What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 10-24-2007, 11:04 AM
cabo35's Avatar
cabo35 cabo35 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 995
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

I'm not sure if this topic has been posted before. I know that the theme parks are a natural, but, perhaps narrow it down a little like, "going to Jimmy Buffett's for lunch." We park at Portofino, walk through the village, get on a free launch, cruise over to City Walk, no admission fee and go to Jimmy Buffett's.

We were pleasantly surprised at a recent visit to the Austin Carriage Museum in Weirsdale, just a short distance from the Villages. We've heard some things about river cruises in Sanford. Has anyone done them?
  #2  
Old 10-24-2007, 03:26 PM
Irish Rover's Avatar
Irish Rover Irish Rover is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St.Charles & Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Posts: 403
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Cabo - here are a couple of options that work for Judy and I. Try Homossasa State Park with your wife or guests. It's a great park with a boat cruise (short but informative) and a great Manatee center as well as bird preserve and wild animal park. I rate it very high for visitors. The other place we like to go is a restaurant called Stumpknockers on the Withlacoochee (?spelling) River. It's near Ocala but a pleasant drive. There is a boat ride there also on the Withlacoochee with Captain Dave. The ride can be one hour or two - your option. Price is right.
Both of these options are fun times. You can get directions for both on the internet or maybe someone can add to this post. I'll be there in Jan/Feb and plan to do both again with a few couples. You are welcome to join us. Reservations are wise for Stumpknockers and the boat ride. If you have trouble with directions, I'll dig out the info and forward it. Have fun. :bigthumbsup:
__________________
Steubenville, OH
Killeen, TX
Cincinnati, OH
South Amboy, NJ
St. Louis, MO
St. Charles, MO
Lake of the Ozarks, MO

"What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about"?
  #3  
Old 10-24-2007, 05:19 PM
Becky Becky is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 511
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Great question! ;D Also does anyone know where the casino trips go? How long, ect? Thanks!

Becky
__________________
Ohio, TV- Amelia
  #4  
Old 10-24-2007, 05:48 PM
nONIE's Avatar
nONIE nONIE is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: De La Vista
Posts: 3,174
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

good question Becky, I would be interested also in the casino trips, anyone know anything about them ???
__________________
Chicago, Il., Upstate, N.Y. Finally a snow FROG

There is no difficulty on earth that enough love will not conquer.
  #5  
Old 10-24-2007, 05:59 PM
cabo35's Avatar
cabo35 cabo35 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 995
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Thanks Irish...haven't tried either but we definitely will. I hope we get a few more leads like yours.
  #6  
Old 10-24-2007, 06:32 PM
DickY's Avatar
DickY DickY is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Village of Duval
Posts: 519
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

I was looking at the Virginia Trace Web site http://virginiatrace.com/ and under AAA Day Trips the calendar has several casino trips.
__________________
Harrisburg, Pa ----------> Village of Duval
  #7  
Old 10-24-2007, 06:47 PM
rballruss rballruss is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: The Villages - Briar Meadow
Posts: 111
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to rballruss Send a message via Yahoo to rballruss
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

A trip to Silver Springs, which is only 30 minutes away, is well worth your day. We were very pleasantly surprised!!!!

As for the Casino trips, we went on one out of Cape Canaveral. It was OK. I don't think I'll make that trip again as I much prefer the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa.
__________________
Baltimore, MD
  #8  
Old 10-24-2007, 06:56 PM
jjdees jjdees is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 600
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

A few years back, friends from Valley Verde took us to a nearby site that had a large pontoon boat. The boat ride toured a couple of local lakes and then went up a nearby river or inlet and it was like entering the rain jungle. Lots of wildlife and really tropical and a memorable experience. Don't know if it's still there. On another occasion, these same wonderful friends took us to somewhere near Ocala in horse country and we took a tour of the area which had a bunch of horse farms with training tracks. The tour was by horse drawn carriage. It was great. And they served us champaign during the tour. Can't beat that.
__________________
Cleveland Ohio, Detroit Michigan, Syracuse New York, Atlanta Georgia
  #9  
Old 10-24-2007, 08:25 PM
chuckinca's Avatar
chuckinca chuckinca is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,904
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Don Garlits Drag Racing and Auto Museum is about a 20 minute drive North from the new Wal-Mart in Buffalo Grove Center - If you like cars, this is the place. He has one of Ike's cars there with a built in 45 RPM player.

http://www.garlits.com/
__________________
Da Chicago So Side; The Village of Park Forest, IL; 3/7 Cav, 3rd Inf Div, Schweinfurt, Ger 65-66; MACV J12 Saigon 66-67; San Leandro, Hayward & Union City, CA (San Francisco East Bay Area) GO DUBS ! (aka W's)
  #10  
Old 10-24-2007, 08:43 PM
jjdees jjdees is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 600
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

I've always passed Garlits on the way in to the Village. I'll have to check it out.
__________________
Cleveland Ohio, Detroit Michigan, Syracuse New York, Atlanta Georgia
  #11  
Old 10-25-2007, 07:31 AM
cabo35's Avatar
cabo35 cabo35 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 995
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Amazing, we have been staying in the Villages for four years and owned here the past two. You guys have given us a list of adventures we were not aware of. Thanks. Keep 'em coming.
  #12  
Old 10-25-2007, 01:38 PM
nONIE's Avatar
nONIE nONIE is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: De La Vista
Posts: 3,174
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Dicky,

Thankyou so much for the GREAT VIRGINIA TRACE website listing day trips and activities. I found so much more Im interested in on that site. Much appreciated! :bigthumbsup:
__________________
Chicago, Il., Upstate, N.Y. Finally a snow FROG

There is no difficulty on earth that enough love will not conquer.
  #13  
Old 10-25-2007, 02:55 PM
chuckinca's Avatar
chuckinca chuckinca is offline
Sage
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,904
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Ringling Bros Circus Museum in Sarasota is about a two hour drive each way.
http://www.ringling.org/circus_museum.asp

Baseball Spring Training Games in many not so far central fla cities

Mt Dora old town shopping district is about 45 minutes South

Blue Springs State Park in Orange City to see Manatees up close about 1 hr East
http://www.planetdeland.com/bluesprings/
__________________
Da Chicago So Side; The Village of Park Forest, IL; 3/7 Cav, 3rd Inf Div, Schweinfurt, Ger 65-66; MACV J12 Saigon 66-67; San Leandro, Hayward & Union City, CA (San Francisco East Bay Area) GO DUBS ! (aka W's)
  #14  
Old 10-25-2007, 02:57 PM
Reliancepeech Reliancepeech is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 19
Thanks: 1
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

Cabo, a great post…. :bigthumbsup:

Crystal River (swim with the manatees)
Buccaneers game (AAARRRGGHH)
Shop Mount Dora (quaint country town an hour east of TV, scenic railway)
Garlits’ museum big thumbs up, close by, interesting
Red Sox at Tropicana Field (more reasonable than Fenway)

A Villages-visitor friend from Cocoa Beach told me “The best thing about the Villages….you never have to leave. The worst thing about the Villages….you never have to leave.” The cozy Villages lifestyle routine seems to develop rather quickly upon moving in.

  #15  
Old 10-25-2007, 03:23 PM
JohnN's Avatar
JohnN JohnN is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,639
Thanks: 6
Thanked 1,741 Times in 629 Posts
Default Re: What are some fun, interesting day trips you can make from the Villages?

This is a great post, thank all.

swim with manatees?? sounds like swim with alligators!!!!!

Closed Thread

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:29 PM.