[Avista]

You will see Buffalo

Originally Posted by 2Wheels

A BIG THANKS to all of you for your ideas. I think I'll copy this thread the day before we leave and take it with me (paper of course).

We are really excited about this trip to TV and we'll try to jam in all we can.

The Trolley tour is the 1st thing on the 1st day. Buy Map. The live music also at night (would have liked to see Rocky & the Rollers but they're not playing during our visit). And Yes, those club houses and rec centers were impressive looking in the video, we'll check those out as well.

6 days will not be enough...

We live in a 55+ community in a semi-rural area of Arizona and like to go out at night in the Golf cart to "hunt" the wild life. Any chance we would discover something interesting out there at night in TV? Gators? Or would the bugs just see us as good dinner

The squirrels here are HUGE.

There are tortoises here too. http://www.nsis.org/wildlife/rept/turt-tort.html I came close to hitting one when looking out for other drivers in a heavy downpour near one of the Villages' various round-abouts. The tortoise was crossing the road.

Some rabbits. Armadillos.

It is rumored that one of the local ponds in the Villages has a 6 foot alligator but I have yet to see it. I have not looked very hard for it though. :bigthumbsup:

If you really want to see alligators after you move to FL, take a trip to Lake Tarpon. It has thousands of gators. http://www.laketarpon.org/ http://lapstrake.blogspot.com/search.../lake%20tarpon It is about a 90 minute to 120 minute drive from the Villages.

I used to summer in my teens in Apache Junction, Arizona. This is near Superstitition Mountain. http://www.arizona-leisure.com/super...-mountain.html There is a lot less dangerous wildlife around here in the Villages, than around Superstition Mountain. And, the critters around here seem to have a lot more to eat.

[Patty]

I've seen on 2 consecutive nights this week a red fox up by the Mulberry Grove Rec Center. (Northern end of tv)
Both times it was around 10:30 pm.

[villages07]

2wheels....actually, one surprise you will find is the absence of bugs (very few mosquitos) in TV...not sure if it's because we're inland or the fairly reliable breeze or all the pesticides that are sprayed, but, bugs are a non-issue. Only the annoying (but harmless) love bugs that come out in Sept and May. Enjoy your trip....it'll be fun. I agree with the posters who encouraged you to keep the golf cart...it is such a key part of what makes the Villages special and unique and a great way to see the community close up at slow speed.

[handieman]

Watch out for me, I have a "wild life" ;D

also

Try to catch the Soul Brothers at Bourbon Street in SS and Rocky and the Rollers where ever they are :bigthumbsup:

Handie :joke:

Check out these travel web-shots about the Villages. http://travel.webshots.com/album/555...NAwXh?start=12 You can get an inside look of Katie Belle's as well as other shots.

[gigi22]

Besides what everyone else has said, I would suggest going to some of the Open Houses while you're there. It will give you a chance to see the different style homes and you can ask the realtors some questions. We had a realtor show us some houses, once we narrowed down which style homes we like. Take advantage of the free things you're offered, like two free rounds of golf, dinner at the various restaurants, etc. We had no intentions of moving, but once we visited, my husband was ready to put a 'for sale' sign in our front yard. We visited, again, two months later, then did just that. Enjoy! PS The first time we went down, we came down with friends and we both rented golf carts, along with a car. It was more of a vacation trip. The second time, we didn't rent a golf cart, because we were seriously looking around to see where we would want to live.

[vitacr]

All good ideas - when you go on the trolly tour - ask at the Sales Center for a calendar of activities for the month of September. It is published with our Daily Sun paper every month. It outlines when the "market" days are and what entertainment group is performing at each square, Katie Belles and the Church on The Square. If you're coming on "2 wheels" - note we have 2 motorcycle clubs in TV - the NOMADS and the Village Goldwing Club. We have found gorgeous scenery "riding" in the Ocala horsefarm area. Good luck - enjoy our lifestyle

[2Wheels]

Well finally we're flying into Orlando tommorrow (Wed 9/5) and we'll be hanging out in your 'hood for a week. We just can't wait to get there...

Thanks for all the feedback and great advice.

See ya real soon... ;D

[chuckinca]

Tiki Bar and pool at Orange Blossom Hills CC

http://www.thevillages.com/golf/cham...ossomHills.htm

[tbsoccer]

I have just joined this forum this evening so if it sounds like I'm fumbling it's because I am.

My wife and I stopped by TV last a year ago to see an uncle while we visiting in Florida. We were fasinated with The Villages' concept so we spent the rest of the afternoon on the Trolly Tour and talking to a sales rep. Over the next 10 months we kept up with the life at TV through the Daily Sun (on line). Then in July we rented a home in the Duval Village and spent a week there. One recomendation that I would add is to attend the CDD orientation on Thursday morning. They do an excellent job (in about 2 hours) explaining the government, taxes, bonds, etc. Also look in the paper for activities at the Church on the Square and don't miss the music on either town square.

On the Life Style tour, you'll get a guest ID card which entitles you to 5 free meals (a great value on great food), movie tickets, golf, discount on TV polo shirts and tennis. Our house was 4.5 miles from Sumter Landing and we don't play golf so the cart wasn't necessary (although we rented one for a day but only used it for 3 hours). Take advantages of all of these opportunities.

The radio station is very good, the newspaper is OK but the TV TV station sucks. It shows the same half hour news prorgam continously all day long. I would also go onto the TV web site and look at homes for sale and then visit some open houses in the styles that interest you. (I like the more established neighborhoods rather than the new construction.)

Be aware that the sidewalks roll up at 9 pm, including the grocery stores. Wal-Mart is open late by it's about 6 miles from Duval. At 14 mpg, that about a half day's travel in a golf cart.

We are looking at selling our home in Pittsburgh in Spring 2009 and possibly moving to TV in the summer. It's a great place for active adults who are looking for a full-time vacation.