Getting around
 

Can you really get around the entire villages using just a golf cart? What is walking like, my wife actually likes to walk to the supermarkets, is that doable here(she walks a lot).Thinking of coming this year to check place out, can you actually go from hotels there to Villages area with just a golf cart? Are there certain areas in the Villages more active(clubs, activities, etc.) than others? Thanks.

I would suggest renting for a month to check things out as nothing anyone tells you will be a substitute for seeing for yourself. It's too big to see in just a week.

There are a couple of hotels internal to The Villages. I suggest you contact The Villages and schedule a Life Style Visit. You will get a much better experience. No sales pressure. The place sells itself.

You can get to anything in The Villages north of 44 via golf cart including supermarkets, restaurants, country clubs, county govt. offices, and medical centers. Areas south of 44 are scheduled to be connected real soon now. We have found that we can get to everything we need via a golf cart.

Be aware that there are some businesses on the other side of the road from The Villages that are not accessible via a golf cart; they look close but you can't get there.

There are sidewalks or multi-modal paths (MMP) that can be used to walk everywhere in The Villages. The only issue might be distance - The Villages is something like 12 miles north to south.

There is at least one hotel that is golf cart accessible; there might be more but we haven't looked into that.

The most central location in the established Villages is LSL (Lake Sumter Landing) and the Waterfront Hotel is two blocks away. You can walk to bars, restaurants, movie theaters, Barnes & Nobles, a golf cart store, the square and see live bands, you can do alot even without a golf cart. Stay there for a few days.

The Waterfront Inn The Villages, Florida, US - Reservations.com


https://i.travelapi.com/hotels/20000...8df4df6f_z.jpg

You do need to rent a house for a good month to understand this place and what it has to offer

On the East side of 27/441 (over the golf cart bridge to the historic section) there is a golf cart entry/exit which if you take the track northwards you will also be able to access places not on the villages e.g Wal Mart, Aldi, Lowes, Bealls and many others. Travel further north and you can access a 27/441 crossing then head south and you can get to the Shops of Spruce Creek which has many useful shops and restaurants e.g. a Comcast store, a very good jewellers that does any kind of watch and clock battery & and a particular favourite the Sams St. John Seafood Restaurant. It's a bit of an expedition but it can be done. Wouldn't really recommend walking anywhere - this place is enormous I think by the latest news I have it's over 75 square miles and growing. Good Luck p.s. Town Place suites in in Spanish Springs and also the Holiday Inn Express and another one nearby are all golf cart accessable to the villages.

To get over to Spruce Creek do you cross at a light or is there a specific golf cart crossing?

Yes, you can get to every place in The Villages and even a few spots just outside by golf cart.

Yes, you can walk to the supermarkets depending on far you live from them and how far you are willing to walk. If that's important to you, you might want to search from a home that is close to a supermarket.

All of the areas are the same as far as activities. You are not restricted to activities in your area. I run a club and pre Covid, people came from all over The Villages. In fact we have one member that make a ten mile trip by bicycle every week.

Come down, do a lifestyle visit and let your real estate agent know what your preferences are.

I believe the Waterfront Inn is no longer in business.

I also concur that Lake Sumter Landing and its surroundings is the most central. It can be quite a trek to get places on your golf cart. I wish mine had cruise control! HAHA So being in the middle gives you faster golf cart access to it all. There are rec centers, pools and pickleball/tennis courts in every village, but if you stay here a while, you may find where your favorite club activities are, which may influence your residency choice.

I was going to ask the same question about the 441/27 crossing.

You do have cruise control it is set for 20 mph just hold the gas peddle all the way down. 😊

Wow you have too many questions for just 1 post.

It is open

They have a life styles program that puts you up in a villa with a golf cart...I can get you a person to call if you are interested

Actually there are 4 hotels inside The Villages. All accessible by golf cart.

Simple answer...The Villages is several miles longer from north to south than the City of Chicago.

You can only cross at the traffic light by Stonecrest to get to Spruce Creek South. But be cateful you then have to work yourself through soficr creek south to their side gate to get to the stores but you cannot ride on 441 in your golf cart. Better to use your car to get to those stores. Too dangerous otherwise. You will very seldom see golf carts in that area. They come out of Spruce creek South through a side gate.

I haven't had a car in TVs for several years. Golf cart to everything I need or want. Great way to get around except in the snow.

27/441 crossing
 

Please elaborate on crossing 27/441 in a golf car. I'm no aware of any such crossing available ti TV. Also, HOW does a Villager get "further North" of Wal-Mart? There's a gate barring travel into Stone Creek. Thanks.

When we purchased a home here we did NOT have a car for most of the first year. We used a golf cart for doing everything; shopping, restaurants, social activities, doctors, and of course Golf! We found we there were very few things not available to us via golf cart.

Many good suggestions given here but the best is to rent for a month and see for yourself what The Villages has and what your needs are. One thing is Lake Sumter Landings was the middle of the Villages but with all the building south of 44 its not now. I personally like living in an established neighborhood except moving to a new one enables you to bond with neighbors who are also new. Just rent and ask questions. Every one has their own opinions.

