There are also several Airbnb and **** rentals in the Villages. Some will offer to get you a guest pass, and some include a golf cart.

You can try out a certain area or type of home with those rentals

I don't find the Villages a pleasant place to walk. It is really designed for golf carts, which is does quite well. Most everything can be done with a cart. I stayed there last year for two months without a car and had no issues with access to goods and services. But for walking there is limited options. The golf courses are off limits to walkers (got to play golf) and the pathways are dominated by the carts. There are many great parks and recreation areas near the Villages with wonderful trails, especially if you like nature hikes, if you don't mind driving a little.

Absolutely agree with that advice. Renting is the ONLY way to go, nothing anyone tells you is going to be a perfect "fit" for you. We use a golf cart almost exclusively for everything, even trips to the home improvement places, etc. In "snowbird" season, the lines of automobiles on major highways (like 466A, etc.) can have the cars backed up clear to the highway (due to ONE auto at a time going through the gate, it's quite a site at times). Golf cart can be much quicker and easier to find a parking spot too (carts park TWO to a space). Others, use a car for everything, even to a grocery which are in most (not all cases) really near each village. I walk a LOT daily, the villages does lack sidewalks in many places, but people do a lot of walking here. Pick a village carefully according to YOUR daily living pattern. Like to walk to church ? To the grocery daily instead of a weekly or bi-weekly trip in the car; then choose a convenient village to what you like. We live near a LOT of restaurants and stores. Possible to walk to places like Walmart, etc. Have relatives that might as well live "out of town" their village is so far from most things. It really pays to find your comfort zone, even the golf courses you like best, and then look at homes in the area you like. Don't think there is a lot of difference in the number of activities at each rec center, but there are many activities that are only offered at ONE certain rec center which could be miles away. That is because all the activities here are dependent on the generosity of the talented people who live here and share their expertise with the residents, no one is paid, therefore, every center may not offer ballet classes, or ceramic classes, etc. While most have volunteers who teach yoga, or some kind of exercise, also most have some drawing or painting classes. Once more, RENT first, get a "feel" for what your daily life pattern will be. Not an early riser, not a tennis or pickle-ball player, then do NOT buy a home beside or behind a rec center's courts ! When looking at homes, don't concentrate on the color of the walls or the flooring, look at the trees (are they palms, oaks, "hack-berry", a lot of expense, but some don't care about expense, they just want particular trees). How close are the bushes and plants to the home ? Roots are a major problem here and can cause even more expense as maintaining all the auto-sprinkler system stations can be very expensive (figure $300 if you don't do it yourself, dig up and replace the little filter screens, etc.) and this is something people for get to check out BEFORE they buy a home. Large out of control bushes close to the house, more root problems. Many don't stop to think that in Florida things (more or less) keep growing year 'round, it makes a difference and if you also hire all this done it can really add up to expenses you were not figuring in. Lot's of things to consider.

How do you walk home from a grocery store with things like Milk, eggs, butter, ice cream, etc? This past summer was really hot and sunny.

Lake Sumter is more central but being in the North near Savannah center off of El Camino gives you quick access to most every store you can think of along 27/441 and Rt 466. Restaurants Galore, too many to name, Lowe’s, Aldis, Walmart, Target, Staples, and on an on. It is all a matter of personal preference. Best of luck in your search but I too think you need to spend a good week or two at least to get your bearings and learn for yourself. Also get with a realtor that deals with MLS as they can show you far more homes than the Villages realtors will, as they tend to steer you to the new areas South mostly. Sellstate Realtors, Diane Gatelein, did wonders for us, finding a home 3/2 with oversize lot and golf cart garage, walking distance to our pool and Mulberry Plaza. She will also steer you clear of pitfalls on some homes that are less desirable

Waterfront Inn
 

We just stayed there in October. I hope you are wrong. It was nice.

I agree with other posters. Sign up for a lifestyle visit. We would have but we only stayed 2 nights.

Walking
 

Is unsafe at any speed. To many with poor eyesight and reflexes to. Try the Parks to walk or retail centers

HAHA Believe it or not it makes my right leg ache to have to push it down for 30 minutes straight. Aging sucks!

