Why Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay Is One of the Best Places To Live

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As you’ve no doubt discovered throughout your life, the best places to live are the ones that support your lifestyle and plans for the future. Once the kids have started their own lives and your career no longer dictates where you have to live, what should you look for? Many start with an online list of the best places to live in the U.S. But if you’re truly looking for a place that supports where you are now that also provides a smart and practical plan for the future, one of the best places to retire is Westminster-Canterbury in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Virginia Beach Is for Lovers of Fun

Virginia Beach offers plenty of museums, galleries, antique shops, restaurants, coffee shops, farmers markets, year-round cultural events, and activities for outdoor lovers. Some reasons seniors, consider it one of the best places to retire in the U.S. include:

Climate: Virginia Beach features hot and humid summers with cool winters and light snowfall. 

Arts and entertainment:

Beach life: Located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world. At Westminster-Canterbury, Chesapeake Beach is right outside your door.

Colleges and universities:

Museums:

  • Chrysler Museum of Art: Home to 50 galleries with over 30,000 objects, this museum offers an interactive space for kids and families, and an incredible glass studio. Admission is free.
  • Military Aviation Museum: One of the world’s largest private collections of World War I and World War II aircraft.
  • Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art: Exhibitions feature painting, sculpture, photography, glass, video, and other visual media from local, regional and internationally acclaimed artists.

Parks and rec: With 210 city parks — including neighborhood parks, community parks, district parks, and other open spaces — and over 100 miles of walking and bike trails, Virginia Beach is recognized as having some of the best outdoor spaces in the United States. In fact, The Trust for Public Land reported Virginia Beach had the seventh best park system among the 40 most populous U.S. cities.

  • Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: An 8,000-acre fresh water refuge that borders the Atlantic Ocean.
  • False Cape State Park: One of the last remaining undeveloped areas along the Atlantic coast. 
  • First Landing State Park: Offers many unusual habitats, including bald cypress swamps, lagoons and maritime forest, as well as rare plants and wildlife.
  • Norfolk Botanical Garden: 175 beautiful acres featuring collections of roses, camellias, crepe myrtles, a Butterfly House, and 3-acre Children’s Garden.
  • Red Wing Park: 97-acre park known for its beautiful gardens and annual Cherry Blossom Festival.

Great location: Three regional airports are nearby, including the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, which is less than an hour from downtown. Or if you feel like driving, you’re less than a day’s drive from all these cities:

  • Richmond, VA: Less than 2 hours away
  • Raleigh, NC: Little over 3 hours away
  • Washington D.C. Less than 4 hours away
  • Philadelphia, PA: Little over 5 hours away
  • Charlotte, NC: Less than 5 ½ hours away

Tax friendly: According to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Virginia ranks as a tax-friendly state for retirees.

  • Residents 65 and older can deduct up to $12,000 per person of retirement income, subject to income-eligibility limits. 
  • The cost of living is comparable to the national average.
  • Property taxes in Virginia are modest, and sales taxes are low. 
  • No estate or inheritance tax. 
  • Social Security benefits are not taxed by the state. 

Westminster-Canterbury — One of the Best Places to Retire in Virginia

To learn more about our active, beach-front lifestyle, contact us here.

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