What are the 3 Best Day Trips from The Villlages
 

Looking for some day trips from The Villages. What are your 3 favorite places to visit and come back in the same day?

Cape Kennedy, New Smyrna Beach, and St. Augustine get my votes.

Thanks Baustgen!!

Craig Cat Tours in Mount Dora is the most fun we've had on a day trip out of the villages.

Crystal River. Great for Manatee watching and nice seafood.

thanks
 

thanks, Debow and Bosoxfan !!!

Costco in altamonte springs. Hot or polish dog with unlimited soda for $1.50.

Weeki Wachee springs. Mermaid shows. Boat tour. Swimming in springs. $13.00 per person, parking included.

Thanks
 

Thanks Villager Joyce !

Daytona Beach Shores

Before I answer, is this for a bachelor party?

Walt Disney World :MOJE_whot:

We went to St. Petersburg today, very nice.

Cedar Key Art Fest, 4/9 & 4/10
Blue Springs St Pk
World of Golf Hall of Fame, St Augustine
Tampa Lowry Park Zoo
Silver Springs St Pk
Rainbow Springs St Pk
Butterfly Rainforest, Univ of Fl Museum, Gainesville
Lake Dora pontoon boat tour
Withlacoochee River Canoe and Kayaking Trips, Yankeetown

etc, etc

Thanks, ConnieNonnie

Wow - thanks everybody!

EARS in Citra, best by far. Endangered Animals Rescue about a hour north just off 301. Great tour and you get very close to these beautiful animals. They have tours about twce a week. Just Google them they have a great website.

Local books available
 

There are several books available at the little bookstore in Colony Plaza "All Booked Up" by a local author, Gillian Birch. 3 or 4 books, I believe, all filled with day trips in this area. She lists specific driving directions, attractions and even dining ideas nearby.

Salvador Dali Museum, St. Pete

I second this, and across the street from it, in the little airport, there's a very nice restaurant for lunch.

Indie Flea in Tampa Heights--does anyone know if it's still going? Supposedly the third Sunday of the month, 1:00 - 4:00. Collection of artist's stalls. Indie flea market set for Tampa Heights | Tampa Bay Times

Clearwater Beach. The best beach in Florida.

Is there someplace to see Manatees without having to sign up and pay for one of the companies that takes you on a tour? I heard that there was someplace with boardwalks and crystal clear water where you can just walk out and see them.

The Ringling Brother's Museum in Sarasota.

What are the 3 Best Day Trips from The Villlages
 

Weeki Wachee State Park if you are looking for a place to take grand kids that doesn't require a second mortgage on your home. $13 per person to see an old Florida production: reptile show, mermaid show, river cruise, and walks through a very old cypress forest. It also includes a water park in the price.

Hardrock casino, Tampa.

Homasassa springs

A wonderful place to park and see manatees for free is the viewing center at Tampa Electric. On my first visit I walked onto the boardwalk and was surprised to see all the big boulders in the water. Then I realized they were the manatees. There is no underwater viewing window (or at least there wasn't when I was last there) but there are LOTS of manatees to see just looking down into the water.

Here's their website:

Manatee Viewing Center - Tampa Electric

Excellent suggestion.

I would also recommend St Pete Beach.

That sounds like Blue Spring State Park in Orange City.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

.

Winter Park FL and the Tiffany Museum. Park Ave in Winter Park is a great area to shop and dine. You can even go to Trader Joe's.

Louis Comfort Tiffany, the Morse Museum, Orlando, Florida


Also a visit to Celebration for lunch and a ride through the neighborhoods is very interesting.

Captain Mike's Lazy River Cruise down the Withlacoochee River is a really fun 1 or 2 hour cruise. You'll see alligators, birds and lots of turtles. Mike has a great sense of humor to keep everyone amused. After the cruise enjoy a wonderful dinner at Stumpknockers. Located at 13821 SW State Rd 200, Dunnellon, FL 34432 at Stumpknockers. Visit his website at Guided river tours in Dunnellon | Captain Mike

La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is located near Gainesville. This park became Florida's first state preserve in 1971 and is now designated as a National Natural Landmark. Habitats of the park include alligators, bison, horses and more than 270 species of birds. The entrance is only open on weekdays.

Location: Gainesville
Length: Up to 3 miles
Lat-Long: 29.610250, -82.304264
Type: round-trip

I agree with Debow. Crystal River for swimming/snorkeling with the manatees is amazing. Don't just watch them from a bridge. Dive in and get a kiss from them!! We did a tour with Captains Stacy and Mike from Manatees in Paradise and it was one of the best things we have ever done. Need to go when it is cold; the colder it is the more manatees will swim into the river.

Look at the reviews on Trip Advisor and you can get a sense of what an awesome day this will be.

I'n surprised nobody has mentioned Tarpon Spring, the sponge docks and the great Greek restaurants and pastries. OPA!

I agree. We love to go to Tarpon Springs. Good restaurants, yummy bakeries, lots of cute shops & a nice boat ride.

Cocoa Beach and Busch Gardens are two of my best picks. The shows at Busch Gardens are great and the train ride seeing all the animals running free make it worth the trip. If you have kids and grandkids who like roller coasters, they will have a ball. I did enjoy the coasters but my back won't let me anymore.