Walkable Lifestyle
 

Would love to be able to walk to grocery stores, rec centers, pools, etc. when I retire. Are certain places in the Villages better for this than others? Maybe being close to one of the Town Centers would be the best option? Appreciate any feedback.

There are homes in Marsh Bend that are near Magnolia Plaza as well as the rec. center and sports pool, Virginia Trace would be another village that would fill the bill for you. Keep in mind if you plan on walking for groceries you will need a cooler if you buy anything needing refrigeration, it get's hot very quickly,

I live in McClure and all that is about a 1 mile walk each way. Not bad, and actually my PCP wants me to walk further than that each day - so it's a workable range for me.

McClure is in the newer section south of 44.

The Lofts in Brownwood would be a good location.

The squares do not offer the necessities of life, groceries , drug store and so on.

One way to look at this, when you see a map of TV, is to have a home near an exit from TV. While there are grocery stores located in TV controlled commerical properties, there is more or less, a guarantee that you will find what you need at an exit.

Sure there are exceptions, but this gives you something to think about. Not all will be golf cart accessable, but that is not what we are talking about.

Publix is 1 block away from Spanish Springs Town Square, 2 blocks from parts of Villa Del Mar, 2 blocks from the Villas of Spanish Springs. This is also within walking distance (less than 1/2 mile one way) to the Hacienda rec center and sports pool. Winn Dixie is 1.5 blocks from the Cottages at Lake Sumter Landing. The Cottages have a pool.

There are homes available in walking distance (less than 1/2 mile each way) to the town squares AND supermarkets. The Publix shopping strip adjacent to Spanish Springs also hosts an eyeglass place, an audiologist/hearing aid store, and a dentist office.

Up north, near County 42, there are homes close to the Mulberry Recreation center and also close to Walgreens and Publix. Villages of Woodbury or Briarwood, along Belle Meade Circle. Several villa sites as well.

You definitely can do a walkable lifestyle.
Just make sure your realtor knows it’s a requirement

Also, it will limit the number of houses available to you - and with the low inventory, you’ll need to be patient when for a house, and be ready to buy QUICKLY when one comes available.

I think The Lofts would have been a big hit if they had designed it around a grocery store and restaurants. But, the current design has been problematic for attracting residents. You can own or rent a villa for less than half of the monthly cost, with essentially the same conveniences.

Lake Sumter has Wynn Dixie very near to the square and Everglades Rec. Center is right across the street from Publix, Publix is also an easy walk from Paddock Square which also has a new pharmacy, you can even walk to The Villages Health from there. Plenty of housing available near all 3 of these with access via golf car. I'm sure there are many more.

Really appreciate the suggestions everyone. Thank you!

Don’t put all your eggs in the walkable basket. As we age and our joints go, what was walkable today very well might not be tomorrow.

The Lofts are convenient o a Publix, Eisenhower Regional Rec Center, their own pool and 6 restaurants. It is a great location. Plus nightly entertainment.

I run to Winn Dixie for a donut early morning. I don’t think ice cream, would be of any frozen consistency.
So LSL Caroline, Creekside, Are close to a square, grocery, I would say a bank, but citizens First, is everywhere

Convenient maybe, but the Publix and Eisenhower rec center are both more than a half mile away from The Lofts. I doubt that many people want to walk that far, especially to buy groceries. Many of the houses in Pine Ridge are closer than that to the Walmart grocery and the Moyer rec center, and there are 10 restaurants nearby. Also, the Clifford Villas are immediately adjacent to the Walmart grocery store, much more convenient than walking 0.6 miles to a Publix. I just don't think The Lofts were well thought out. I would gladly trade my house for an apartment or condo, if I could walk a few steps to a grocery store and some restaurants, but The Lofts doesn't fit the bill. My opinion.

The lofts are pretty near to Traverse Plaza with Publix, Flippers, etc.

I would give Virginia Trace the top walkability score, 89! I walk five miles a day and live one half mile from Lake Sumter Landing. A grocery store, bookstore, lake, three small waterfalls, a theatre, hairdresser and of course, rec centers, pools and music every night are some of my destinations. I love this location!

Sumter Landing would be close to what you are looking for.

I live near Colony. There are a many homes within Pine Ridge and Pine Hills that are walking distance to groceries etc. I often see folks walking home with grocery bags.

We live just south of Spanish Springs, and can walk to Publix if we choose, as well as restaurants, clothing stores, golf cart service center, Hardware store, etc. Or it's less than a 5 minute golf cart ride also. Living around Spanish Springs offers all the necessities of life within a very short distance, plus easy access to the bridge across 441 for access to Lowes, CHASE, WalMart, Aldis, Sally Beauty, medical offices, and soon to be BJ's mega store.

