Here for 2 weeks
 

Hello--Fun couple coming in from Irvine, CA. First timers to the villages. Arriving on October 17 for a two-week home rental. With so many options for entertainment, activities, where do we start? Any meet and greets near Lake Sumter Landing?

Haven’t seen an actual meet and greet in years. Once in awhile a group from our village will go to the square together to see a group we like but it’s nothing formal.

Be sure to download The Villages app. Click on the Calendar section and filter down to the kind of activities you’re interested in. Also check The Villages Entertainment site and see if anything there strikes your fancy.

Thanks Kenswing
 

Thanks for the good thoughts and leads.

Sent you a PM

The Thursday listing of club meetings and schedules is valuable. It is available at all the regional rec centers. The fitness rooms at some regional rec centers have a very affordable daily rate so give on of those a try.Check out all the town centers. Farmers market on Saturday morning at Brownwood. Have a great time exploring TV.

Go to a square and go for ride on trolleys.

Hook up with real estate agent both village and mls.

Spend a night or part of one at a square listening to music and try talking to miscellaneous people

This is not a negative statement.....
You will have a hard time wrapping your head around this place in 2 weeks. Start day one at a square for a meal and entertainment. Meet locals and get suggestions, talk to employees at a regional rec center for ideas. Take it all in.

It also depends on whether the homeowner gives you a pass or not. "Guests" can't use any of the amenities without the resident being present. But most homeowners who rent their properties out arrange for their tenants to have temporary resident IDs, which gives them access to all amenities.

If you are getting a temp. resident id then you can play executive golf, any of the sports or activities in any of the rec centers. If you're here just for a couple weeks' vacation, you'll have time to enjoy a pretty good variety of activities. If you're coming with the hope of deciding if The Villages is a good place to retire, you'll need to set aside a couple-three days for checking newer construction and explore some neighborhoods and home styles in the Sumter area and points north as well, hit a few open houses to at least see what these homes look like inside and what options you'd have for your budget.

We came for vacation for a couple of weeks, for a few years before deciding to move here.

If they are under 19. Over 19 do not need a resident with them.

If the guest is under 19 years of age, they must be accompanied by a Villages resident or a guest 19 years of age or older with a valid guest ID card and photo ID.

Under 19 can't use the adult pools. And the sports pools (with I believe one singular exception) are for residents only - no guests, with or without an ID.

:icon_wink: Under 30 can't use the adult pools.

Good point. We have several rentals in the neighborhood and the tenants were not aware of guest passes. Most are not even offered guest passes. One was told if they check ID at the pool just move on to the next pool.

Come on down to St Catherine on the 22nd for 2 big driveway/block parties!!

Duke...go to districtgov.org for all information related to the villages. If you have a golf cart, be aware that you will probably get lost travelling around.

Welcome to The Villages. Try not to confuse a guest pass with a resident ID. The resident ID allows you to do everything, classes, pools, etc. My suggestion is to check with your landlord. They cost $50 and well worth it. Have Fun!!

We moved to the Villages last year. We visited the pool in our village and talked to people. We instantly found a group of friends. Also learned what is going on and places to go in and around the Villages.

We moved from Huntington Beach a year ago ( just up the street from Irvine)

go to classes, meet the neighbors, get 2 real estate agents ( VLS and MLS). You’ll find that 2 weeks goes by quickly.

I think that there is a “California club”, you might try that group

First congrats on taking time exploring this great place. Get out, specially in the golf cart, as much as you can. My suggestion is to get the Villages GPS app (about $7 one time fee). Navigation features are better and easier in my opinion than the free one.

With the free Villages app, explore as many activities as possible, based on your interest. Just by going to a line dancing class, you’ll start meeting people. The info and contact is on every activity.

As mentioned, go to the squares and talk with people there. Saturdays is the Farmers Market at Brownwood 9am to 1pm.

Good luck!!!

Start by learning which area of The Villages you like. Then start looking for a home or new rental.
Take it from me 2 weeks here will make you not want to leave!

Pick up a recreation guide at your nearest rec center. It will have all the activities for the week - comes out on Thursdays. If you are renting a home and have a RESIDENT ID card (guest IDs do not give you access to much) you can go to any of the activities that residents attend. There are about 3000 "clubs"!! So aside from the very popular golf and pickleball you will surely find many things that interest you. Have fun.

Hi,
I can imagine how excited you are. It reminds me of us when we came for the first time. I would love to show you around.

Join us on October 28, Laurel Manor, doors open 1 pm for a free performance by Forever Young. You must have a guest pass from the Villages, or a residence pass.

:confused: Besides "Sports Pools" what can a person with a RESIDENT I.D. do that a person with a GUEST I.D. can't? TIA

Download a list of the 3,000+ Villages clubs to see a very broad list of available activities. Take in a much as you may like and are able to do so.