There are many stores you can walk to just north of 466. Walmart, Publix, Belles, CVS, Walgreens, many banks, Home Goods, etc. These stores are near the Charter High School and Buffalo Glen softball complex. Purchase or view any homes in the Belvedere area. A lifestyle visit is the best way to see The Villages

You need a military gas pedal. Right foot, left foot. Or just cross your legs as you enjoy your ride and the beautiful scenery in TVS!

many who do not drive maintain their preferred method of transport is their own 2 feet - you don't eat much ice cream in the summer months, do you !

Do you have any idea when the connection will happen for the golf cart for the section South of 44?

But if you've got a golf cart that does 30mph it won't take that long. :)

:crap2:

There is a relatively new YouTube channel called “The Villages with Rusty Nelson”. He lives in PA and just started the channel to document going to The Villages and the Lifestyle Visit Program. He starts with calling the Program, setting up a visit, driving to The Villages and documenting his visit. I think it will become “the bible” for visiting The Villages with an eye towards determining if The Villages is for you. Very well done and unbiased.

We have always rented a house for a month...April...with a golf cart included...6 years...now building in Chitty Chatty...we were slow to jump the fence. I want a gas golf cart..I hear newer ones are quieter...husband wants electric...we go all over TV for activities pre covid and will go north for 4 mos on summer. I dont want to worry about batteries in the g c during that time...any thoughts???

There is really no way to over stress renting and staying as long as you possibly can. Getting a real "feel" for this is really important, and the good news is you can then rank your priorities (close to many golf courses, not just close to one or two, walking to Publix, church, being very near one of the many dog parks, or rather be closer to the shopping centers with the BIG MAJOR stores ? There is just so much to consider and though others will tell you (I'm sure) that all villages are pretty much the same, each really does have it's own "feel", vibes, what ever you want to term it. We also have various locations of walking/exercise trails, where you walk and then pause and there is a piece of equipment for a simple strength or endurance exercise, then you continue your walk to the next stop on the trail. Lake Sumter square area makes a nice "loop" walk, do the entire lake front boardwalk (and you can still hear the music if you walk in the evenings, and then continue on the side walk to just make a giant circle on the outer edges streets around Sumter. Also, don't know if anyone mentioned it yet, but a LOT of walking clubs/groups, including women's groups meet at nearly every rec center and are all listed on the activities web site (which you do NOT have to be a resident to access the site, so have her take a look, I think one is called Sole Mates (?) but many groups, some focus on walking for weight loss, other just on physical conditioning, but no hard and fast "rules", if walking off pounds group fits your schedule and location, no one would object if loosing weight is not your main focus, and so on....

It’s already happened.

While it makes sense for you to ask this question the only proper answer is where would you be buying, where do you wish to get to and what do you compare it to?

You can find a golf cart path map. As to walking, you can look up numerical scores for walking. If, I recall the Villages is mid-line. People do walk through the tunnels. My,OPINION, you need to be nuts to do so. The lighting is not great in many of them and they are not wide enough for you to get out of the way from someone who does not see you.

As to food shopping. Because of where we are, we can easily, and regularly do our food shopping by golf cart. It is three miles to winn dixie and three miles to Publix.
We also have Aldis and Lowes about 3 1/4 miles away but they are on a main street that you cannot take a golf cart on to unless it is a street legal one-faster and requires plates and insurance. Not sure what you mean by food shopping. If she is thinking about walking to a luncheonette for a soda and or sandwich you will want to be near enough to one of the town squares that she could walk to. You will want to check and see how walker friendly the paths she will need to take are.

I find it amusing. The Villages, most people are retired. No real need to worry about transit time to get to work on time. Allow time to enjoy the journey.

If you want to live within walking distance to a grocery store you are giving up living in 90% of TV, that's a lot to give up just so you can walk to the store.

My view, how I try to run my life. You can't always, I can make quick decisions BUT, relocating, buying or renting a home, it is an expensive and hopefully long term decision.

