The trolley tours are free and a nice overview of the areas. Don't take them all on the same day. They leave from the sales centers. Call ahead and make a reservation. Brownwood tour focuses on the new "frontier" Fenney and new homes to be built. Lake Sumter tour focuses on the lifestyle and you will see many resale home styles as you ride. Spanish Springs tour focuses on the history and you will also see the historic side in the tour. All three tours stopped at at least one rec. center. They are not high pressure sales tours and very enjoyable! The guides are knowledgeable and friendly. Pay attention to the home styles and neighborhood feel as you ride...my CYV in Spanish Springs has a totally different "feel" than the CYV my parents stayed in on the lifestyle visit.
The golf cart that comes with the lifestyle visit is restricted to 12 mph.....don't think you are doing something wrong when most carts pass you....just enjoy a slow ride on the multi-modality path and try at least one tunnel. Note how in Brownwood (Alden Bungalows is usually the lifestyle location) you have a MM path that is away from the cars....but notice in SS, carts drive right next to cars and often merge into the same lane. DUI is enforced on golf carts as well as automobiles....so monitor your cocktails at the square or at home before you get behind the wheel.
If you are not familiar with traffic circles ( NJ) or roundabouts, take a moment to study the procedures! They are often an area of challenge to most!
Browse the shops at the three squares. The Rustic Rose and Kylies Kloset in Brownwood are two of my favorites. Van Heusen in Lake Sumter is very nice also!
A word of caution....the Villages restaurants are not often consistent on quality of food or service....prices are good...let's just say that in this amazing place to live, the restaurants are not a strong point. Evan's Prairie steak night and Arnold Palmer are two country clubs that are worth a visit....the rest (sadly) not so much. Most CC are good for a nice cocktail/beer and music.
Your lifestyle visit will probably be at Alden Bungalows. Note that there is no visitor's gate at this location. You will have a gate card. It gives the impression that we are "gated" and most of the other villages do not work this way. As you travel, you will notice that there is a visitors and residents gate at most entrances. Visitors can go into any village without question....hence we are not a true gated community. Bring your gate card with you when you travel. You can go into any village with it ...look around!
There are 'gyms' with equipment at a few of the rec. centers. These are included with your lifestyle preview. It is an extra expense for you when you live here. MVP is a sport/gym club that is also paid privately (although some health ins. cover the fee).
If you love wildlife (birds, alligators, turtles, occasional bobcat) drive to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Open Fri-Sun. sun up to sun down. Its free. You drive your car on a hard sand packed road 5-10 mph and view wildlife out your car windows. Very beautiful! It is about 30 min. from the Villages.
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