[NCDragon]

Greetings all,

My wife and I will be visiting The Villages for one day as part of our upcoming vacation. We've been reading a multitude of threads about what to see while visiting, which makes me wish that we had 5 days to visit instead of 1!.

My question is... what should we plan for as a MUST-DO during one day? We do plan to buy the $5 map from the real estate office to at least visit/see all the neighborhoods and some of the squares. Also, being a disabled vet I plan to see where the new VA hospital is. Other than that; we'll be happy to take the advice that you can give us and hope that we can give your list a good run through. Thanks in advance for your input and your patience!

[l2ridehd]

Arrive early and stay late. Buy a map, buy a paper, do the trolly tour mid morning, ride around both town squares during the day, have lunch at Toujays, visit 2 or 3 model homes listed in the Daily Sun, go to a town square at night, have a nice dinner at Palmer or Lopez and talk to as many people as possible.

[starflyte1]

As l2ridehd suggested, take the trolley ride as it is very informative. It starts from the sales center at Lake Sumter Landing and travels around The Villages with a guide telling about TV. Call the sales center to get the times. It is free and no pressure. Takes about 45 minutes.

[Avista]

I would start with the trolley ride and then talk to a sales rep. They will take you around and are NOT high pressure!

[CMANN]

Figure out how to stay longer!

[ilovetv]

Do the above suggestions and also book a Lifestyle Preview stay for about 5-6 days this winter.

[tpop1]

Our first visit was one day also - we had owned in sarasota for 9 years and were not happy there.

One Sunday with nothing else planned, we decided to tak a ride up and see what people(other Sarasota people) were talking about.

We went to the LSL Sales Center and were connected with a sales rep - Susan Berman - who provided what turned out to be a guided tour.

She showed us the various neighborhoods, styles of houses, squares, rec centers and pools, etc.

Got a 50,000 foot view of the place and fell in love. Did a Lifestyle visit the next year!

She was good, kept in contact with NO pressure.....so when we were ready to buy 2 years later, she was our agent!

[tippyclubb]

As someone else stated arrive early and leave late. We were there in September and also had a one day visit. We fell in love and do plan on returning for a LS visit.

We spent around 3-4 hours with a sales agent looking at various homes so when we do retire we at least know what type of home suits us best. We looked at new homes and resales.

The trolley tour was informative and you really get a good look at how beautiful TV is. I highly suggest this tour.

We wanted to eat at one of the restaurants so we ended up at Red Sauce and were able to talk with many residents. We were pleasantly surprised how friendly people were and everyone we talked to had nothing but good things to say about living in TV.

After dinner we headed to LS square and enjoyed the band and socialized with TV residents. We met a wonderful couple who gave us a ride to SS square in their golf cart so we were able to see both squares, and enjoyed the golf cart ride as well.

Enjoy your quick visit and talk with as many residents as possible. They are very friendly and its good to get information from the people who live there.

[swimdawg]

Originally Posted by CMANN

Figure out how to stay longer!

Oh yes!! You won the SWIMDAWG Post of the Day Award!

[The Village Girl]

Originally Posted by swimdawg

Oh yes!! You won the SWIMDAWG Post of the Day Award!

[Snowbirdtobe]

Rent a golf cart and drive around both squares.
We stayed at the Waterfront Inn in Lake Sumter Landing and walked the square at night.
We came for one day and stayed for another and then another. We went off on our vacation and returned after one day. By the end of the week we had bought a home and are now snowbirds.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Snowbirdtobe

Rent a golf cart and drive around both squares.
We stayed at the Waterfront Inn in Lake Sumter Landing and walked the square at night.
We came for one day and stayed for another and then another. We went off on our vacation and returned after one day. By the end of the week we had bought a home and are now snowbirds.

LOVE IT!!!!! TV is a vacation!

[Pturner]

Welcome, DCDragon!

I agree that the trolley tour and a visit with a sales agent, evening at one or both squares and dinner at one of the TV restaurants is an excellent choice.

By connecting with a TV Sales Agent, you will not only experience NO pressure, but you will almost certainly be invited back for an inexpensive Lifestyle Preview, which includes a golf cart, bicycles, golf and restaurant privileges.

Meal suggestions:

Breakfast: Toojays (There is one at both squares)
Lunch and Dinner: One of the country clubs and one of the restaurants at Lake Sumter Landing.

Check the newspaper for specials at the restaurant.

Have a great time and please let us know what you did and how you like it.

p.s., Have a Kool refreshing TV special drink on me.

[angiefox10]

We drove in to look around. We were just checking it out! We were on vacation in Orlando and spent every day after that driving to The Villages. We had more fun there then we would have if we had stayed in Orlando. oh.. and we didn't even rent a cart.

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

We drove in to look around. We were just checking it out! We were on vacation in Orlando and spent every day after that driving to The Villages. We had more fun there then we would have if we had stayed in Orlando. oh.. and we didn't even rent a cart.

I didn't realize that you could do that. I read in another post that there are some places to stay in T.V. besides the homes set aside for the Lifestyle Visits.(?)