Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, and Sarasota are the biggest populations centers in this region of the state. The west coast of Florida offers direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, which is perhaps a more serene option than the Atlantic Ocean.
This area is also very popular with residents and retirees from the Midwest who are able to shoot right down I-75 to get here.
Popular Communities in this Region:
Valencia Ridge, the all-new community in the greater Tampa area, offers contemporary home designs and world-class amenities for the ultimate 55+ luxury living. Nothing compares to the incredible 55+ lifestyle, as the world-class clubhouse will feature multiple pools, pickleball and tennis courts, fitness center, restaurant and bar, sports lounge, social hall and much more.
Woodland Preserve is Kolter Homes' latest new home community in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. This gated, 55+ neighborhood will feature a contemporary collection of flexible floorplans that range from 2- up to 5-Bedrooms with structural and design options.
Woodland Preserve residents will also have full access to their own community clubhouse and amenities including a fitness center, pickleball courts, pool with lap lanes, indoor and outdoor social spaces and much more. Plus, the community’s natural beauty is a crucial part of the lifestyle. Join the VIP List today to be among the first to receive community details.
Located less than an hour from The Villages, the Villages of Citrus Hills is a Florida Retirement Community with single-family homes and maintenance-free villas that have been built with today’s demanding baby-boomer in mind. But what makes the promise of Florida Retirement in the Villages of Citrus Hills truly come together for today’s new breed of active adult retiree is its extraordinary collection of world-class community country club amenities and extensive social activities. Villages of Citrus Hills offers a variety of home styles and neighborhoods to choose from.
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch is a 55+ new home community in Lakewood Ranch, located east of Sarasota and Bradenton and named the #1 multigenerational neighborhood in the nation.
Cresswind Lakewood Ranch offers a variety of amenities including a fitness center, art studio, tennis and pickleball courts, resort-style swimming pool, resistance pool and more. Residents also have quick access to Lakewood Ranch’s golf courses, polo club, 75-acre sports campus, schools, shops, restaurants and hospital. Plus, the white sand beaches and cultural attractions of Sarasota are within a 30-minute drive.
Homebuyers can choose from nineteen spacious home plans, specifically designed for active adults and offering open floorplans and energy-efficient designs.
Grand Palm is truly a one-of-a-kind community! This beautiful, amenity-rich, nature-focused community in Venice, Florida is exactly what resort living should be like. Residents enjoy easy access to downtown Venice and beaches (20 minutes away) and a multitude of activities right in their own backyard with an on-site activities coordinator, state-of-the-art fitness facility, and large, resort-style pool with water slide. Attached villas and single-family homes are available.
Located just south of Venice in Sarasota County, Boca Royale Golf & Country Club offers a rare lifestyle that feels more like a vacation than the everyday. Residents of the gated 1,000-acre community enjoy a full line of fun and fitness amenities, including an 18-hole par 72 golf course. A beautiful amenity center and clubhouse round out the community. The community offers both single-family homes and attached villas.
Discover a new brighter 55+ lifestyle at Brightmore at Wellen Park in Venice, Florida. This new gated community is nestled within popular Wellen Park, one the nation's premier master-planned communities. Brightmore will feature a rich array of resort-style amenities, including 2 pools, 8 pickleball courts and a competition court, and a 21,000 square foot clubhouse with gathering areas, bar/grill, fitness center, paw park and much more. A full activities and events calendar provides fun and social connections. Choose from 11 thoughtfully designed home plans, including villas and single-family residences.
In the heart of Sun City Center, Florida, you will find a gated enclave, The Preserve at La Paloma. This new 55+ community offers stylish, low-maintenance attached villas, single-family homes and fun-filled amenities.
Resort-style amenities include a clubhouse, pool with sundeck and spa, pickleball court, firepit gathering area, and more. Activities and events take place monthly so residents can connect and socialize.
The Preserve at La Paloma is perfectly situated in golf cart-friendly Sun City Center with a peaceful, yet vibrant location just off Sun City Center Boulevard and less than 1 mile from I-75. Abundant shopping and dining are a short walk, bike ride or drive away, and golf and recreation opportunities surround the community.
Homes start in the low/mid $300s.
Del Webb BayView – Parrish, FL
Del Webb Bay View is located in Parrish, which is in Manatee County, about 30 minutes away from downtown Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Like most Del Webb communities, residents can expect resort-style amenities hosted by a full-time lifestyle director. Even though this community only just recently opened, I’ve already had a few readers purchase homes there. Prices start in the $300k’s.
Popular Florida West Coast Retirement Articles
As the third largest city in the state of Florida, Tampa offers residents all of the big city amenities they are looking for combined with the fantastic climate that draws people to the Sunshine State in the first place.
Retirement Spotlight: St. Petersburg
Across the bay from Tampa and just south of Clearwater is where you will find the city of St. Petersburg.
Known for offering the perfect combination of white sand beaches, crystal clear water, and all of the big city amenities that make life enjoyable, St. Petersburg is the perfect destination for anyone who wants a little bit of everything in their retirement lifestyle.
Retirement Spotlight: Crystal River
Crystal River is located right on the Gulf Coast of Florida just a little over an hour north of Tampa, a little over an hour south of Gainesville, and about and hour and a half west of Orlando.
Spotlight on Sarasota & Bradenton
Located along the Gulf Coast just an hour south of Tampa and a little under two hours north of Fort Myers your will find the historic artist towns of Sarasota and Bradenton. Both of these communities combine the historic Old Florida feel with vibrant cultural districts to create one of the most perfect atmospheres anywhere.
Located just south of Sarasota, but not quite as far south as Fort Myers or Sanibel Island, Venice sits in a sweet spot along Florida’s southern Gulf Coast that makes it the perfect destination for anyone looking to make the most of 14 miles of stunning white sand beaches.
Retirement Spotlight: Florida’s Nature Coast
Located along the inside curve of Florida’s coastline, the Nature Coast region connects the Sun Coast counties with the areas located further west along the Florida Panhandle.
It is comprised of nine counties that include Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and the city of Dunnellon, which is a part of Marion County.