Asheville is a prosperous small city of just over 70,000 in the Blue Ridge mountain’s of western North Carolina. Because of its charming environment and mild weather it has long been a desirable retirement community – from the rich and famous to ordinary active adults 55+ in quest of beauty and a nice climate.

The Vanderbilt’s built an enormous estate near here, the Biltmore Estate, which is the largest private residence in America with 250 rooms. It is open to the public year around and well worth a tour. Frederick Law Olmstead, America’s most distinguished landscape architect, who also designed New York’s Central Park, planned its gardens.

There are many retirement communities and places for active adults in the region surrounding Asheville. Golf and outdoor activities are extremely popular. Many of these developments are built around lakes. Downtown Asheville has a comfortable feeling where walking around the town is a pleasure. It has a great collections of art deco architecture, antique stores galore, art galleries and boutiques. The sparkling, stylized details found in Asheville's early art deco and gothic buildings echo the pre-depression heyday of the 1920's. Those who prefer the outdoor cafe or coffee house setting will also find themselves at home at the many cafes spread throughout downtown.