Located along the Atlantic Coast, Palm Coast is a popular destination for retirement due to its beautiful weather, affordable cost of living, and range of recreational activities.
If you're considering retiring in Palm Coast, here's a guide to help you navigate the process and make the most of your retirement years.
Where is Palm Coast?
Palm Coast is located on the northeast coast of Florida, in Flagler County. The city is positioned along the Intracoastal Waterway and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Palm Coast is approximately 30 miles south of St. Augustine and about 25 miles north of Daytona Beach.
Palm Coast's convenient location provides residents and visitors with easy access to both natural attractions and urban amenities in neighboring cities.
The nearest airports would be Daytona International Airport (32 miles away) and Jacksonville International Airport (75 miles away).
Palm Coast History
In the late 1960s, ITT purchased vast tracts of land in Flagler County, Florida, with the vision of creating a master-planned community. The area chosen for development was previously undeveloped and primarily consisted of agricultural land, forests, and swamps.
Construction of Palm Coast began in 1970, with the goal of creating an attractive and affordable community for families and retirees. The initial development focused on infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and amenities. The first residents began moving into Palm Coast in 1972.
Over the years, Palm Coast grew steadily as more residents were drawn to its natural beauty, favorable climate, and affordable cost of living. The community expanded with the addition of residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, golf courses, and recreational facilities.
In 1999, ITT Corporation spun off its interest in Palm Coast, and in 2000, Palm Coast was incorporated as a city, allowing for local governance and decision-making.
What's the Weather Like in Palm Coast?
Palm Coast enjoys a subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. The average temperature ranges from 60°F in winter to 90°F in summer. Like most of Florida, Palm Coast experiences plenty of sunshine throughout the year, making it ideal for outdoor activities.
What's the Cost of Living in Palm Coast?
The cost of living in Palm Coast is lower than both the national average cost of living, as well as the average cost of living in Florida. Housing prices, healthcare, and transportation costs all contribute to this, which can help stretch your retirement savings further.
Here's a snapshot of what home prices are doing as of April 2023, year to date:
Things to Do in Palm Coast
The Palm Coast lifestyle definitely revolves around golf and nature and even provides some opportunities for the two to intersect.
On the golf side, courses like the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach allow you to play right along the Atlantic Ocean. Other popular courses include Palm Harbor Golf Course, and Pine Lakes Golf Course designed by Arnold Palmer.
If nature is more appealing to you, the beach is always a great option, and there are places like Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Princess Palace Preserve, and many other local parks and preserves to explore.
The Florida Agricultural Museum is located in Palm Coast. This is a great place to learn about what life was like in Florida way before Palm Coast ever even existed!
Palm Coast is less than an hour away from both St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, where you will find lots more to do.
Where to Eat in Palm Coast
European Village is a unique shopping and dining complex in Palm Coast. It is designed to evoke the ambiance of a European village, with its charming architecture, cobblestone streets, and courtyard areas. The village offers a diverse range of businesses, including restaurants, cafes, boutiques, specialty shops, and professional services.
Like any real southern town, Palm Coast is home to a fantastic BBQ joint. Located right on the water, Captain’s BBQ serves a delicious variety of smoked meats and traditional BBQ sides. This is a real deal BBQ place where you can see the smoker out back hard at work, and you can definitely taste the difference!
Another Florida trademark is a great seafood restaurant, and that restaurant in Palm Coast is JT’s Seafood Shack. The specialty here is their “Steam Pot,” which comes with crab legs, shrimp, clams, and mussels in a “spicy seafood boil” with sausage, corn, and potatoes.
For pizza lovers, another great place to try is Mezzaluna Pizzeria. They have multiple locations but one is in the European Village I mentioned above. They serve great traditional pizza, but also offer some really fun specialty pizzas like their Eggplant Florentine Pizza, Chicken Marsala Pizza, and Greek Salad Pie!
Where to Retire in Palm Coast
Reverie at Palm Coast is a new 55+ community located in a naturally beautiful setting at the heart of the abundant activities, great golf, and sparkling ocean waters that rank this area as one of the top beach towns in the country.
Reverie will include a staffed amenities center with an outdoor zero-entry swimming pool, separate spa, fitness center with fitness on-demand video system, 6 tournament-style pickleball courts, grand event lawn, multiple gathering areas, party bar, social clubs, separate aerobics area, golf simulator, putting green and much more. You can walk to trails, pocket parks, or take Fido your private dog park nestled within the Reverie community.
Reverie will feature 15 different home designs in 3 home collections that range from 1,693 sq ft to over 3,700 sq ft in living area with 2 and 3-car garages. Preconstruction prices start from the mid $300,000 to mid $500,000 range with many homesite views, design elements and options to choose from.
Sound like it might be a fit? You can request more information right here:
Final Thoughts on Palm Coast
If you are passionate about either golfing or nature, Palm Coast is definitely a place you are going to want to consider when looking for a Florida retirement destination. But if you are passionate about both, it might be the only place you need to look!
Leave a Reply