Category: 55+ Lifestyle

You’ve decided it’s time to move. Maybe your current home is too big, or you’d like to live closer to family. Now you have a big decision to make: should you buy a new or used home? We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each to help make this big decision a bit easier!

 

Which is easier to take care of, a new or used home?

First, you’ll want to decide how much time you want to spend on the upkeep of your home. For example, the maintenance and repairs that come with used homes can be time consuming—and expensive. Things like repainting the home’s exterior and replacing windows, or buying new air conditioning units or water heaters can be major expenses. Even making minor updates and repairs can fill up your whole weekend.

However, when you buy a new home, you won’t need to worry about these issues for years to come. Plus, if any big issues do arise they are most likely covered by a homeowner’s warranty. For reference, the Traditions of America warranty protects you from defects in workmanship for one year, mechanical or system defects for two years, and structural defects for ten years. Plus, all of our communities are low-maintenance so you can spend your free time as you please!

Are energy-efficient and smart home features important to you?

Old homes can certainly be charming and may have a more “mature” feel. However, they can also be hard to upgrade to today’s modern energy-saving and smart home features that save us time and money. For example, new homes are built to today’s better building standards. This includes things like low E glass windows, high-efficiency HVAC units, low VOC paint, and green flooring products. What’s more, inside of a new Traditions of America home you can find a number of energy-efficient products from the most respected names in the industry: Kohler, Whirlpool, Emser Tile, and more.

Are you looking for a modern, active-adult lifestyle?

Unfortunately, many older homes and neighborhoods just don’t offer the modern, resort-style amenities that many active-adult homebuyers are looking for with their next home. You might have a community pool, but many 55+ homebuyers today want things like pickle ball courts, expansive fitness centers, and community events. Many—but not all—new home communities are adding amenities like these in order to cater to today’s buyer. However, most new home communities can’t compete with the world-class amenities and lifestyle of Traditions of America communities! We feature 5-star amenities where new friendships are formed and lasting memories are made.

 

Looking for a new active-adult home? Come see us!

If you’re looking for a new or used home in the Richmond area, we invite you to join us at our Chesterfield, VA 55+ community. We will soon be building high-quality homes in an active-adult community that is the first of it’s kind in the area. Contact us today to learn more about these or any of our active-adult communities!

Grab a cozy sweater and some hot chocolate—it’s time for holiday events in Richmond, Virginia! Of course, living in our 55+ community in Chesterfield County provides the perfect location to enjoy special events like these all year-round. Here are some of our favorites this holiday season.

1. Light up the Tracks Celebration

Just twenty minutes north of Richmond is the charming town of Ashland, Virginia—host to one of our favorite annual holiday activities! Certainly, residents of our 55+ Chesterfield County community will love this Light up the Tracks Celebration. During this special event, the Downtown Ashland Association transforms the trackside historic district into a vintage Christmas village. Here, visitors can enjoy a mile-long light display and scheduled events including a gingerbread scavenger hunt, live music, and more. This cheerful event takes place November 19, 2022 to January 1, 2023.

2. Holiday Merriment at Maymont

Maymont is decked out for the holidays, and now you can experience the Victorian holiday splendor. Holiday Merriment at Maymont includes workshops, audio tours, and guided tours through the spectacularly decorated Gilded Age home. For example, guests will marvel at a 12′ Christmas tree, evergreen decorations, and a beautifully set formal dining room table. The festivities take place November 29th, 2022 – January 1st 2023 (Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year’s Day).

 

3. Tacky Lights Tour

Looking for something over the top this holiday season? You’ll love the Tacky Lights Tour of Richmond! This fun tradition can be enjoyed from the comfort of your car, a shuttle, or a limousine. In addition you can even enjoy all of the lights on foot by joining the CarMax Tacky Lights 6k Run. View these displays December 1st – 31st, 2022 (Select Dates).

 

4. The Nutcracker

Finally, our holiday events in Richmond list concludes with The Nutcracker at Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center. This holiday classic runs from December 9th – December 23rd, 2022, featuring iconic music played by the Richmond Symphony. Watching this cherished story unfold makes for a great date night or a memorable time for visiting friends and family!

Holiday Events in Richmond are Just the Beginning!

When you live at a Traditions of America 55+ community, like our 55 and over community near Richmond, Virginia, you can enjoy a full calendar of events year-round. In addition, there are always community events to share with friends and neighbors. Contact us today to learn more!

Chesterfield County has miles of trails that twist and turn through breathtaking natural backdrops. Here are some of the best hikes to take near Richmond, Virginia—and our upcoming active adult community—perfect for taking a brisk hike this fall and winter!

