New to The Villages & company is coming
 

Have two friends coming to visit this summer from the mid-west.

Besides swimming and visiting one of the beaches, any suggestions on what we can do in The Villages?

Would I be able to obtain a pass for each of them?

thank you

sorry....just asking if I can get TWO passes

yes. Your regional rec center can hook you up.

There are a lot of lovely day trips you can do if you get bored. I love the Crystal Springs area, but the manatees are usually gone by summer. Shopping is better over by Orlando.

You can rent a second golf cart or a 4 seater and that's a lot of fun, too.

NASA museum on the east coast is pretty cool to visit and it's mostly indoors since it's hot in summer.

Golf cart rides is #1. Town squares to listen to music or walk around. Passes are needed to swim or golf and I think that is all. Also we use to love to go to open houses when we were visiting.

Some nice walking trails

Take a trip to Mt Dora .. whilst you are there take a boat ride through the Dora Canal - old Florida as it was 1000's of years ago Also have lunch at the Goblin Market Restaurant $$$ but fantastic. Also go to Astor Williams Landings/Blackwater inn for lunch and a boat ride on the St Johns.
If you want a blow out breakfast in a really old diner for small $$$ and masses of food try the Duck Dam diner near the Oklawaha River bridge and Lock in Moss Bluff. The triple play is a monster and their meatloaf is to die for - do good breakfast/lunch rib eyes too.
One of the other respondents said Crystal River ... if you go over there try just going down the coast a bit to the Homasasa Springs wildlife park have lunch at the Fridge.
I have been 'Rain Birding' to Florida for 6 months a year from the UK for the last 20 years and have been to loads of places but I don't have the time for it all and it would be about 20 pages long.

Where to Go
 

If you're in the mood for an all-day journey (to and from) you need to take in the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. An absolutely fabulous display of weaponry, actual combat films, replicas of businesses and homes that existed in the U.S. during WWII, and other things too numerous to mention. Here's the web link - but before you go, you might want to call first and see if there are any restrictions on touring the museum due to the current Covid crisis. www.navalaviationmuseum.org

My Dad was in the Navy during WWII, and his ship - the USS Manila Bay - was struck by a Japanese kamikaze and sustained heavy damage. I observed a model of a WWII aircraft carrier displayed on the museum wall and mentioned to the guide about my Dad's ship, also an aircraft carrier. He took me back to the archives, and they brought up a picture of the Manila Bay, as it sat in the water on fire. There it was, my dad's ship and he was somewhere in that picture. Wow!

Day trip to Mt Dora
 

It was mentioned earlier in this thread and I would second the suggestion to go to
Mt Dora and definitely do the pontoon ride through the Dora Canal.

Silver Spring State park east of Ocala is a fun short trip. They have glass bottom boat guided tours; kayaks and paddle boards to rent. It’s a beautiful place with walking paths and picnic tables. There is an entry fee but cheaper during the week.

Register your friends as guests. Check with your local rec center for info. They will get guest passes which will enable them to participate in select activities. Some activities are still restricted to residents only, but your rec center should be able to give you up to date info.

St. Augustine and Tarpon Springs are both wonderful and both can be done in a day trip! BUT, it's going to be very hot in the summer! Tarpon Springs is an interesting old Greek community. It's a little closer than St. Augustine. You can get great Gulf of Mexico seafood. Restaurant recommendation - Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill. They also have a fresh seafood stand. Take an ice chest with you and pick up some fresh fish and shrimp to bring home.

All the things listed are great trips. I just did the My Dora Canal boat ride with lunch at Goblin and really enjoyed it. Duck Dam Diner is very small with great food. Homosassa Springs Wildlife park is a nice half day. About a mile walk and a short fun boat ride. In the Villages, If history is something of interest, the Eisenhower rec center is worth seeing. Fenney has a nice board walk surrounding a small creek.

You can get as many Guest Passes as you need, although not for anyone living in Marion, Sumter or Lake Counties.