[crash]

Originally Posted by alexthompson

My wife and I will be staying in The Villages for a Lifestyle Visit for a week during the holidays. We are not golf or pickleball people, but we love activities and clubs.

We will be in Florida for an additional week exploring.Where should we visit?

Try Top of the World but there are no others where you can do everything from doctors, shopping, eating out and even the hospital by golf cart.

[msilagy]

There is a Del Webb very close to the villages. If you and your wife prefer a smaller environment then there are many scattered throughout Fl. Check them out - Margaritaville type over on the coast near Daytona that looks nice and might appeal to many built by Jimmy Buffet. I wish you the best. My only comment is the Villages is a one and only!

[Aviator1211]

Be sure to ask your Villages agent to show you the Hacienda country club and Katie Belles

Originally Posted by Smalley

You could visit "On top of the World" in Ocala or Lake Ranch in Sarasota. We visited the On Top....in Ocala and it pales in comparison with TV. They claim the houses are built with better quality which may be correct but it's nothing compared to the beauty of TV or out activities.

While the OP is asking about clubs; an important "in the know" distinction about On Top of the World is that it has two types of home ownership sections. The older section a person can own the townhome or individual house but it sits on "100 year leased land" where you pay monthly lease/lifestyle fee and never own the land. The second type in the newer section one can actually own the land once house is paid off.

If seriously interested in buying there be sure to research which type of land the house sits on. The two distinctions are/can be a contention to some of the long standing residents there. It's a "small world after all" as far as amenities.

Relative to use of amenities in OTotW, homes on land NOT owned entitles owner to only certain clubhouse amenities. Owned land entitles owner to ALL amenities in OToTW. They distinguish. T V you can use ANY rec center and ANY pool etc.

OToTW is a very nice community but is no where near T V relative to the thousands of vast choices offered here. I have family who currently lives in OToTW.

If you are looking to pretty much get to know everyone in the community, it's a cozy place. It too is expanding but is no comparison to the level of development of T V.

[Ibelieveinfaith]

Water Oaks in Lady Lake and please ignore the rude comments not everyone here is like that. Enjoy your visit.

[bowlingal]

Village Community Development Districts is the website you need to use. If you go to the recreation tab, you will find all the clubs listed ( about 3000) plus all other information regarding the villages

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Ibelieveinfaith

Water Oaks in Lady Lake and please ignore the rude comments not everyone here is like that. Enjoy your visit.

Isn't that a trailer park????

[sowtime444]

I have not read this book, but Ryan from the website "inside the bubble" (a guide to The Villages) has written a book comparing other retirement communities called "Pick the Right Place" Pick the Right Place

Also, if you are going to try and get closer to the beach, although the Atlantic side has bigger waves, they are also more likely to have red flag days (no swimming) and the Tampa/St. Petersburg area is overall generally nicer than the Daytona area.

Also be aware that central and north Florida does have a winter of sorts. If you want to swim in the ocean year round and never have to turn the heat on or wear a sweater, you have to go to South Florida.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by alexthompson

We are not golf or pickleball people, but we love activities and clubs.

My wife and I weren't either, until we moved here. To my way of thinking, the key to maximizing your retirement lifestyle is to have options. There isn't another retirement community in the world that has the depth and breadth of available activities compared to The Villages.

[SusanStCatherine]

Check out the 55places.com website for other communities. It's not 100% accurate since it says no new homes in Thb Villages. But it will give you an idea of the size of each. We looked at Solivita, Margaritaville, and a few others. Riverland by GL Homes in Port St Lucie seemed to come the closest to what The Villages offers from those we looked at. Hubby needed a big garage and that's why he wanted to buy here.

If you buy near a coast, your homeowners insurance will be extremely high. If you buy on the southwest gulf coast, it will be brutally hot in the summer but warmer in the winter than other areas of Florida. Good luck!

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by villageuser

Del Webb Spruce Creek a little bit north of The Villages is a great 55+ community with a lot of activities, and less traffic than the Villages. Harbor Hills in Lady Lake is another favorite of mine. Great walking trails, near the Harris Chain of Lakes and the Villages, and a lot to do. A little more north, in Ocala, is Summerglen, which has a great golf course, if you’re into that, and a great restaurant on site, besides other activities. If you don’t mind going South, I’d check out the Country Club of Mount Dora. It’s an older community, but I love going to visit there. Plus it’s near downtown Mount Dora, with all it has to offer. If you want more information, do not hesitate to reach out.

Spruce Creek has only 3,250 homes, compared to over 71,000 in The Villages. The Country Club at Mount Dora has about 30,000 residents, about a quarter what we have here. Harbor Hills has 400 homes and, I believe, one pool and clubhouse. If you want a wide range of clubs and activities, The Villages offers much more. For example, I like to play and sing bluegrass music and country music, and I perform at three bluegrass jams per week. I can’t do that many other places. We have a Shakespeare club, an Old Time Radio club, bands and orchestras, perhaps several hundred card clubs, and on and on. If one group is too advanced or easy for you, there are others that are a better fit. I was invited once to a function of the Michigan Club. Hundreds of people there from Michigan! It’s weird, but there it is. There’s a club for women who hold doctorates of some sort. They get together monthly to dine and make contacts. About seventy women show up! That’s hard to do at a smaller place. Bigger isn’t always better, but it does often make it possible to cater to more interests.

[Duppman]

Originally Posted by alexthompson

My wife and I will be staying in The Villages for a Lifestyle Visit for a week during the holidays. We are not golf or pickleball people, but we love activities and clubs.

We will be in Florida for an additional week exploring.Where should we visit?

Before we decided on The Villages, below was our starting point. IMO it was very helpful.

55+ active adult retirement communities

[PVR]

Check Thursdays Daily Sum . There is a separate section on some of rhe clubs.

[Michael 61]

I researched and travelled to many 55+ communities throughout the US from coast-to-coast prior to retiring. Although there are many beautiful retirement communities, none can hold a candle to The Villages, which is in category all by itself. If one wants a very active retirement with a high emphasis on social, athletic, and recreational activities, then The Villages is the #1 choice. If one wants a more quiet, serene, subdued, smaller retirement community, then there are many great options for those in that category. Isn’t it great to have options of where we choose to retire? It’s important to do your homework and research a few years before retirement, so you’re ready to make an informed decision when the time comes to relocate.

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by PVR

Check Thursdays Daily Sum . There is a separate section on some of rhe clubs.

Wherever you decide to retire, scout the amenities and clubs before buying. It will be heartbreaking if you find the amenities are always full and the clubs you are interested in are not accepting new members. If you choose to buy in the Villages, carefully look at all areas. Make certain you will be comfortable with the amount of residents who use the amenities or attend each club. Stop by any rec center and pick up a copy of the clubs in the villages. Read it carefully. Each club will state if they are accepting new members and their guidelines. While you are visiting, attend some clubs to get a feel for the group.