[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Being a bit spontaneous, my strategy is to plan very little in advance and take things as they come. The thing you will find is there is so much activity available that you will have no trouble keeping busy and entertained. Some of my favorites, as a wanabee are:

Breakfast at TooJays (also lunch) and I favor the one at Sumter, though the one as SS is good as well. Katie Belles Sunday brunch buffet is a favorite and Golden Corral is stellar as well. Cracker Barrell is always a good breakfast choice as well.

All of the country clubs have excellent food; I feel that Lopez, Glenview, and Palmer are slightly more upscale, while Mallory and Cane Garden are slightly more relaxed and informal. Mallory has great lunch and dinner specials imho.

Bonefish Grill, The Lighthouse, and Red Lobster are all good for seafood, with Bonefish holding the lead for us.

Redsauce for Italian, Ay Jalisco (sp?) for Mexican.

Instead of taking my word for any of this read the gourmet club reviews. http://home.comcast.net/~thevillages...lub/page1.html

The town squares are a must if you like live music, dancing, people watching, and cheap drinks. Eat early and go, or do like I do and enjoy happy hour with several drinks, then chose a nearby eatery later.

Visit several of the big Rec Centers, Lake Miona, Seabreeze, and Laurel Manor are my favs -- all are beautifully decorated and appointed.

Karaoke at McCalls at SS is fun and the restaurant has decent bar food. You won't beleive how many really good singers are in the Villages!

If you want to take a few practice swings, the driving range behind (north of) Wal Mart off 466 is very nice. I think it is Buffalo Ridge.

I would recommend playing two of the Championship courses if they offer two rounds with the LSP, as they did when I took it. If you use the two round on executive courses you are shorting yourself, unless you simply want to play quick, short courses. I played Palmer and Cane.

Go to market night at least once at each square, and check for other special events such as Cruise In ( old cars ) or Yesteryear club (tricked up golf carts).

As has been mentioned, take the trolley tour as soon as you arrive in order to get your bearings.

There are dozens of open houses every day - we like to go to four or five a day to get familiar with different styles, floorplans, neighborhoods, etc.

As has been stated, go to the neighborhood pools and talk to people there and at the squares to get the skinny on what folks think about the lifestyle. If you get less than 95% enthusiastic positive feedback, you will be the first!

TV is a Golf Cart friendly community, take advantage of the complimentary cart and explore, explore, explore.

Have a ball, I know you will!!!!!!

When I was renting in TV earlier this month I attended the art show at Lake Miona Rec Center -- what a lovely building. I will be back in TV in October -- I will need to check out Seabreeze and Laurel Manor. Thanks for the suggestion.

Attending open houses is also fun and educational. Some agents (both TV sales reps. and MLS agents) are definitely more personable and easy to talk to than others when they are hosting an open house.

[Yorio]

The best thing we did when we stayed with the Lifestyle Package was to take a bus ride from the sales center at Sumter Landing. It's free and a volunteer will explain the main points. I'd do it the first thing when you have time. Then when the sales person takes you to show you some houses you'll have an idea of where you are in reference to two centers, for example.

[784caroline]

I hope you have been visiting other locations where you think you may want to retire to. Ifs that the case you should have no problem comparing TV to the other locations where ever they may have been.

If you have not looked at other locations or if even the thought of moving from your current home is going to be the problem. people that move here are moreso open minded who want and enjoy change. Even looking at the the best of places. like TV, if you come closed minded, it will be a difficult sell.

Enjoy your visit..prepare like all the previous posts have recommended and ENGAGE in activities. What you dont want to do is simply sit around and let time fly past you....you can do that in your currnet home!

[jgbama]

Lots of good suggestions have been posted. We've been down 6 times for a week each. On a couple of our first visits, after a busy day, we took the cart over to the area off the bridge, above Lake Sumter, on Morse Blvd. and watched the sunset. It was the most relaxing experience. I had my arm around my wife and we discussed some of the events of the day and what we liked or wanted to check out more. It was both romantic and helps you unwind from a busy day and make plans for the next day.

The second suggestion is to visit the little ponds across from the Savannah Center. There are on the entrance to Glenview. They are tiered with a little water fall. We went around 5pm and just set there in the cart parking area enjoying the beautiful ponds, flowers and birds. This is a favorite area many folks bring their grandkids and some bread to feed the fish. We met two of the most delightful gentlemen who rode up with their dogs in the cart. We struck up conversations and asked lots of questions. Two hours later, we decided we better get something to eat.

As suggested, if it is your wife you want to "sell" on TV, then let her decide on some things she'd like to do. Don't be a "cruise director" and plan her every minute. Take her on a scenic cart ride through the moss covered magnificant oak trees along Buena Vista and Stillwaters Dr. There are some park benches there under the trees and just a beautiful setting. Make a lot of time to just relax and absorb the beauty throughout TV. She will be sold!! We sure were.

Don't forget to take in a polo match while you are there too.

Best of luck!