The Best Active Retirement Communities in South Carolina

Golf

• According to "Best Guide for Retirement Communities," Savannah Lakes Village (scgolflake.com) on Lake Thurmond in McCormick, South Carolina, is one of the more affordable communities offering lake amenities. The largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi, Lake Thurmond is 90 percent underdeveloped and offers a quiet residential area surrounded by forests. Residential choices range from golf sites to lakefront properties; recreational offerings include two golf courses, boating and fishing. The golf clubs at Savannah Lakes Village feature some of the most scenic and challenging golf holes in the state, and golf club membership is included with Savannah Lakes Village property ownership.

Boating

• Named one of South Carolina's best marina communities by "Best Guide for Retirement Communities," Craven's Grant on Winyah Bay (cravensgrant.com) is a gated waterfront community where four rivers and the Intracoastal Waterway meet. Homesites include Intracoastal, marshfront, bayfront and lakefront. In addition to a community boat dock, Craven's Grant features a swimming pool, walking trail, clubhouse, gazebos and tennis courts.The Charleston-style homes include large porches, some of which offer views of 16th-century rice fields.

Lifetime Learning

• Located in the town of Aiken, South Carolina, Cedar Creek (cedarcreek.net) offers retirees an opportunity to continue learning and exploring new areas of interest. Classes are offered at the Academy for Lifelong Learning hosted by the University of South Carolina-Aiken. A master-planned, gated community, Cedar Creek also features wooded house lots backing to green space, a Senior Wellness Center and a Village Green. According to "Best Guide for Retirement Communities," amenities include miles of walking trails and a designated bicycle lane; other offerings include golf, tennis, and swimming.

Additional Retirement Communities

• South Carolina retirement communities offer diverse choices in terms of activities and location. Many retirement communities boast coastal locations; Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach are the best known coastal locations for retirement in South Carolina. Most of the communities designed for retirement living feature a range of activities such as swimming, walking, biking, golfing and tennis. There are also communities designed for individuals who want a retirement geared around horse ownership and horseback riding.