Things To Do In Your Village
 

I’m on a mission to take a golf cart ride every Saturday, and spend several hours in one village, enjoying time at their pools, spending time at their rec centers, walking any paths, and seeing any other sites. I’m currently working my way alphabetically, visiting every village (one village per week), and hopefully in a little over a year’s time, will have visited every single village.

I’m very interested to hear from others to post what the highlights are / things to do in their village.

I’ll start with Richmond:
- Clarendon Family Pool
- Richmond Adult Pool
- Pickleball Courts
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Shuffleboard, Bocce and Corn Toss
- Platform Tennis
- Dog Park
- Outdoor Exercise Equipment
- Walking Trail around retention pond at north entrance
- Gizmo’s Memorial Bench
- Expansive Walking Trails and Preserves around two large ponds on western edge
- Richmond Pitch and Putt
- Lake Okahumpka Rec Center
- Harry and the Natives Restaurant (coming soon)
- Walking distance to Brownwood (or 5 minute cart ride)

Sounds like fun. However, for me, I like spending part of my time volunteering. But fun and volunteering can balance each other out.

That is quite a goal. Best of luck. Looking forward to a short report when you are done. Quick note. New villages are being created in near Eastport. You might have to visit them out of order. (smiley face)

I think you will find a lot of similarity between many of the Villages. If you were dropped off in the middle of many of them, I don’t think you would be able to tell them apart.

Love the bolded portion above!

Sounds fun! I had the goal of trying every pool in TV, but since the swim season for me is very short here (too cold in Winter, and water is too hot in Summer) this plan is going much slower than I had expected, lol. We have seen almost all of the Regional and Villages recreation centers interiors though. We love that they’re all different themes. I just wish there were some pools with cooler water in summer, but that’ll never happen here with depth at a max of 5 ft. We have done a lot in Richmond being just across the turnpike from you in DeLuna, and we were just at Lake Okahumpka boardwalk last night checking out progress at Harry and the Natives. It’s going to be quite awhile before that’s done at the pace they’re going.

Do wish there was an efficient way to make the pools cooler.

I would ageee that there are some villages that are almost carbon copies of others. Today’s visit was to Bellaire. Nice, well kept, older village, but not much that differentiates itself from other villages. Didn’t see a rec center or pool there (if there is one I missed it). However, there are some villages that definitely have their own, unique “vibe”, especially those that have walking paths, nature preserves, lots of water, etc.

I’m thoroughly enjoying these weekly “road trips” within the bubble, as an opportunity to venture out into village neighborhoods I haven’t yet explored, meet and visit with the neighbors of these areas, and enjoy the beauty of this marvelous community that we are so blessed to be a part of.

Our pool has a chiller, today it’s set at 79. This morning at start of chiller temp was 93, left played golf and jumped into refreshing pool.

Thank you. That’s a great idea. I hope you will post about the different villages you visit.

Great idea. But it will take TWO years. Some Villages several MINUTES will be enough.������
Newell and Lake Denham have three highlights - all in Newell.
-- Franklin Rec (where watermelon exploded inside as a theme) ������
-- Mickeylee Pitch and Putt
-- Jubilee Putting Course
These two Villages are on a former watermelon farm, which explains Franklin's theme. Mickeylee and Jubilee are watermelon varieties.

This is me visiting every Village

Great idea Michael. When I ask people what village they live in, I often don't know where it is. These visits will help you know them all.
When you go to Orange Blossom I recommend visiting the dog park by the golf cart bridge (if you like watching dogs at play) and lunch at the Orange Blossom Country club. Their patio has a beautiful view of the pool/grotto whirlpool/waterfall.

Village of Largo
 

Largo:
- Bacall Rec Center/pool/PB courts
- Bogart and Bacall golf courses
- dog park
- @2 miles from Sumter Landing

When you complete this venture, we’ll vote you in as Mayor of The Villages!!

Unfortunately, your pool having a chiller doesn’t help those of us swimming in TV pools. 😉 If we had known before buying that the pools get crazy hot in summer, we’d have bought a pool sized lot and added our own. Oh well. Thankfully, there’s lots to do to keep us busy besides swimming.

Take a drive to Mulberry Sports Pool. You might find it a bit cooler then the rest. They used to fountain the water up at night to cool it.

I had to laugh at “where watermelon exploded”. So true! 😂 But, I love it and think it’s so pretty. Maybe it’s a girl thing, haha. Gold Wingnut feels the same way you do, which he used to make known in almost every video he made after it was completed. I bet though he loves Saluki’s (in Shady Brook) dog theme. I think now TV developer needs to give equal representation to cat lovers like me. 😉

Interesting. Thanks! Sports pools are kinda hard to use though for just a refreshing dip.

I agree with the watermelon explosion at Franklin Rec but the photos on the walls of Wildwood and surrounding areas in the 1940s,50's, etc are so interesting.

Gotta look into one of those. My wife is always telling me I need to chill out : )

I did that when I first moved here. Waste of time. Its all exactly the same.

This would make a great avatar for Talk of The Villages...