Whether you’re hosting a large party or intimate gathering, The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s outdoor amenities offer something for everyone.

“Our clubhouses feature large, beautifully decorated lounges and coffee bars and overlook tile-decked saltwater pools with outdoor kitchens and cabanas,” says manager Amy Hodges. “For small gatherings, guests can congregate in the covered outdoor kitchen area. Larger groups can spread out at multiple tables across the pool deck, creating a café-style setting that is becoming a popular outdoor-entertaining trend.”

Residents who enjoy tennis can invite guests to play at two championship-modeled courts right in their own backyard. Oversized balconies, sunrooms, and patios provide even more options for entertaining guests and extending the generous personal living space The Retreat affords. Ground-level flats even offer fenced-in yards.

“With peaceful, tree-studded surroundings, the spaces also are great for curling up with a cup of coffee, glass of wine or book, and enjoying the sights and sounds of nature,” says Hodges. “Both sunrooms and balconies/patios offer residents the opportunity to cultivate container gardens of flowers, herbs, or vegetables, and sunrooms can double as home offices.”

The Retreat is located adjacent to the Flora Johnston Nature Trail, giving residents even more possibilities for recharging in the rolling, forested hills, adjacent to the Mountain Brook community.

“To top things off, this quiet, secluded getaway is only minutes from the city’s downtown, international airport, restaurants, shopping and entertainment,” says Hodges. “This combination of being close to urban conveniences while surrounded by natural treasures is what sets The Retreat apart.”

Originally published in B Metro, The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living