Aug./Sept. 2006 Recreational Communities No Work, All Play by Amanda K. Brown There's a reason you might want to live in the suburbs. Sure, intown properties have more than their share of benefits--and yet, something is pulling you outside the circle of city formed by I-285. That something could be the possibility of convenience. Sterling on the Lake's cloverleaf-shaped pool. Convenience? What do you mean? Will living in the suburbs not double or even triple my commute time? Well, depending on where your job is located, perhaps so. However, if you choose a home in the popular, growing category of recreational communities, then once you get home from work, everything you need will be right at your fingertips, including one of the most coveted amenities of all--plenty of chances to spend time with your family. Today's recreational communities could consist of a championship, 18-hole golf course, an impressive swim complex, complete with Olympic-sized pool or slides, a plethora of carefully maintained tennis courts, many Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA)-approved, or some combination thereof. Many developers are even taking it a step further by developing communities with many extra perks, such as lake access or miles and miles of walking and biking paths. Access to these sort of amenities means that a relaxing lap around the pool or a few swings of the racket after a stressful day at the office are not a few miles away, but a few steps away. Weekends when you and your family might have had to go searching for entertainment in the past are now booked solid with fun things to do in your own backyard. The price of admission, after all, comes included with your home. Sterling on the Lake's club house. Water, Water Everywhere Located approximately 50 minutes from downtown Atlanta in south Hall County near Flowery Branch, Sterling on the Lake (770-967-9777, www.sterlingonthelake.com) caters to families and individuals who are looking to have fun. Touting itself as a "true lakeside village" (Lake Lanier, that is), this development created by Newland Communities rests upon 894 acres, more than 200 of which consist of open spaces, lakes and parks, not to mention the recreational amenities. Two new custom-designed pools, totaling 8,000 square feet together, beckon those parched by the hot Georgia summer. A waterslide that propels patrons into the cool chlorinated water of the free-form, cloverleaf-shaped pool is a must-do for kids, but this pool also features water jets that shoot streaming arches of water into the air and a special ledge built into one of the "leaves" that creates a serene social environment for adults. Beauty abounds at the junior-sized Olympic pool that also refreshes Sterling inhabitants. This body of water features an inspired view of the lake, courtesy of an "infinity edge" with a four-foot, illuminated waterfall spilling onto the rock garden below. Artist's rendering of Crystal Falls including a golf course, tennis courts and an olympic-sized pool. That's not it, however, for entertainment. Ten lighted, ALTA-approved tennis courts, with six located in the Tennis Center, provide ample room for perfecting your backhand or for teaching your child to volley. Sterling even offers cinematic fun with its 27-seat, private movie theater. Located in the Village Center Clubhouse, the theater features auditorium-style seating and a 19-foot screen. Located just west of Sterling, along the Dawson-Cherokee county line, and around an hour away from Downtown, Crystal Falls (770-894-4040, www.crystalfalls.info), takes lake living a step further. Not only are homeowners able to enjoy residing next to and playing in the 411-acre Hollis Lathem Reservoir, otherwise known a Crystal Lake, but the development also includes a full-fledged community marina. Situated in the exact center of Crystal Falls in a sheltering cove, the marina provides private, leased and daily use boat slips, as well as temporary sail boat, canoe and non-motorized boat docking to accommodate all of the residents' water-based needs. The proximity of the lake to the development provides plenty of opportunities for boating and swimming, but also for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. The man-made recreational amenities at Crystal Falls, however, create the perfect trifecta of outdoor activity. A swim/tennis complex, centered around the Swim and Tennis pavilion, consists of a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, zero entry area, water features and eight lighted tennis courts, and the 215-acre, 18-hole, resort-style golf course and clubhouse provide fairway fun for pro and amateur alike. Great consideration has been given, in the design of Crystal Falls, to the great natural beauty of the surrounding environment, and the 415 homesites and amenities reflect this. So you see? Living in the suburbs amidst a recreational community could offer a respite that would make a longer commute seem well worth the quality time with yourself and your family.
Newcomer Magazine - 200 Market Place, Ste. 230 - Roswell, GA 30075 - Phone: (770) 992-0273 - Fax: (770) 649-7463