[Bill1701]

You can get to everything north of the turnpike via golf cart, but it may take you over an hour depending on where you start and where you end. As far as walking goes, yes you can walk to stores, etc., but be aware that there are no sidewalks within most neighborhoods. Sidewalks are usually only along the main roads, such as Moyer Loop. etc. Also, crossing the major roads such as 466A and 44 can be tough because there are no crosswalks at the intersections. You can walk through the MMP tunnels but that is taking your life in your hands.

[par_geo]

Adding my 2-cents worth. This place is big...as mentioned by many. For the most part, the only "popular" shopping places you cannot access in a golf cart without also walking across a main thoroughfare are Home Depot, Sam's Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, Michaels, and Best Buy. In 2013, the Village Property realtors would tell you there were 105 miles or so of cart paths, not including the golf courses....it's more, now. Oh yes, you can't get to Universal Studios or Disney World in a cart from TV...YET...I'm starting the rumor that the Morse family is planning to annex Clermont next.

[rmd2]

Originally Posted by mike1946

On the East side of 27/441 (over the golf cart bridge to the historic section) there is a golf cart entry/exit which if you take the track northwards you will also be able to access places not on the villages e.g Wal Mart, Aldi, Lowes, Bealls and many others. Travel further north and you can access a 27/441 crossing then head south and you can get to the Shops of Spruce Creek which has many useful shops and restaurants e.g. a Comcast store, a very good jewellers that does any kind of watch and clock battery & and a particular favourite the Sams St. John Seafood Restaurant. It's a bit of an expedition but it can be done. Wouldn't really recommend walking anywhere - this place is enormous I think by the latest news I have it's over 75 square miles and growing. Good Luck p.s. Town Place suites in in Spanish Springs and also the Holiday Inn Express and another one nearby are all golf cart accessable to the villages.

The Comcast store moved to 441 and Rolling Acres Rd.

[rmd2]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

Simple answer...The Villages is several miles longer from north to south than the City of Chicago.

Yes it is definitely more than 12 miles from north to south in The Villages. It's more like 20 miles.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by par_geo

Adding my 2-cents worth. This place is big...as mentioned by many. For the most part, the only "popular" shopping places you cannot access in a golf cart without also walking across a main thoroughfare are Home Depot, Sam's Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, Michaels, and Best Buy. In 2013, the Village Property realtors would tell you there were 105 miles or so of cart paths, not including the golf courses....it's more, now. Oh yes, you can't get to Universal Studios or Disney World in a cart from TV...YET...I'm starting the rumor that the Morse family is planning to annex Clermont next.

You are only referring to those stores in the northern section of TV, there are plenty more in the central and southern sections that are not accessible by golf car and never will be such as Lowes, Publix, ABC, Aldi, several fast food establishments and lots of popular restaurants both north and south.

[JoMar]

I also agree that the best way to get a "feel" is to rent for at least a month. If you don't have the time for that then the Lifestyle Preview is your best bet. If you are looking to possibly move here there is a difference in amenities between north and south of 44, if your wife is a walker south of 44 will suit here better then north. In 2021 the north and south will be connected, and the Brownwood area will be the central (geographic) location of TV. Several years after that Brownwood will be in northern part TV and will probably be known as The Historic Side .

[LianneMigiano]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

You can get to anything in The Villages north of 44 via golf cart including supermarkets, restaurants, country clubs, county govt. offices, and medical centers. Areas south of 44 are scheduled to be connected real soon now. We have found that we can get to everything we need via a golf cart.

Be aware that there are some businesses on the other side of the road from The Villages that are not accessible via a golf cart; they look close but you can't get there.

There are sidewalks or multi-modal paths (MMP) that can be used to walk everywhere in The Villages. The only issue might be distance - The Villages is something like 12 miles north to south.

There is at least one hotel that is golf cart accessible; there might be more but we haven't looked into that.

We live in Villa Valdosta in Belle Aire village. It is almost 3 miles to the top of The Villages from our house. My daughter bought a home in Monarch Grove and it is 17 miles south of us. That makes The Villages more like 20 miles in distance north to south (and headed to the Village of Orlando???? HA HA)

[tbrock555]

Wow, thanks for all the answers, did not expect to get so many. Renting for a month does seem to be the best bet and what we are looking at after seeing how many are available. The walking is much more important to my wife than me, she says she does not want to depend on me to always drive her, she does not drive . Tried explaining to her a golf cart is different than a car, maybe when we visit she will get it. I have seen a lot of people mentioning the "Life Styles Visit", is there a particular place I need to find out about that? And yes, actually visiting a place is the surest way to find out about it but just trying to know as much as I could before that. You guys have been very helpful, thanks again.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by rmd2

Yes it is definitely more than 12 miles from north to south in The Villages. It's more like 20 miles.

Chicago is 214 blocks from 138th St to Howard St. 8 blocks to a mile would make it 26.75 miles long.

[crydzanich]

I saw a golf cart, not an SSV, cross from Walmart on 441 to the McDonalds across the street.

[Silliness]

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

[danome]

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.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

I would suggest renting for a month to check things out as nothing anyone tells you will be a substitute for seeing for yourself. It's too big to see in just a week.

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.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

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.

[Dennys37Packard]

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