[Sandy and Ed]

Go to Two Tails Ranch all about elephants in Williston. Look it up. Had a great time, even got to feed them.

[nick demis]

Cedar Key is a cute town on the coast if you are in the area. A short drive from manatee state park. They are about 1-1/2 hr. drive from here.

[jbrown132]

Originally Posted by jayerose

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

I lived near Lake Sumter and would get my guess passes at the Lake Miona rec center. You can get them before your guests arrive. You will need their full names address, DOB. The address where they will be staying, the dates when they will arrive and the date they will be leaving. One nice day trip is to Mount Dora. Good restaurants and neat little shops. You can also set up a nice boat ride around the lake where there is a lot of wildlife to see

[GRDORNFELD]

Do not forget Kennedy Space Center. An all day trip, a little pricy, but well worth it. Check to see if AAA offers discount.

[bruce213]

Homosassa wildlife Park a great fun, cheep day trip.

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park | Florida State Parks

[WSU]

Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Alfred McKethan Park on Pine Island

[Bellavita]

Yes you get a guest pass for both free if you are a resident.

Take them Golfing
Take them to Homosassa Wildlife Park
take them to Kayak at Silver Springs state park
take them for a walk in Leesburg to Venetian Gardens
Take them to Wild Bills for an Airboat Ride
Take them to Grand Oaks for Lunch
Take them horseback riding at Camp Geneva in Fruitland Park
Take them to Ocala to see World Class Throughbred Farms
Walk the boardwalk in Lake Sumter
Play shuffleboard at the rec center
Play Bocce Ball at the rec center
Drive to Daytona and go to the Museum and tour the track

How much time do you have?

Originally Posted by jayerose

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

[Bellavita]

Pensacola are you serious do you actually know how far that is?

[dennisgavin]

We have a set tour we take first time guests on. We are in MAllory and take a golf cart tour to Spanish Springs, over the golf cat bridge to the historic side and back and then down to Lake SUmter Landing and the boardwalk, THen on to Miona rec center and then Sea Breeze rec center. IT gives a good overview of what The Villages is like. Now with the new bridges we will have to have a second tour to the south.

[Marykschulz]

We like to take visitors on air boat rides. We like Wild Bill’s, but Tom & Jerry’s is ok too. The glass bottom boat rides at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala are pretty cool. If you’re looking for something kinda Florida kitschy, try the mermaid show at Weekee Watchy.

[davem4616]

if you think they might like to see how the rich and famous lived back in the 1920's go tour the Howey Mansion over in Howey-In-The-Hills...Howey ran for Governor back in the day....there's a secret 'speakeasy' in the basement. just down the road on the way back you can stop at an excellent German bakery for lunch, or just pick up some fantastic sweets and bread

watch to see if the Lakeridge Winery might be having a weekend outdoor concert when they're here...always relaxing, bring your own chairs, they have multiple food vendors on site

As others have said Mt Dora is worth a trip...done the canal boat ride, would recommend that too

Keep your eye on what's coming up at The Sharon and at The Savannah...they produce excellent shows

Also, might want to give consideration to taking one of those Village Trolley rides (if they're running...a good way to get a feel for TV, even if it is a sales pitch)

If you go to the beaches...lot's of nice wave action (& sharks) on the Atlantic side

[Hancie2]

Giraffe Ranch Wildlife Park in Dade City and then Lunch on Limoges...need reservations for both. Think AAA has a tour that includes both. Then some shopping after. Nice little city.

[donassaid]

We always enjoy Weeki Wachi State Park. Lots to see and do and enjoy the mermaid show. Great swimming hole as well but "ice cold"

[2newyorkers]

Take an airboat ride.

[dkaufnelson]

My guests have always enjoyed taking an airboat ride to see gators. I just took friends on Swamp Fever airboat rides and they absolutely loved it especially when you get to hold a 3-ft gator at the end of the ride and have photos taken of you. It's about a 30 minute ride from The Villages and you get to ride out on a big beautiful lake then through the swamps and old banyan trees. Very picturesque and nice and cool on a hot day as the boat flies through the lake.