Buttermilk Trail

Buttermilk Trail is one of the many trails within the James River Park. This 2.5-mile trail was named for the milkmen who used to store buttermilk in a cool well that is still located on the side of the trail. You’ll find this trail parallel to the south side of the James River. The trail features several creek crossings, bridges and rock gardens. In fact, it’s one of the most beloved trail systems to hike on in the Richmond area!

Virginia Capital Trail

Residents of our Richmond-area active adult community are sure to spend time on the Virginia Capital Trail. This is a 51.7 multi-use, fully-paved trail that runs through 4 jurisdictions (the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Charles City County, and James City County). In addition, it provides dozens of fun attractions along the way! Whether you’re hiking, biking, running, or walking, you can follow this trail for miles and miles.

Pocahontas State Park Trails

Pocahontas State Park is just 20 miles from Richmond and offers 90+ miles of trail systems. You’ll love hiking through acres of preserved natural beauty and pristine forest. Three sparkling lakes make hiking through Pocahontas State Park even more enjoyable at any time of year!

Live Near the Best Hikes in Richmond, Virginia

When you live in our newest Richmond-area active adult community, you’ll have incomparable access to these beloved hiking areas around Richmond, VA and more. Plus, you’ll enjoy the acclaimed Live Better lifestyle that each Traditions of America active adult community is known for, making every day the best. Contact us today to learn more!

With over 5,000 homes sold, it’s safe to say we’re experts in active-adult homebuilding—but don’t take our word for it! See what our valued home buyers have to say about our homes and 55+ active-adult communities.

 

“We Live Better Here”

We pride ourselves on creating an active-adult lifestyle unlike any other. For example, our communities feature 5-star clubhouses, walking paths, sports courts, resort-style pools—even Lifestyle Directors! We call it the Live Better lifestyle, and you’re sure to love it.

 

“Community Life”

Here, there are endless activities to enjoy and neighbors to meet. In fact, our community Clubhouses serve as the perfect gathering place for book clubs, happy hours, card games, and events of all kinds. You never know who you’ll run into and what new friends you’ll make!

 

“Lock & Leave Living”

One of the best parts about living in our 55+ active-adult communities is the low-maintenance lifestyle. Here, you can leave the raking, mowing, exterior maintenance, and shoveling to us! Plus, when you add in the convenience of automating your home, you can do things like close your garage door, lock and unlock the front door, see who is ringing your doorbell, and more from anywhere.

 

“Our Customers Say It Best”

We’re thrilled when our homeowners are happy with their new home and lifestyle. After all, buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you can make! We invite you to hear more about the lasting connections and new memories our residents have made. After all, they say it best!

 

Discover Traditions of America 55+ Communities

We build active-adult communities and homes that you can be proud of, each featuring our acclaimed Live Better lifestyle—including our newest community near Richmond, Virginia. Contact us today to learn more about our current communities across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Leaves are changing, the days are getting cooler, and it’s the perfect time to discover Richmond, Virginia fall events for 2022 you won’t want to miss! Here are four of our favorites:

1. Leaf-peeping

For kids, the active-adult community, and everyone in between, fall foliage in Virginia is quite the sight to behold! October 15th through 25th is the perfect time to see the ever-changing brilliant colors. Three Lakes Park & Nature Center and Forest Hill Park are wonderful options for leaf-peeping close to Richmond. In addition, Maymont—a 100-acre historic estate and park—offers an autumn Garden Glow event that is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Each Wednesday through Sunday night at sunset, the Carriage House Lawn transforms into the Glow Village with food trucks, Glow Shop, fire pits, and an expanded Glow Bar. Plus, you can hike down the historic Woodland Trail to explore the changing colors and wander dramatically illuminated paths. Space fills up quickly so don’t forget to buy tickets in advance!

2. Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion is celebrating twenty-one years of its popular Halloween Haunt event. For select nights now through October 31st, you can experience their scariest Halloween Haunt yet! For example, new attractions like thrill shows, an outdoor maze, and a scare zone will accompany old favorites. Get ready for thrills and chills on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Sundays from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. NOTE: This Halloween event is too intense for young children. Parental discretion is advised.

3. Haunted Capitol Hill Tour

Let Haunts of Richmond take you on a spooky tour of Capitol Hill! Packed with haunted history, this 90-minute outdoor walking tour includes several of Richmond’s best-known ghost stories, including Our Haunted Executive Mansion, the Great Theatre Fire, spirits in Capitol Square, and more. Reserve your tickets now! NOTE: This tour is not intended for children under the age of 5 years old.

4. James River Cellars

The last of our featured fall events in Richmond is are the many fall events at James River Cellars. Events include Halloween Candy and Wine Flights from Oct 24th – Oct 31st, a Harvest Part on Saturday Oct 15th and a charcuterie how to class on Sunday Oct 19th.

Fall events in Richmond are just the beginning!