We are visiting TV in January for a day or two. Not long enough, I know, but this is what I'm working with.

I plan to hit all of the squares and get a feel for the surrounding neighborhoods, especially those within walking distance to the squares. IF we have time, and I don't know that we will, we will take the trolley tour around The Villages. We will not have time to talk real estate agents.

If we were staying for multiple days, I would definitely hope to get a guest pass to check out the amenities. That'll happen on our next trip.

This first trip is designed to get a rough lay of the land and hopefully figure out which area we gravitate to. That'll help determine where we book a longer stay.

Correct.

No it's not! :oops:


Q: What is the Resident Academy?
A: The Resident Academy is an interactive program for residents who are interested in
learning about their local government. Our ultimate goal for the Resident Academy is to
alleviate the confusion, questions, or mis-information that exists throughout the
community regarding the responsibilities and functions of the Community Development
Districts. During this program, participants will receive an in-depth look at the various
District Departments and how they work together to make this the best community to
live, work and play. Department Directors will also be available to answer questions or
make appointments for those seeking additional information.

:)

If you are looking for things to do, my guests all enjoyed the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. It's a huge complex with a Las Vegas style hotel - really jaw-dropping for Ocala. Be sure to drive through the rear of the complex for stadium and other venues. They have restaurants also. It's not just for horse people. Finally, there is a golf cart rental booth right by the entrance if you or your guests can't do a lot of walking. Have a fun day!

Golf carr
 

You should download The Villages app. Lots of information there along with directions to lots of places here on The Villages. Enjoy your stay. We’re from Huntington Beach. Been here 7 yrs now and love it.

A day or two is not enough
 

You're right, a day or two will not be long enough. Take a ride on a Villages Trolly from lake Sumter Landing. The trolley guides have a good overall knowledge of TV. As you ride and take in the scenery you'll be able to get a lot of information and questions answered. In my opinion, the best tennis & golf is north of 446 but they are also the older neighborhoods. The best shopping and services are along 446 but that is slowly changing. The "future" of The Villages is south however the residential areas are booming and the commercial support is very slowly following. If you are younger south of 44 might be the place but there are pros & cons to that area. I've had 3 homes in The Villages all north of 446. I would consider south however not for a few years till services and shopping catch up.

Vacation/renting in the villages
 

Don't hesitate to contact me, Doreen @ 513-222-2981 to show you around & set up things for you to do! I've been a resident here for 7 years & my parents had a villa built here 22 years ago...they are snowbirds, here for 6 mos. & back to Iowa for 6 mos. It will take you 1 day to realize that this is "paradise"! I also have many connections & referrals for you to make a good decision, whether you are just vacationing here, renting in the future, or possibly purchasing sometime. Provide your names & phone # by calling or texting me, so I know that it isn't SPAM when it comes through. Enjoy your stay in The Villages, Doreen (iahawki78@gmail.com)

I just sent you a PM with the list we used when we visited. As others have stated, make certain that your rental includes guest passes or you won't be able to truly experience all that The Villages has to offer. Also, if your rental doesn't have a cart you must try to rent one. It really is necessary to experience the lifestyle by golf cart for it to be truly representative. Have fun!

There’s only one trolley tour now. You book it at Brownwood Sales Center, and it only takes you down south of 44 to see the new villages. We did a Lifestyle visit in June for a week, and had a blast. Visit lots of Recreation Centers, both regional and smaller neighborhood ones. The theming is amazing at each one. Have fun!

Yup you're right. I was thinking of the under 19 aren't supposed to be allowed to live in the Villages as residents and mixed it up with the visitor/amenity situation. My bad!

Have they started running all of the trolleys again? During our LSV in June they were only running the trolley at Brownwood, and it only traveled down south of 44 to the new construction. They didn’t plan at that time to bring back the other trolleys, but maybe they finally did?

I was actually incorrect. It's under 30 (not 19) that can't use the adult pools. The 19 number is the minimum age of residency. You can live in the Villages if you're 19 (as long as you're living in a household with at least one person who is 55 or older). But you can't use the adult pool til you're 30.

Almost. A 19yo does not have to have a 55+ living in the house, as long as we remain under the 20% maximum. A 19yo can purchase and live in a house alone.

Thanks for the heads up about the trolley tour. This first trip is going to be an ambitious attempt to get the lay of the land, check out some of the developments. Will the rec centers let us pop in for a look if we don't have guest passes? We might go through a CYV to see if that style of home would work for us or to see if we need to consider alternatives - a fenced in yard is a must.

We'll definitely want to eat at a good restaurant with a decent bar selection.

After this trip we'll plan a lifestyle visit or get a rental with guest passes.

Any apt/condo short term rentals? Owner direct would be best …I’m considering a visit , (2023) like to check out the place… Thanks!