Explore Del Webb Community Visits
Del Webb and other developers of active adult communities have a program whereby you can visit the community for between 2 and 5 days, staying in a villa and having full access to the clubhouse and amenities. You can sample the community and get a feel what it would be like to live there.
Mary Ann and I traveled to Charlotte NC and did the Explore Del Webb program at the Sun City Carolina Lakes. This was actually our third Explore Del Webb program participation, having done the Village at Deaton Creek and the Del Webb Community at Lake Oconee. Now I blog about living in a Del Webb community.
We had a blast visiting Sun City Carolina Lakes. First off, it is a Sun City caliber community with a golf course and a large 40,000 clubhouse they have named the Lake House. There is a clubhouse at the golf course too with a grill.
The thing that stuck us about Sun City Carolina Lakes is it's natural beauty on 15000 acres and get this... 10 lakes in the community. Nice lakes too. Oh by the way, it is also on the large wide Catawba river. There is a Canoe and Kayak club with their own storage facility and trailer. Fishing is good, but just the peaceful view of the lakes was enough for me.
We got a great club cart tour of the whole community and saw the community gardens, the woodworking shop and stain glass studio, the softball fields, the nature trails and all kinds of ball fields for bocce, pickelball, tennis and horseshoes.
Back in the lake house, we took a line dancing class, attended a pool party, talked with the Lifestyle and Activities Manager and had a cup of coffee in their Starbucks style coffee shop. Then the tour continued with a visit to the indoor pool and spa, talking with those in the ceramic and pottery shop, visited the art studio, and saw the grand ballroom with the demonstration kitchen. A quick visit to the computer cafe to check on things and back outside to the Wednesday Fresh Food Fair where we got a smoke turkey sandwich and listened to live music in the pavilion.
The outdoor sports is amazing. The tennis players invited us to join them for wine and cheese after their match and we met some interesting active people about our age, maybe a little younger. We are bocce players and we gave it a go on one of their 4 bocce courts and when it got dark we just turned on the lights and played until 9pm! The next morning we meet with the pickleball players who have a tent and refreshments next to their courts and found them to be the most passionate about their game.
We didn't play golf but the golf course is beautiful. The golfers really dress the part and look like true golfers.
We had some great meals in restaurants nearby, this is not an isolated community by any means.
We talked with many residents over the 3 days and every single one said they loved living at Sun City Carolina Lakes. Most had done their homework before deciding to move there and none had regrets.
It was a fun trip and I would highly recommend using the Explore Del Webb program to visit Sany Del Webb communities that offer the program. They have an overnight pass where you stay in a furnished home and get the use of a golf cart! Or get a day pass and have lunch with a resident and attend an activity. Either way you will know more about the community and what they offer.
Robert and Mary Ann Fowler
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