Reserve your golf cart early.

Where is Stone Creek?

FALSE
They closed briefly to update the rooms. The Waterfront Inn is open and is a very nice place to stay.

:shrug:
Try the link in post #5.

Not connected real soo

Highly recommend doing the Lifestyle Visit. The Villages will put you up for a week in a villa near Brownwood (your stay can be 4-7 nights). The villas are much nicer than any hotel room, and include everything you need...linens, towels, pots & pans, dishes, even coffee. Also included is a golf car and 2 bicycles. There is no sales pressure, no meetings, no seminars. You will be assigned a sales rep, but you can choose to spend as much or as little (even none) time with him/her as you like. Use the time to venture about in the provided golf car to your heart's content. We did our Lifestyle Visit in September, when the rates were $99/night, which is a heck of a good deal. Your sales rep can even give you a guided tour of TV if the trolleys aren't running.

All in all, the Lifestyle Visit is the perfect way to experience TV, and gain an appreciation for the scope of the place. You may even find your perfect home (we did) during that visit. If not, you can actually do the Lifestyle Visit again, or come down and rent a place for a month or two and look at your leisure. Good Luck!

Highly recommend doing the Lifestyle Visit. The Villages will put you up for a week in a villa near Brownwood (your stay can be 4-7 nights). The villas are much nicer than any hotel room, and include everything you need...linens, towels, pots & pans, dishes, even coffee. Also included is a golf car and 2 bicycles. There is no sales pressure, no meetings, no seminars. You will be assigned a sales rep, but you can choose to spend as much or as little (even none) time with him/her as you like. Use the time to venture about in the provided golf car to your heart's content. We did our Lifestyle Visit in September, when the rates were $99/night, which is a heck of a good deal. Your sales rep can even give you a guided tour of TV if the trolleys aren't running.

All in all, the Lifestyle Visit is the perfect way to experience TV, and gain an appreciation for the scope of the place. You may even find your perfect home (we did) during that visit. If not, you can actually do the Lifestyle Visit again, or come down and rent a place for a month or two and look at your leisure. Good Luck!

You can get to everything north of the turnpike via golf cart, but it may take you over an hour depending on where you start and where you end. As far as walking goes, yes you can walk to stores, etc., but be aware that there are no sidewalks within most neighborhoods. Sidewalks are usually only along the main roads, such as Moyer Loop. etc. Also, crossing the major roads such as 466A and 44 can be tough because there are no crosswalks at the intersections. You can walk through the MMP tunnels but that is taking your life in your hands.

TV golf cart accessibility
 

Adding my 2-cents worth. This place is big...as mentioned by many. For the most part, the only "popular" shopping places you cannot access in a golf cart without also walking across a main thoroughfare are Home Depot, Sam's Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, Michaels, and Best Buy. In 2013, the Village Property realtors would tell you there were 105 miles or so of cart paths, not including the golf courses....it's more, now. Oh yes, you can't get to Universal Studios or Disney World in a cart from TV...YET...I'm starting the rumor that the Morse family is planning to annex Clermont next.

The Comcast store moved to 441 and Rolling Acres Rd.

Yes it is definitely more than 12 miles from north to south in The Villages. It's more like 20 miles.

You are only referring to those stores in the northern section of TV, there are plenty more in the central and southern sections that are not accessible by golf car and never will be such as Lowes, Publix, ABC, Aldi, several fast food establishments and lots of popular restaurants both north and south.

I also agree that the best way to get a "feel" is to rent for at least a month. If you don't have the time for that then the Lifestyle Preview is your best bet. If you are looking to possibly move here there is a difference in amenities between north and south of 44, if your wife is a walker south of 44 will suit here better then north. In 2021 the north and south will be connected, and the Brownwood area will be the central (geographic) location of TV. Several years after that Brownwood will be in northern part TV and will probably be known as The Historic Side :).

We live in Villa Valdosta in Belle Aire village. It is almost 3 miles to the top of The Villages from our house. My daughter bought a home in Monarch Grove and it is 17 miles south of us. That makes The Villages more like 20 miles in distance north to south (and headed to the Village of Orlando???? HA HA)

thanks
 

Wow, thanks for all the answers, did not expect to get so many. Renting for a month does seem to be the best bet and what we are looking at after seeing how many are available. The walking is much more important to my wife than me, she says she does not want to depend on me to always drive her, she does not drive . Tried explaining to her a golf cart is different than a car, maybe when we visit she will get it. I have seen a lot of people mentioning the "Life Styles Visit", is there a particular place I need to find out about that? And yes, actually visiting a place is the surest way to find out about it but just trying to know as much as I could before that. You guys have been very helpful, thanks again.

Chicago is 214 blocks from 138th St to Howard St. 8 blocks to a mile would make it 26.75 miles long.

I saw a golf cart, not an SSV, cross from Walmart on 441 to the McDonalds across the street.