You can come back again if you only have/had two nights. The life style visit, it may have changed, we bought 8 years ago. We went to the life style visit three times over three years.
If, I recall, the second time you/we did not get a free movie ticket or a free steak diner. I am happy with what and where we bought.
Making the choice is difficult. In the villages, it is the lifestyle. If, you have an unusual interest, it is likely you will find a club with other, making fun, door knob collectors-there are books on door know collecting. If, there is no club, you can start one.

We have been here six years, wife is still using her original Par Car and I am on my second Star Cart. Both Electric and we go all over The Villages. My wife uses a trickle charger when we are gone for an extended period of time, mine has one built in so we just leave it plugged in.....in six years, never had a battery issue other than replacing them every three to four years. Range is 40-55 miles and if you ride that far in any cart your butt will let you know lol.

Golf cart is a great way to get around in the Villages and there is a good web site you can download called Villages GPS which shows you how to get where you want by cr or by golf cart.
I am an inveterate walker and I find the Villages to be the least walker-friendly place I have been. The sidewalks end well before intersections. You are then left with a choice of dashing across the car traffic or going down the intermodal path and crossing, often through a tunnel, with the golf carts. Personally, I find dodging car traffic to be safer. The only fatal traffic accident that I am aware of in the Villages was a woman walking on the intermodal who was run down by a golf cart.

Can't speak for areas I don't have a lot of knowledge about, but if you live in the greater LSL/SS area, you can easily get by without a car. There is just about nothing you can't easily get to or do in a golf cart. We went without a car for three years without a problem. Ever since we finally got a car at our Villages home, we need to literally find a reason to use it so we actually drive the thing every once and a while. A day trip to the beach or a short drive to the lighthouse seafood market on 466 are about the only time we ever use the car. I love our Villages car, a used BMW convertible that we bought through the classifieds on TOTV, but kind of wish we never got it, the garage had a lot more space with just the two golf carts.

And besides, our border collie, Sallie, absolutely loves golf cart riding. Who need Mustang Sally, when you have Golf Cart Sallie? All she wants to do is ride along Sallie, ride along Sallie Ride, Oh Ya!

So true. When I 1st came to TVs I left my nice Mercedes outside, with a cover, so there was enough room for my 3 golf carts ( One for the parents, mine and the Streetrod). I would uncover the car once a month and take it for a ride. It just got in the way. After 2 years the car never came back.
I find TVs a good place to walk, just not on the golf cart paths. Neighborhoods and executive courses are where I do my walking.

There's a golf cart bridge for that purpose.

I believe that Stonecrest residents are allowed to cross at a light near the entrance of their development but I don't know about Villagers crossing there.

Just use the golf cart bridge.

Ohiobuckeye
 

Your wife must be a very healthy & fit lady, good for her. As far as clubs & activities, you can’t think of any activity that TV don’t have. You’ll like it there!

Everything you need to know is here.

http://https://www.thevillages.com/about-us

The Villages just south of Spanish Springs are an easy walk to the La Plaza Grande strip mall with Publix, Winn Dixie, and several other stores and restaurants.

A cooler on wheels or an insulated bag with an ice pack for smaller orders.

You're never going to be able to hold your accelerator pedal down for 30 minutes. You're always going to have to slow down and sometimes stop.

It's about 12.75 AS THE CROW FLIES from Rte 42 at Mulberry to Fenney. It is over 20 miles to drive it.

Driving in a car I found from my home off St. Charles which is near Sterling Hgts Rec Center, Southern Star Executive is 11 miles to the VA Clinic at Mulberry. By car to the Rohan Rec Center which is 44 and Morse is 9 miles, and Rohan to Fenney is 5 miles.

Here's a very detailed map, you can zoom in and actually see the lots in the entire Villages.

The Villages(R) Community Map - Explore & Find Your Way Around

If you never leave the "bubble" you can get by with just a golf cart. If you think you will want to travel around the state you will need a car. If you need medical care not available in this area and may have to go to Orlando, Gainesville, or Ocala you will need a car. There are a number of good restaurants outside of the bubble but you will need a car to get there. Should you want to go shopping in Orlando you will need a car. I participate in sports activities outside TV but I need a car to get there. My advice, keep a car for the first year and then decide if you need it or not. For me a golf cart is useless and uncomfortable, I'm not a golfer and I like to drive in a heated and airconditioned vehicle when I travel.