Ardenwoods

Five Favorite Things to do in Western North Carolina

Year after year, Asheville is consistently listed among the top places to retire in America. It’s no surprise with so much to do and see in the area. Our location here at Ardenwoods, set between Asheville and Hendersonville, gives us a unique advantage to enjoy all that each city has to offer. After all, staying active and connected to the community is hugely beneficial to our health. Here are our top five favorite things about living in Western North Carolina:

Laughing couple hiking in WNC
Hiking is a favorite activity for WNC seniors
  1. The food scene. While dining at Ardenwoods is just like eating out at a restaurant every single day, we love to stop by local eateries every so often for a change in scenery. Multiple times a month, we go out to restaurants in Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, and beyond. Some of our favorites are Milton’s, Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, Chestnut and Rendezvous.
  2. The baseball diamond. Asheville is home to the Tourists, a High-A minor league baseball team, and the games are chock full of a good time — food, beer and friends gathering to enjoy America’s pastime. Affiliated with the Houston Astros, the Tourists play all summer long just on the outskirts of downtown Asheville.
  3. The cool waters. Lake Julian is a manmade lake just around the corner in Arden, and Buncombe County arranges for us to hop on a boat and take afternoon jaunts each summer. Lake Julian isn’t the only lake we frequent, though, as Lake Lure is not too far — and we love coasting on those waters as well.
  4. The great outdoors. Ardenwoods just a few miles away from the North Carolina Arboretum, and every week, we send a group to stroll the grounds. Not only do we love the Arboretum, but we walk around many local parks and often stop to enjoy beautiful scenery and waterfalls. Did you know that Romantic Asheville compiles and publishes guides to easily accessible hikes and waterfalls in WNC? Find them here:

romanticasheville.com/accessible-trails

romanticasheville.com/roadside-waterfalls

  1. The music scene. There is nothing we love more than live music. We show up big-time when musicians come by to perform, and we are home to many talented musicians who each love to share their talents with neighbors. But, in addition to music onsite, the Asheville area has a great music scene with Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, the Asheville Symphony, Brevard Music Center, Flat Rock Playhouse and more.

Benefits of Traveling Later in Life

Anna Quindlen, an American author, journalist and opinion columnist once wrote, “The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.”

You have been patient, worked diligently and saved your whole life for retirement, so now that it’s here and life is short, what will you do? For many, this is a time to explore and see the world and for the first time in your life, you have the time to go where you want and to do what you want. As you get older, you realize the value in experiences and how far greater that is over physical things and as a senior, you have earned your time to travel.

The best part of this is that there are many benefits of travel for seniors. Among proper diet and exercise, you can add travel to the list as well for key components to a long and healthy life. Traveling as a senior can enhance your confidence, overcome fears, help leave your comfort zone, offer social benefits and opens the door to learn different cultures and experiences. It can help you deepen relationships with traveling companions and promotes opportunities to connect and meet new people.

Not only does travel provide a pathway to healthy aging, but also contributes to a longer life along with a more satisfying retirement! These benefits include improvements to your mental, physical and emotional health. Studies have found that travel keeps seniors active which provides more opportunities to move than staying at home. Older adults who are more physically active have lower rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and many other diseases.

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