Had a great time in the Villages
 

My husband and I just got back to Michigan after spending 5 days in the Villages. It was everything everyone says and more! We met some great people and every where I went I asked the opinions of the people living there. I honestly thought I would find some possibly negative or mediocre answers...I was wrong....EVERYONE loves living there!!! I took the advice given to us by Talk of the Villages, we went on the trolley ride, went to Katie Belles, saw a movie, I drove a golf cart for the first time, had breakfast at Too-Jays, ate at quite a few of the other restaurants..I must say, it's quite hard coming home! Hope to see everyone soon and thanks for all the great info you have given us!

Trish

I'm so glad you enjoyed the place I call home. Come back soon!

This made me smile!

So nice to hear.

The good things are just beginning.

Sounds great. Would you mind sharing whether or not you found the golf cart travel to the various town squares / restaurants etc. lengthy or o.k. time wise or mile wise. Basically, did you use the golf cart for all travel...or find you also had to use your auto?

We've rented a house , which is north of the Polo Grounds, for one month and were wondering if it might be better doing our exploring in our rental car?

We plan to stay at the Waterfront Inn for 2 or 3 days when we first arrive, so perhaps that trolley ride would acclimate us better? Once we get the keys to the house, we'll have the golf cart.

We do have the big map from the Villages Mercantile Store and have a general idea of where things are, however, the mileage seems to be a bit off. Also, being that the golf cart that comes with the house is electric, not sure how far 70 miles round trip would last.

Thanks in advance for any pointers or advice from your recent experience.

Trish, thanks for sharing your joyful experience. We can so relate! :wave:

You'll get a better feel for The Villages if you travel by golf cart. Take a map, you'll get lost anyway, but just pull it out and people will help you. Your location is fine for travel all over The Villages. Plug the cart in each time you come home, you'll be fine.

Trish:

i'm glad you had a good time. It sure does go fast doesn't it?

Words cannot describe how wonderful TV and it's people are.

Sounds like you'll be back before you know it.

Thank you. I've sent you a p.m.

We used both the car and the cart but I found the cart to be the most fun. I am a very impatient person and tend to drive too fast in my car at home but the cart was wonderful, relaxing and you can really pay attention to everything around there. The trolley ride does give you a good taste of the Villages and you will learn a lot but I would probably drive around in the car first (just to get used to everything)..then use the cart..much easier to park and great for stopping to take pictures. Have a great time (and, by the way, I am soooo envious!!).

Good advice....thanks.

I'm not looking at the map at the moment, but It seems to be a bit to the northern edge of TV as it's on the Nancy Lopez golf course. The Polo Grounds are below this area. How long do you think it would take by golf cart to get to Lake Sumter Landing? Probably better to take the car, right?
Thanks in advance.........appreciate it.

Very good advice....appreciate. I can imagine it would indeed be easier to park the golf cart. Thankyou.........

I was so glad to read your post about your 5-day visit. I am getting to leave for TV on Wednesday for a 5-day stay also. Did you stay in one of the Creekside Cabanas? How were the accommadations? My daughter is coming with me since my husband can't make the trip this time. Did 5 days give you enough time to really experience life at The Villages? It sounds like you really enjoyed your stay.

Senior Citizen, I drove a golf cart for the first time this past Thursday. My landlord's friend was gracious enough to take me for a driving lesson. If you have never driven a golf cart, I would recommend that you ask your landlord or an experienced golf cart driver for a lesson. It is a little different than driving a regular car. I felt comfortable enought this morning to drive from the rental unit in the Village of Chatham, near Nancy Lopez Country Club, to Spanish Springs. Took me about 40 minutes, but that includes pulling off to the side for about 3 minutes and some gracious couple stopped and assured me that I was headed in the correct direction to Spanish Springs on the golf cart path that runs along El Camino Real. On the way back from Spanish Springs another gracious person (a TV employee) saw my confusion as to how to get the golf cart trail leading back to El Camino Real, and he had me follow him to the Savannah Center were he works. Took me about 35 minutes from Spanish Springs to get back to Chatham. I've not been playing speed racer on the golf cart, so an experienced cart driver who knows exactly where they were going could probably have made the same drive in 25minutes. But I'm on vacation and a golf cart rookie, so if it takes me 10 or 15 extra minutes to get somewhere so be it.

On this trip I don't think I will venture in the golf cart from Chatham as far as Lake Sumter Landing, as that would probably take me as an inexperienced cart driver too long (for my comfort level), but it certainly can be done driving in a golf cart from Chatham to Lake Sumter Landing.

I can't speak to the electric cart issue as the rental villa I'm staying in came with a gas cart. I've gone to a few open houses while I have been here (in Buttonwood, Del Mar, Lynnhaven and Belle Aire) and I drove to all open houses in my rental car since I'm not familiar with the golf cart paths in the various parts of TV. I love the rental villa in Chatham, but if I were ready to actually buy in TV now, I probaly would buy in a village further south -- closer to 466 or even south of 466 closer to Lake Sumter Landing.

Definitely take the trolley ride from the Sales Office at LSL. It takes about 45 minutes, and last year when I took the trolley, the trolley went over by the Polo Club and over to Pennecamp and Buttonwood plus other places I can't remember. Just my two cents. Enjoy your time - I wish I could stay here for a month! :wave: