[collie1228]

Hi everyone. My significant other and I will be visiting TV for the first time for a five day Lifestyle Preview starting on Sunday. We are not yet ready to retire, but are within a couple of years (assuming the financial markets recover in time), and want to begin exploring our options, starting with TV. The folks on this board are so helpful and knowledgeable I thought I would ask for assistance before we arrive. We have arranged for a rental cart and two rounds of golf (one each at an Executive Course and a Championship Course - unknown which ones yet), and we plan to take the trolley ride on arrival before we do anything else, just to get the "lay of the land". Obviously we will be looking at properties and neighborhoods, and will probably spend some time around a pool or two. What else do you suggest we plan to do in our five day stay? We don't want to miss anything important. Can you think of any "must sees" that we should be looking at? Thanks for the help.

[swrinfla]

collie:

Beware! You may suddenly find yourself inundated with ideas and invites and all that sort of stuff!

My advice is simple: take every opportunity to explore the area, if for no other reason than to get a feel of how the older areas compare with the newest (landscaping, accessibility, ambience, etc.). Visit both squares, as they do have different personalities, and some folks are extremely partialto one or t'other.

Meanwhile,

SWR

[njgranny]

We are here now doing our Lifestyle preview. It's been a really enjoyable time. We just did the trolley tour this morning, and it is worthwhile.

Having fun with the golf cart. We went out with our sales rep the second day here. We're not ready to buy yet, but we wanted to see the homes in the newest area.

We've been taking advantage of the "freebies" they give you and have gone to
restaurants that we might not have if we hadn't had the coupons. Everything has been a good experience.

Watched the music in the square a couple of nights, went swimming and have just driven around in the golf cart and with the car to acclimate ourselves more.

Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure you're going to have fun.

[Sidney Lanier]

Was just about to post some of what SWR just posted. If you have any idea what area or specific villages you're partial to, I'd park somewhere and just mosey around a little. Use the golf cart to just wander around. Talk to residents who aren't rushing off somewhere and have a little time to talk with you; the town squares are a great place for this, and Villagers are extremely friendly. Visit a couple rec centers--say a smaller local one and a larger regional one. Take a look at shopping in the area. There's a real wealth of stuff; take advantage of as much of it as you can. And GOOD LUCK!!!

[graciegirl]

Don't miss Colony Cottage....It is so.......overdone, It is ...nice. And eat at the restaurant at Lake Sumter, not Gators. Go to Katie Belles.

[Peggy D]

Have a blast!

[livsea2]

Colony Cottage? What and where is that? I don't remember it, is it new?

[JohnN]

Colony Cottage is at the south end near 466a by the new Publix,
where basically all the new construction is located.

For the lifestyle preview, I'd be sure to talk to as many folks as possible.

I was amazed at how friendly and how clean TV is - I drank the koolaid and bought!!!

[collie1228]

Thanks everybody for the advice. We are looking forward to our first taste of the kool aid!