I live in Polo Ridge off of Southern Trace just above 466. I can walk to the Southern Trace shopping area in five minutes. Can also walk to the Summerhill pool, about 10 minutes. Very convenient!

You probably wouldn't want to walk anywhere come June,July,Aug,Sept. Hot and humid.

best village for walking
 

I'm almost afraid to say this!

Tall Trees, walk to, library, Publix, both drugstore, many restaurants, dr and dental services, pool, a little further and you'll find walmart, more restaurants and shopping.

The Village of Tall Trees along 466 has a Publix, Walgreens, CVS, 6 banks, The Villages Library, 2 gas stations, 6+ sit down restaurants plus fast food places , Laurel Recreation Center, 2 golf courses that you can walk, High School sporting events and all within 6 blocks of each other.

While the village of Spanish Springs is the oldest community in The Villages, there are many, many homes and villas within blocks of the Spanish Springs town square and La Plaza Grande South shopping center.
When we first moved here and our goods and new ordered furniture were not yet arrived/delivered, we ate out for 3 weeks within 3/4ths of a mile from our home and only ate at the same place on a few occasions.
Most destinations were only 2-3 blocks from our house and easily walked and 2 minutes away in a golf cart.
Doesn't get much better than that!
[:-)>

You need to come down for a Lifestyle Visit and than you can spend time and see where the ideal location for you would be. The worst case would be that you had a nice vacation. Be forewarned, once you come, you may not want to leave.

I'm with you, OP, and walkability is exactly the reason I moved to the Spanish Springs area. No other area has easy access to Department stores, Best Buy, Home Depot and zillions of restaurants - in addition to all the things mentioned above.

All the squares have a grocery , drugstore
 

and doctors all within a mile , so for the most part a healthy person could do just about everything he needed to do on foot , that is a good reason for having more apartments in the squares , that kind of setup is being used all over country not just for senior citizens but people of all ages , less car travel more business for stores and apartments on the squares do not affect me or my home but do give us all more options when we slow down I for one would welcome the idea of living in an apartment if I couldn’t drive anymore where I could walk outside and see life not grass and a parking lot of some independent living place

Watch for houses in one of these two areas. However, I don’t recall when I’ve last seen one for sale there.

In agreement with the other Spanish Springs comments, we live in Village Del Mar and routinely walk to Publix or Winn Dixie. Great way to get inyour 10000 steps! Many other shops to visit within the Square or the shopping mall strip.

I live in the Village of Charlotte. I am about a mile to Publix, Colony Plaza, Walgreens, Walmart Neighborhood market, some restaurants, and doctor's offices. Colony rec center is also there. Parts of Sanibel are also close to the same area. There are homes near Pinellas Plaza which has a Winn Dixie, restaurants, Walgreens, UPS store, etc.. There is a mid way point in that neighborhood where you can walk to Eisenhower Rec center and the plaza. We rented in this area before we bought and could walk to the rec center and to the store. If that is something you want i.e., being close to a strip mall there are a number of options to consider. There is Lake Deaton Plaza which is near Rohan Rec Center. If you are close to 466, 466A, 27, 441 you will find shopping and conveniences. Look on Google maps and you can put in a home address to see how far it is to the stores. Don't forget to check Realtor.com and other real estate sites that give a walkability index.

The Village of Spanish Springs is not the oldest community in the Villages. That title goes to the historic section on the other side of the golf cart bridge, known as Orange Blossom Gardens, which is comprised of three villages: Silver Lake, Orange Blossom, and Country Club Hills.

The Village of Spanish Springs is the oldest community on the other side of 441, and the community closest to Spanish Springs Town Square (since the two sort of share a parking lot)

I find Village of Caroline fantastic. It has two pools, a great rec center with everything you can imagine, and a short walk to Lake Sumter Landing.

Is there really a Village of Spanish Springs?

Yes

A walk over the bridge from Chitty Chatty will get you to the Publix strip mall and Rohan Rec center. The walking trails there are also nice for scenery.

Best place to live
 

I absolutely love the Village of Belvedere.. wish I had bought there.. in Ashland, a golf cart away from everything, especially my favorite store, Fresh Market and restaurants Bonefish, Red Lobsters and in LSL, Chop House!

I believe it consists of Condominiums.

Parts of Polo Ridge are 100% walkable to all 'retail' amenities. Our cottage is exactly 1/2 mile from the entrance to Publix,and all that surrrounds it at Southern Trace Plaza. As I am beginning to say,more and more-You can find anything you want at the Villages.