When you live in Chesterfield County—like at our latest active-adult community—there are endless year-round events to enjoy. Contact us today to learn more about the Live Better lifestyle at this or any of our acclaimed communities.

Get ready for the Live Better lifestyle at our newest active adult community in Richmond! Here’s what you can expect from the day you move into this spectacular community:

 

Form Lasting Friendships

When you move into our new active adult community in Richmond, the first thing you’ll notice is that your neighbors aren’t just neighbors. In fact, they’re your new best friends. Our homeowners enjoy forming new friendships and creating memories for decades to come.

 

5-Star Clubhouse

The luxurious Clubhouse serves as the heart of this community. Here, homeowners flock to this social hub because of all the opportunities for fun it affords. For example, you’ll find a Fitness Center, Yoga Studio, Sports Bar, Club Room & more. Something for everyone!

Lifestyle Director

With a full-time Lifestyle Director, your new Chesterfield County Clubhouse comes with a built-in social calendar. There’s always a variety of events and programs for homeowners to enjoy, including happy hours, fitness classes, trips and more.

Outdoor Amenities

When you live at this Chesterfield County community your new backyard is a veritable playground! Discover a Heated Outdoor Pool, Tennis/Pickleball Court, Bocce, Putting Green, walking trails, and much more to explore.

 

Low-Maintenance Living

New opportunities for adventure abound when you say goodbye to shoveling, mowing and raking to embrace our high-fun, low-maintenance lifestyle. Let us do the yard work!

 

DreamHome

If you can dream it, we can build it! We encourage you to customize your home to fit your lifestyle. Our professional Design Consultants will work side-by-side with you to design a home that is a reflection of you in every way.

 

Tax Benefits

When you call this Traditions of America community home, you are able to take advantage of the many tax benefits available within Virginia — a tax-friendly state for retirees.

 

Come Home to this Active Adult Community in Richmond

We’re known for the Live Better lifestyle we bring to each of our communities. And, our Chesterfield County community is no exception. Please contact us today to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Living the 55 plus lifestyle means every day is an adventure, but you also can’t wait for your grandkids to visit. And with these exciting kids’ activities in Richmond, Virginia, they won’t be able to wait either!

1. Children’s Museum of Richmond

The Children’s Museum of Richmond is celebrating 40 years of play! The Children’s Museum has locations in Chesterfield and Downtown Richmond. This means you and your grandkids can spend hours exploring, playing, learning, and more. For example, indoor “apple picking,” a living treehouse, and a kid-run TV studio make discovery fun.

 

2. Metro Richmond Zoo

The Metro Richmond Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals—and a number of rides and attractions! Your younger grandkids will love feeding the giraffes, while the older ones will enjoy taking an exciting ride on the Penguin Falls Drop Tower. No matter what you decide to do here, you’re sure to have a memorable time!

 

3. Kings Dominion

Kings Dominion offers more thrilling fun for everyone! Twelve rollercoasters, a 20-acre water park, low-thrill PEANUTS-themed rides, and the upcoming Jungle X-pedition make Kings Dominion a favorite summer tradition.

 

4. Science Museum of Virginia

If you’re looking for the best kids’ activities in Richmond, Virginia, you’ll want to put the Science Museum of Virginia on your list! With a range of rotating exhibits that appeal to kids—and 55 plus adults or adults of all ages—you’ll always find something new to learn and explore. For example, don’t miss The Dome planetarium. At 76 feet, The Dome is the largest screen in Virginia.

 

Show your grandkids these kids’ activities in Richmond and more

Contact us today to learn more about the 55 plus homes and communities we offer. You’ll find many of the floorplans in our new Chesterfield County community feature plenty of space for grandkids, family, and friends to visit! There’s never been a better time to see what Traditions of America has to offer.

Summer is winding down but you can still enjoy many outdoor activities in Richmond, Virginia! Whether you’re looking for something relaxing or a little more fast-paced to match your new active-adult lifestyle, here there’s always something to do outside. Keep reading for some of our favorite outdoor activities!

 

1. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

First, the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a true Richmond-area gem. In fact, it was voted America’s #4 public garden by USA Today and was recognized by the Travel Channel as a best botanical garden! Here, you can enjoy the season’s last warmer days surrounded by lush gardens and stunning exhibits.

 

2. The James River

Next on our list is The James River, an incredible natural resource that runs right next to downtown. Here, you can enjoy swimming, picnicking, kayaking, and more. In fact, this is one of the only places in the country you can kayak and raft class III and IV rapids in an urban setting! It’s a wonderful addition to the active-adult lifestyle you’re looking for.

 

3. VA Capital Trail

Bikers of all abilities won’t want to miss the Virginia Capital Trail! This 52-mile paved pedestrian and bicycle trail connects Jamestown and Richmond along the Route 5 corridor. It winds through acres of natural beauty and has many historic sites and restaurants to stop at along the way.

