21 Jul Why Jacksonville is one of the Best Places to Retire
We know the search for the perfect retirement location can be a tedious one, but the Jacksonville Area could be your answer to one of the most important questions one can ask. Jacksonville has something for everyone, whether it’s military history, beautiful beaches, sports and entertainment or the area’s ideal climate. We’ve gathered just a few reasons why Jacksonville, FL is one of the best places to enjoy retirement.
Military
Jacksonville is noted as having great benefits for veterans. In fact, according to a study conducted by Veterans United Home Loans, Jacksonville is #8 out of the “Top 10 Best Cities for Veterans to Live,” this study focused on the population percentage of veterans and veteran unemployment rate. Jacksonville also features veteran-friendly services such as its full service VA Hospital and the naval pilot training program at the NAS Jacksonville Naval Base.
Beaches & Outdoor Activities
The Jacksonville and St. Augustine area have plenty of beaches and outdoor activities for you to enjoy and explore, and plenty of great weather that allows you to do just that! When it comes to beaches, you’re sure to find a favorite in North Florida. We suggest checking out Neptune Beach, Vilano Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, but we’ll let you decide for yourself! If you’re not in the mood for the beach, Northeast Florida also has many outdoor attractions such as Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, The Jacksonville Arboretum and our city, state and national parks such as Walter Jones Historical Park, Hanna Park and The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve! (Fun Fact: Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the nation, with over 460 parks!)
Health Care
Jacksonville has some of the nation’s top-tier healthcare providers, Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health and the University of North Florida’s healthcare campus are among some of the facilities. Want to learn about the others? We’ve got you covered – check out our previous blog post that highlights the healthcare in Jacksonville here.
Sports and Entertainment
Jacksonville has an abundance to offer in sports and entertainment. Catch a concert or show at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, St. Augustine Amphitheater or Daily’s Place. Jacksonville also has an abundance of sports to tune into – whether you prefer baseball, basketball, soccer, football or hockey. You can root for the home team when you’re at a game with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Jacksonville Armada FC, Jacksonville IceMen, Jacksonville Giants and the Jacksonville Sharks!
DREAM FINDERS HOMES
Dream Finders Homes designs, builds, and sells homes in high growth markets, including Jacksonville, Orlando, Denver, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and Austin, as well as Charlotte and Raleigh with the acquisition of H&H Homes in October 2020. The company focuses on single-family entry-level, first-time move-up, second-time move-up homes and Active Adult Lifestyle communities. It also offers title insurance and mortgage banking solutions to fully serve its homebuyer customers and capture ancillary business opportunities.