex, and residents can come out to see the action every Sunday throughout the winter season.

Music on Main

Live music is essential to any great community experience, and Lakewood Ranch embraces that with Music on Main from 6 pm to 9 pm on the first Friday of every month.

Food vendors, beer trucks, and other vendor booths line both sides of Main Street to make this event one of the biggest regular happenings in Lakewood Ranch.

Other Notable Events

While we have already highlighted some of the biggest regular events like The Market and Music on Main, it is worth pointing out that we are barely even scratching the surface of what Lakewood Ranch has to offer its residents.

There really is something for everyone here, and that includes regularly scheduled activities and events like Sunday Morning Yoga, Ranch Nite Wednesdays, Community Nature Walks, Classic Car Wednesday, Community Bike Rides, and so much more!

What’s Nearby Lakewood Ranch?

Not only is there an amazing amount of things to see and do inside the Lakewood Ranch community, but there are also dozens of reasons to check out the surrounding communities for arts and culture, sporting events, beaches, and travel.

Arts & Culture

Lakewood Ranch is known for placing a strong emphasis on arts and culture through many of the things happening right in the community, but there are also dozens of outstanding arts and culture destinations nearby.

Residents who are passionate about the arts have the good fortune of being surrounded by attractions like the Manatee Performing Arts Center, the Village of the Arts in Bradenton, and the Ringling Museum of Art.

Professional Sports

With a location just an hour south of Tampa, there are opportunities for residents of Lakewood Ranch to check out professional sporting events throughout the entire year thanks to local teams like the Tampa Bay Rays, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In addition to those local teams, Sarasota is the spring training home of the Baltimore Orioles, and the Pittsburgh Pirates call nearby Bradenton home for their spring training.

Closest Beaches

Depending on traffic, residents of Lakewood Ranch can be relaxing on some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida in less than 30 minutes.

• Lido Key (15 miles)
• Siesta Key (19 miles)
• Anna Maria Island (22 miles)
• Longboat Key (23 miles)
• Clearwater Beach (60 miles)

Airports & Travel

Traveling to and from Lakewood Ranch is always a breeze thanks to the fact that the community is located near four different airports.

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is just 20 minutes from the community, but residents have access to even more flights by heading up to Tampa International Airport or down to Southwest Florida International Airport.

And then there is also the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for even more options.

Hotels & Lodging

Because Lakewood Ranch has such an amazing location along the Gulf right between Bradenton and Sarasota, there is no shortage of excellent hotels offering reasonable rates.

Every major hotel chain has options in the area, so whether you are loyal to Marriott, Hampton, Hyatt, or Radisson, there is an option that will fit your style and budget.

Many of the options located near the community offer discounts for anyone visiting Lakewood Ranch, so make sure that you call and ask about getting a better rate before you book anything!

Conclusion

With so many lifestyle amenities, housing options, and nearby attractions, it’s no surprise that Lakewood Ranch continues to be one of the fastest-growing master-planned communities in the entire country. No matter what type of lifestyle you might be looking for, there is an excellent chance that you will find the perfect version of it here.

Start by checking out this popular Lakewood Ranch 55+ community: