North Carolina Retirement Towns

Bald Head Island NC Retirement | Holden Beach NC Retirement Island

Asheville, North Carolina
When you do your research, it does seem that life is but a dream in Asheville. Located on the French Broad River with the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains as a backdrop, the climate is...
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Bald Head Island, North Carolina
ACCESSIBLE ONLY BY BOAT, exclusive Bald Head Island is to some the perfect place to retire. Built with a keen eye toward sensitive land planning and coastal architecture, the developers of the private island resort community have created some of the most beautiful and valuable real estate on the North Carolina coast...
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Calabash, North Carolina
NESTLED ON THE TIDAL plains in the southeast corner of North Carolina lies a small fishing village with a timeless legacy and a rich tradition. Situated between the bright lights of Myrtle Beach to the south and the historic charm of Wilmington to the north, Calabash remains a pleasant respite from the modern world...
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Carolina Beach, North Carolina
THE WORD IS OUT AND THE verdict is in–small-town charm and warm ocean breezes make Carolina Beach a great place to spend the best years of your life. Crossing the Snow’s Cut Bridge from Wilmington to Pleasure Island and its largest town, Carolina Beach, is a breath of fresh air as you leave the noise and traffic of the city for the serenity of a Southern coastal hideaway.
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Cashiers, North Carolina
Cashiers is a tiny village of fewer than 200 people situated high in the mountains of Southwestern North Carolina. Near the Tennessee border, Cashiers–pronounced “cashers” by the locals–is often thought of in conjunction with its sister community of Highlands...
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Caswell Beach, North Carolina
LOCATED AT THE SOUTHERN tip of coastal North Carolina, Caswell Beach combines two enviable elements: the beach life and the small town. Facing south, Caswell Beach is shielded from the busier tourist rush that sometimes consumes Southport and the rest of Oak Island...
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Charlotte, North Carolina
BEFORE THE LURE OF GOLD drew dreamers and treasure seekers to California, it attracted them to South Central North Carolina in search of untold riches. The Charlotte area spawned the nation’s first gold rush early in the 19th century, shortly after a local jeweler realized that a 17-pound rock a family...
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Emerald Isle, North Carolina
Known as the “gem of the Crystal Coast,” Emerald Isle has quickly become one of the most popular family destination and vacation spots on the East Coast. With its immaculate beaches, festivals and endless activities, it’s easy to see why people in increasing numbers are discovering this island jewel.
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Hampstead, North Carolina
ONCE ONLY A SMALL FISHING village, Hampstead is now in one of the fastest growing areas in North Carolina. Newcomers of all ages are making the quaint little waterfront community their permanent home, and many of them are retirees, seeking the peace of mind towns like Hampstead provide...
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Holden Beach, North Carolina
Located at the southern tip of North Carolina, the beach runs east-west, providing interesting and magnificent vistas morning and night. The sun seems to rise directly out of the ocean, then set gently back into the peaceful...
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Holly Ridge, North Carolina
ONCE ONE OF THE SMALLEST towns on the southeastern North Carolina coast, Holly Ridge is known today as the gateway to Topsail Island. With numerous residential developments completed recently or still under construction, the town has quietly become a hot spot for people who want to live near the beach...
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Leland, North Carolina
Just five minutes from Wilmington’s historic River District, Leland lies along the Brunswick River and is the central hub of Northeast Brunswick County. Boasting an enviable location and a temperate climate, Leland is close to beaches in Brunswick and New Hanover counties and offers a wide variety of homes for those interested in...
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New Bern, North Carolina
If the convention center is the jewel of New Bern, then its centerpiece is 13 Flags Over New Bern. Located downtown, this arrangement of flags was created in 1973 and contains the American flag, along with the official state and town flags, in the center of a ring of 13 historical flags dating back as far as...
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Oak Island, North Carolina
Now a favorite spot for retirees, the city itself was founded in 1999, when the towns of Long Beach and Yaupon Beach were consolidated. Leaders from the neighboring towns saw incorporation as a means to reduce the expenses of the...
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Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Located between the tourist mecca of Myrtle Beach and the historic charm of Wilmington, little is known about its early years, when it belonged to a variety of people, none of whom had a clear direction for the island. Until the 1950s, Ocean Isle was little more than a family getaway for those who owned sprawling expanses of ocean-front property. In 1953, Odell Williamson purchased the entire island, incorporating it into the town...
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Raleigh, North Carolina
THE RALEIGH-DURHAM AREA is a hotbed of college basketball. From October through March, the attention of the sports world is more often than not focused on the fierce rivalries among the state’s three most prominent schools: Duke University, the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University.
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Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Residents of Rocky Mount can take advantage of many educational, cultural and recreational opportunities. The city operates the Arts Center, the Children’s Museum & Science Center and a community theater, all at the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences...
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Shallotte, North Carolina
The Shallotte area offers a large number of golf courses. Shallotte alone has courses ranging from Brunswick County’s original course, Brierwood Golf Club, to a recent Arnold Palmer design, Rivers Edge Golf Course. For outdoor enthusiasts, all manner of water sports abound. Quail, wild turkey, deer, ducks and other native...
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Southport, North Carolina
The residents of Southport have made preserving their rich history a priority. The 200-year-old live oaks that line many of the streets are protected by law, as are the faithfully preserved Victorian mansions found...
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St. James, North Carolina
MORE THAN A decade ago, St. James was 3,300 acres of undeveloped farmland. Now, this upscale golf course development west of Southport is favored by retirees who want to indulge their passion for golf.
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Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Many quaint coastal communities and larger cities are within easy driving distance of Sunset Beach, offering world-class golf, shopping, sightseeing, fishing and dining options. Calabash, the world-famous “Seafood Capital of the World,” is only five minutes away. For those seeking a bit more excitement, it takes less than an hour to...
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Surf City, North Carolina
The town and the island have much to offer for those seeking a laid-back, small-town atmosphere. Located about 25 miles south of Jacksonville and the same distance north of Wilmington, visitors and residents will find beautiful beaches, interesting shops, fine restaurants and recreational activities, including golf, kayaking, bike riding and fishing. The winter and summer weather, as well as the cost of living, are...
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Topsail Beach, North Carolina
TOPSAIL ISLAND, NORTH Carolina, a little more than 26 miles long, includes three towns–North Topsail Beach, Surf City and Topsail Beach–and some of the best beaches on the East Coast...
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Washington, North Carolina
WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA –referred to as “Little Washington” by some–was the first town in America named after Revolutionary War General and U.S. President George Washington. Originally named “Forks of the Tar” when it was founded in 1771, the town became Washington amid the patriotic fervor of 1776...
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Wilmington, North Carolina
DURING THE 1990S, WILMINGTON evolved into one of the fastest-growing retiree havens in the region, a trend that continues today. The warm weather, nearby beaches and rich history of the area draw people from across the country to call this famed Cape Fear River town home...
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Winston-Salem, North Carolina
TWO NEARBY TOWNS SETTLED nearly a century apart and for vastly different reasons are now one thriving city with a well-earned reputation as a center for Southern and American arts.
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Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
The Cape Fear Coast will forever be tied to it's centuries-old nautical legacy. Its rich heritage dates back to the early explorers who named the area Cape Fear for its rugged shoals and treacherous waters that even today give the saltiest of sea captains reason to pause...
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