Hampstead, NC Oceanfront Communities (or near)

Oceanfront or coastal living for active 55+ communities offers a serene and invigorating lifestyle. Imagine waking up to the sound of waves, with stunning ocean views from your balcony. These communities often feature modern, single-story homes designed for ease of access and comfort. Amenities typically include fitness centers, swimming pools, walking trails, and social clubs that encourage an active lifestyle and foster a sense of community. Residents can enjoy beach walks, water sports, and boating, enhancing their physical well-being and social interactions. Proximity to charming coastal towns provides opportunities for dining, shopping, and cultural events, ensuring a vibrant and fulfilling retirement.

North Carolina's coast remains largely undeveloped in comparison with the rest of the Atlantic coastline. The 300 miles of barrier islands and broad sounds are home to only one city of considerable size (Wilmington). Most of the coast is overseen by the state's Division of Parks and Recreation, which has prevented commercial and residential overdevelopment, and kept the beaches accessible to the public. Still, the area is extremely popular, and teems with tourists during much of the year. It is also beginning to fill up, as more and more affluent home buyers push up housing prices.

The area has a long chapter in the history of America. This is the part of the United States that saw the earliest European settlement, and it is here that the "Lost Colony of Roanoke" was founded in 1585. The coastline was of immense economic and strategic importance throughout the Colonial era, and was fought over in the Revolution and the Civil War. Later, it became the site of the world's first powered airplane flight, at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk.

Wilmington is the urban heart of the area; but even here the pace is noticeably more laid-back than other coastal cities. Other towns of note include Elizabeth City, New Bern, and Jacksonville, home of the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Lejeune.