Why Do We Love Lakewood Ranch? - Our Top Ten List!

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The Top 10 Reasons to Love Lakewood Ranch

Have you heard about Lakewood Ranch Florida? As the 2nd best-selling master planned community in the nation, it has a lot to offer. Today, we are going to share our top 10 reasons why we love life in Lakewood Ranch.

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Number 1: Lakewood Ranch is a master planned development community.

• At only 25 years young, this 31,000 acre community has been thought out and planned completely – from each new building to each blade of grass, taking care to preserve much of the original ranch and nature surrounding it.
• It is the 2nd best-selling planned community in the nation, second only to The Villages in Florida.
• The care and planning of this community can be seen in every square inch and the way it is maintained, adding to its beauty and its appeal.

Number 2: Community Events & Activities – SO MUCH TO DO

• On any given day, there is something going on at the Ranch! You can join a club that matches your individual interests, visit the Market on the Polo grounds, listen to live music on Main Street while enjoying a great dinner, watch the sunset over the water, and hang out with neighbors, all in the same day!
• Lakewood Ranch has a community event calendar that lists the local activities, and it is a short drive to Sarasota for even MORE options, including theater and arts.
• There is also a new development opening in LWR called Waterside Place that will house a brand-new performing arts center, restaurants, shops, and residences. 

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Number 3: New development = new opportunities (It’s growing)

• That leads us to reason number 3: With over 1,383 existing companies and more coming, The Ranch is full of opportunity in fields such as biotech, finance, retail, healthcare, and technology.
• There is also the local Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance that helps people to network and find common ground between with businesses within the community. Neighbors helping neighbors, that sort of thing!

Number 4: Variety of cuisine, without going far!

• We are Disney lovers (well, I am... Michael comes along for the ride because happy wife happy life... you know) and visiting Epcot for its worldly cuisine is one of our favorite activities. But, realistically, you can forego the drive (once in a while) and experience many of those same ethnic dishes, right here in Lakewood Ranch!
• On Main Street alone you can visit Italy (Main Street Trattoria), France (Paris Bistrot), Mexico (Casa Maya), Japan (Hana Sushi), Scotland (MacAllisters), and a variety of American-influenced spots. So, Bon a petit!

 
Number 5: Green space preserved for parks & trails
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• As much as we love development, the green space in Lakewood Ranch is sacred and has been preserved throughout the economic boom.
• More than 7,000 acres have been set aside for lakes, parks, and nature preserves so that you have plenty of opportunity to get away from the hustle and enjoy the quiet. This includes the new Bob Gardner Community Park, the Heron’s Nest Nature Park, and the Greenbrook Adventure Park. You can find fun for the whole family, including your furry friends, from in-line skating, to bird watching, to picturesque walking trails, and tot lots.

​Number 6: Dog friendly!

• Speaking of furry friends, Lakewood Ranch is very fur-friendly! Dogs are invited to attend almost every community event and local vendors always have a bowl of water ready for those furbabies on a hot Florida day.
• Lakewood Ranch has 6 dog parks, an array of doggy day care centers, rescue and medical facilities, grooming boutiques, bakeries, and fundraising events just for pups!

Number 7: It’s a Golfer’s Paradise

• The Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club is unrivaled in this area of Florida. With 2 award-winning clubhouses, 54 holes of golf, 20 tennis courts, and a State-of-the-art Golf Academy, you can choose how active you want to be. And In Florida, you can enjoy these activities year-round!
• Or, if you just want to have some fun (and you’re not a great golfer), there is a Top Golf facility in Tampa about 40 minutes away, which is a great place to practice your swing and have a drink – with no pressure!

Number 8: Location, Location, Location!

• When Lakewood Ranch was first developed it was sort of considered “the boondocks”, but 25 years later we are at the heart of so much. Conveniently located between major interstates, east of I75 and accessible from State Road 70 and State Road 64, LWR is a short trip away from Siesta Key, Anna Maria Island, Sarasota, Tampa, and not too far from Disney world – luckily for me!
• We have our own local airport in Sarasota and the Tampa international airport, as well as the St. Pete/Clearwater airport, which are less than an hour away. So you can literally go just about anywhere, and get here from just about anywhere!

 

Number 9: LWR Schools Are Focused on the Future!

• Not only does Lakewood Ranch have A-rated schools, but they are embracing the 21st century by focusing on STEM and STEAM educational Programs. The teacher in me LOVES this because we absolutely need more of these programs at all levels. LWR Savvy is a non-profit group that partners with parents and educators to provide opportunities for children in the community such as a Robotics league and STEM weekends.
• AND, Lakewood Ranch’s newest middle school will offer classes in digital art, technology and computer classes, and eSTEAM programs to really embrace this “school of the future” idea.

Number 10: The housing options are incredible!
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• Now, maybe we are a little biased because we are in the real estate business, but the amount and variety of available housing in this one town is mind-blowing. We have apartments, villas, senior living communities, single family homes ranging from $180,000 to more than a million.
• Developers such as Homes By Towne, Neal, Stock Signature Homes, Arthur Rutenberg, Pulte, Toll Brothers, and Lennar are building new homes every single day. There is something for every budget in every stage of life.

Well, we could go on and on but that wraps up our top ten list!

If you are interested in learning more about Lakewood Ranch, be sure to follow our other social media accounts for community updates, or call us! We would love to talk to you more about it.

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