Summer 2025

Summer in NC brings a laid-back rhythm and a whole lot of sunshine. Whether you're savoring fresh peach ice cream at a roadside stand, kayaking at sunrise or cooling off after a short stroll to a waterfall in the mountains, this season invites you to soak it all in. It’s a time for backyard cookouts, evening concerts in the park, and spontaneous road trips that lead to charming towns and welcoming communities.

If you’ve been considering retirement, summer is the perfect season to experience what life here can look like. Our 18 Certified Retirement Communities offer the ideal blend of comfort, community and opportunity — all with year-round appeal.

Come see how good life can be when you spend your summers — and your future — in North Carolina.

Partner/Trade Relations Manager • Retire NC

Scenic drives, starlit stages and refreshing escapes — get a taste of what makes North Carolina summers so easy to love.

Gather more trip inspiration, travel ideas, enjoy videos of our favorite places and more at our sister site, visitnc.com

If you’re looking to spend retirement surrounded by natural beauty and calming waters, look no further than Edenton, which has been named one of "America’s Prettiest Towns."

While often referred to as the “Soul of the Carolinas,” Laurinburg in Scotland County could easily be defined as the “Heart of the Carolinas” with its deep sense of community.

There’s a reason Andy Griffith based his fictional town of Mayberry off Mount Airy: The warmth and richness here can only be found in small towns with big personalities. Plus — scenic vineyards are in abundance in this area of NC.

Use our expense calculator to determine how you can make a move to NC financially possible.