By Marty M. Hohmann

Autumn evokes images of brightly colored leaves, crisp, cool temperatures and fireside chats with family and friends. It’s a breath of fresh air following the long, hot summer. If ever there was a time that home needed to be a retreat, that time is now! Even better if the retreat is more like a resort. Atlanta’s active adult communities offer countless resort amenities, and fall is the ideal time to take a look. Walking trails, boating, golf, fall gardening, wine tastings and more beckon us to get outside and enjoy the wonders of autumn in Georgia at one of the many premier residential locations in the metro area.

Courtyards at Camden
2040 Mars Hill Road
Acworth, GA 30101
(678) 391-9496
tratonhomes.com/communities/courtyards-at-camden

Courtyards at Camden is the newest offering from Traton Homes for the 55+ active lifestyle community. The convenient West Cobb location on Mars Hill Road is just minutes from the area’s best shopping, dining, recreation and healthcare facilities. Extraordinary amenities are just outside the doors of the community’s luxury homes and are designed specifically for the active adult population. Residents enjoy a pool, bocce ball court, firepit gathering area and a community clubhouse that will become the centerpiece for social gatherings and events. Community sidewalks and a walking trail with future park access complete the experience. An amenity center is currently under construction, and the clubhouse is projected to be complete by mid-September for residents to enjoy. What’s more, each home features its own private courtyard, perfect for relaxing, gardening or entertaining. Kennesaw Mountain National Park and Lake Acworth also are just minutes away, enhancing the community’s onsite offerings.

Soleil Laurel Canyon
102 High Mountain Trace
Canton, GA 30114
(678) 710-9252
soleillaurelcanyon.com

It comes as no surprise to the residents of Soleil Laurel Canyon that their community was named among the Best 50 Master-Planned Communities in the U.S. by Where to Retire Magazine in 2015. The community has been so popular, in fact, that it finds itself quite suddenly in the final closeout phase. But there’s still time to live the Soleil lifestyle, if you act quickly.

Nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Canton, Soleil Laurel Canyon is the perfect place to live because it’s “country quiet, city close.” Atlanta is nearby, but residents don’t have to leave Soleil Laurel Canyon for something to do because of the community’s lively social scene, which is especially robust during the fall season. To start, Soleil residents have membership in a 30,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with an arts and crafts room, billiards room, fitness center, gourmet catering kitchen, indoor heated saline lap pool and library. Outside the clubhouse are a pool, community garden, greenhouse, fishing lake and tennis. And the Fairways of Canton golf course is located just outside Soleil’s gate within Laurel Canyon. Additionally, Soleil Laurel Canyon boasts more than 52 onsite social clubs and activity groups. These groups might share a common interest such as golf or a passion for current events. Whatever brings them together, one thing is certain—residents bond with their community and neighbors become lifelong friends.

Lake Arrowhead
2419 Lake Arrowhead Drive
Waleska, GA 30183
(770) 691-6675
lakearrowheadga.com

The centerpiece of living at Lake Arrowhead, located just four miles outside the charming historic town of Waleska, is a 540-acre lake surrounded by mountains, pristine wilderness and trails and more. With nearly 20 miles of magnificent shoreline, Lake Arrowhead’s crystal-clear waters boast depths of over 80 feet, and the new pavilion is the ideal spot to take in its beauty during the gorgeous fall season. The newly expanded boat rental program allows residents to enjoy the lake without having to worry about owning a boat.

Lake Arrowhead has everything you could possibly wish for in a lakeside resort-style community. A full-time lifestyle director works onsite to maintain a bustling social calendar that boasts exercise classes, community events and seasonal workshops. Residents can enjoy hiking along the 11 miles of neighborhood trails, outdoor concerts, drive-in movies under the stars, golf tournaments, wine tastings, horseback riding and health and wellness activities. Additionally, a Fall Concert Series is on tap this year; concerts will be held lakefront at the marina where residents can enjoy the music by the water while dining in their boats. And for golf enthusiasts who love to hit the links each autumn, the championship Highlands Course is considered one of the best golf courses in Georgia. The Stay & Play Program will be launched this season in the golf villa community; guests can stay on the property for a three-day/two-night visit, which will include a round of golf, a boat tour of the lake and a lunch or dinner at the country club.

New to the Lake Arrowhead community is a collection of four-bedroom, four-bath detached golf villas overlooking the vibrant green golf course and surrounded by the mountains ablaze in fall color. Select lakefront, lake view and interior lots are also available for purchase now in Sanctuary Cove. Some offer the option of constructing individual deep-water docks, and all have incredible views.