 

4. Hiking and Climbing

For an easy hike steeped in history, consider visiting Henricus Historical Park. This site highlights the major benchmarks that took place in the area over 400 years ago! Today, you can walk the grounds, attend a special event, or enjoy living history re-enactments and demonstrations. And for an outdoor climbing experience unlike any other, check out Manchester Climbing Wall. Built from a series of abandoned train trestles, this unique climbing wall is great for honing your skills.

 

Enjoy Outdoor Activities in Richmond, Virginia, Year-round!

Our newest community is opening soon in the Richmond, Virginia area. Here, active-adult residents will enjoy the best that Richmond has to offer—indoors and out. Contact us today or visit the community’s website to learn more about this wonderful opportunity!

Thinking about making a change? Here are 5 reasons why you’ll love living in a Traditions of America 55+ active-adult community.

1. Resort-style Amenities

First, you’ll have a range of resort-style amenities to enjoy. For example, a 5-star clubhouse is the perfect place to break a sweat, take a class, or unwind with neighbors. In addition, heated pools, sports courts, manicured parks, and walking trails help fill every day with something new to do!

 

2. Full Calendar of Events

There is never a shortage of enjoyable activities at Traditions of America. For example, the Lifestyle Director assists the homeowners in planning the activities they care about most. Join friends–and make new ones–at our happy hours, seasonal parties, fitness classes, wine tastings, excursions and more!

 

3. Low-maintenance Living

With so many things to do while living in a 55+ active-adult community, the last thing you’ll want to spend time on is chores! Our communities offer low-maintenance living so you won’t have to shovel, rake leaves, or mow the lawn. Spend your time doing what you enjoy when you live in a low-maintenance home.

 

4. Neighbors Become Friends

Resort-style communities like ours make it easy to make friends! Whether you’re joining a monthly book club, trying your hand at pickleball, or waving to passersby from your front porch, you’re sure to make new friends fast. In fact, you’ll probably have new best friends on every block!

 

5. Single-level Living

Our award-winning floorplans offer easier ways to live. For example, these 2- to 3-bedroom homes feature single-level living, so you can eat, sleep, entertain, and relax without ever climbing a flight of stairs. Plus, our homes are very customizable so you can make them your own. Optional second floors are perfect for grandkids and guests.

 

Tour a Traditions of America 55+ active-adult community

No one builds active-adult communities like Traditions of America! We’re known for building quality homes and neighborhoods throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Contact us today to learn more about our acclaimed communities in Pittsburgh, Lancaster, the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia suburbs, and Richmond—coming soon!

 

From date night to brunch with friends, we’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants near downtown Richmond, Virginia! Read on to see the kinds of acclaimed dining experiences residents of our 55+ Chesterfield County community may look forward to visiting:

1. Best Brunch: Saison Market

Saison Market is a favorite spot for a casual brunch in downtown Richmond, Virginia. From 11 am to 3 pm guests here can enjoy a thoughtful, homestyle menu. For example, locals love their prized fried chicken biscuit as well as the ultimate breakfast burrito. In addition, Saison Market is a boutique wine & craft beer bottle shop, cocktail and wine bar, and full espresso bar!

 

2. Best Date Night Restaurant: Stella’s

After sixty years, Stella’s is still a perfect choice for date night in Richmond! This charming restaurant honors rustic and modern Greek cuisine. Guests at Stella’s will be treated to the freshest ingredients and a wide array of Greek specialties including moussaka, kotopoulo, dolmades, and more.

 

3. Best Coffee Shop: Lamplighter Roasting Company

The next of our best restaurants in Richmond, Virginia, is actually a coffee shop! Lamplighter Roasting Company is a great place to meet friends or grab a cup of joe to go. They serve carefully crafted cups of coffee in an eclectic—yet welcoming—setting. Plus, they have a menu loaded with sandwiches, soups, and salads, perfect for the 55+ crowd or coffee connoisseurs of all ages.

 

4. Best Lunch Spot: Perly’s Delicatessen

We mentioned Perly’s in our recent blog post about living in Chesterfield County, but it’s so loved among locals we wanted to highlight it again! Perly’s is a modern Jewish restaurant and delicatessen serving a wide range of Jewish specialties and delicacies. For example, they have a full smoked fish selection, soups and salads, breakfast, eastern European-inspired dinners, and more. This entry on our best restaurants in Richmond, Virginia also boasts a crafted cocktail selection and wine on tap!

 

Become a Local to Explore All of the Best Restaurants in Richmond, Virginia!

There are hundreds of fantastic restaurants to discover in Richmond, Virginia and neighboring Chesterfield County. Our newest 55+ community located right outside of Richmond is now open! Contact us to learn more!