I see this is your first post. :welcome: to TOTV.

I also notice you are 57 years old. You will find people your age bracket in TV, as some people retire early, (lucky stiffs). :D

Even three days will go by in a blink of an eye. If your shopping needs are not met with the stores on 441, one can go to Ocala. Tampa and Orlando are an hour away if one wants to see big name acts/entertainment. I think the level of entertainment in TV is adequate or way above average depending on who you see. You can find anything you need with shopping around TV and then there's always Amazon/online shopping.

TV is not depressed in any way shape or form. Please take the time to discover all the options. The lifestyle here is fantastic.

The only downside is, they're a lot of chain restaurants so if you are a foodie, one might have to search for better restaurants in surrounding towns. I think as we get older, one must control the amount of food we take in, so TV restaurants work for me. I don't have selective taste buds but that works for me.

BTW - One big upside to living in TV, is you get younger the longer you live here! :smiley:

Both Tampa and Orlando have pretty decent performing arts centers with Broadway road shows, concerts and many other events. The Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale books some interesting acts. The Sharon books a wide variety of acts. I've yet to find a ballet company to my liking around here, but, all in all, I can't complain. Well, I can complain about the lack of good museums (and do). That is one thing I truly miss.

There are some cute shops in Lady Lake and Leesburg. TV itself does have a few shops that are not truly cookie cutter although the vast majority are chain stores.

The reality is that TV can fulfill most of our needs for food, clothing and entertainment at fairly reasonable prices. While we're a captive audience, the prices seem to remain fair and competitive for the most part. (I've found The Sharon to be a bit overpriced for the acts provided, but not entirely unreasonable.)

I do agree that three days really isn't enough time to get the flavor of TV. At best, you'll get a tiny nibble. I would say that two weeks is the minimum needed to see what all the hype is about, with a month or more being optimal.

Acts
 

I think they try to book the acts that the villages majority relates to growing up. I would like to see more diversity also.

From the age of nine I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. That's on the westcoast about a 90 minute drive south on I-75 from The Villages. You will find that most people that move to Florida settled near the coast, that's what my parents did 57 years ago. My wife's best friend since grade school, and who is still living in Baltimore, can't understand why we moved to central Florida. She's been to Florida many times and takes a half a dozen cruises a year as a retired travel agent, but has never visited The Villages.

That's why central Florida appears the way it did, with one exception, Walt Disney. What he did with Orlando and of course Universal, Sea World and many others followed, is what the Morse Family did in creating The Villages in the middle of nowhere. However in the 25 years of The Villages' main progress most retailers and restaurants have moved to us. You just weren't able to see them with only a single day visit. The Villages is 35 square miles and still growing. Many business are located not directly inside but next to The Villages. We actually do almost no shopping at the squares, they are mostly comprised of eateries.

On Hwy 441/27 on the east boundary you'll find Kohls, Target, Sam's Club, Bealls, Ross, Belk, Stein Mark, Best Buy, Lowes, Home Depot, Circuit City, Bed Bath & Beyond and many more. Restaurants will include Outback, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse, Chilis and many smaller and local eateries.

Running east to west through the heart of The Villages is CR 466. On that road you'll find Walmart, Marshalls, Bealls, Home Goods, Fresh Market and many casual dinning locations. Such as Bob Evans, IHOP, Perkins, Arbys, McDonalds, Duncan Donuts, Burger King and many more.

The only major stores we are lacking would be Pennys, Sears and Macys, and those 3 stores are in Paddock Mall in Ocala. That's about a 30 minute drive north on I-75.

Paddock Mall | Ocala, FL Shopping Center

If you're into more choices, drive another 30 minutes north on I-75 to Gainesville and the Newberry Exit to Oaks Mall. They don't have the crowds that Orlando has, but they have a mall just as big as Florida Mall in Orlando. You'll find almost all the typical mall stores at Oaks Mall.

Shopping Mall In Gainesville '|' The Oaks Mall '|' The Oaks Mall

OP. Some people have better instinct's than others. I sensed the thrill of this operation instantly. I drove from O.T. of T.W to TV. You may want to do the same. No place is perfect. Really try to absorb the information the people have offered to you in the threads above. People here have a way about them here, they want to help. I gave in to the GPS even though I'm old school and prefer a map. When I pulled over to get situated 3 different golf carts stopped to make sure we were OK. I would guess anything you will need is accessible here or someone on TOTV can help you find the things you require. Good Luck.

You can go an hour south, and just off 75 find:

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlet/tampa

or

Home at The Shops at Wiregrass | Wesley Chapel

It took me about five minutes to figure out that I was in an amazing place.

Ocala also has Dicks Sporting Goods and Dillard's. If you want more upscale shopping Tampa's International Plaza has Neimans, Nordstrom and many other upscale stores.