Ultimate Guide to The Villages and Vicinity

Recreation And Beaches

When traveling away from your home, you will want to make sure to pack all your beach essentials for the day to help prevent dehydration and sunburn. Those essentials include: - Sunscreen - Hat - Sunglasses - Water - Towels - Umbrella - Waterproof device case(s) - Float straps for your devices - A large beach bag

Eisenhower Regional Pool & Recreation Center

13 locals recommend

Eisenhower Regional Pool & Recreation Center

3560 Buena Vista Blvd

13 locals recommend

Eaton's Beach Sandbar & Grill

- Eaton’s Beach is a 20-minute drive from the Villages and is a stretch of sandy shoreline located on Lake Weir. - They have jet skis, pontoon boats, and seaplane tours. Fishing Boating Swimming Hiking

48 locals recommend

Eaton's Beach Sandbar & Grill

15790 SE 134th Ave

48 locals recommend

- Eaton’s Beach is a 20-minute drive from the Villages and is a stretch of sandy shoreline located on Lake Weir. - They have jet skis, pontoon boats, and seaplane tours. Fishing Boating Swimming Hiking

Hunter Springs Park

- This 2.27-acre park features a white sandy beach, kayak launch, playground, pavilions, and bathrooms. - If you enjoy kayaking, they have a kayaking company that will allow you to rent a kayak and use their accessible kayak launch to get out on the water and enjoy your day. - There is a $5 parking fee for the whole day or $2 for two hours. Hunter Springs Kayaks Guided Tour - You can book a guided tour with Hunter Springs Kayaks that will take you on a 3-hour journey to experience beautiful springs, islands, caves, and wildlife. Guided tours locations include: - Three Sisters springs - Halls river - Casshowitzka river - The King’s Bay is known for its manatees, The Crack is a remote salt spring, and the Seven Sisters is an underwater salt-fed cave. - You can book a guided tour here for $65 per adult.

67 locals recommend

Hunter Springs Park

18 NE 2nd St

67 locals recommend

- This 2.27-acre park features a white sandy beach, kayak launch, playground, pavilions, and bathrooms. - If you enjoy kayaking, they have a kayaking company that will allow you to rent a kayak and use their accessible kayak launch to get out on the water and enjoy your day. - There is a $5 parking fee for the whole day or $2 for two hours. Hunter Springs Kayaks Guided Tour - You can book a guided tour with Hunter Springs Kayaks that will take you on a 3-hour journey to experience beautiful springs, islands, caves, and wildlife. Guided tours locations include: - Three Sisters springs - Halls river - Casshowitzka river - The King’s Bay is known for its manatees, The Crack is a remote salt spring, and the Seven Sisters is an underwater salt-fed cave. - You can book a guided tour here for $65 per adult.

Rainbow Springs State Park

Rainbow Springs State Park is a 45-minute drive from the Villages and a very beautiful park with its gardens, manmade waterfalls, and sapphire-blue waters. 19158 SW 81st Place Rd They are open 365 days a year from 8 am to sunset and the fee is $2 per person. There are many amazing activities and amenities to choose from at the Rainbow Springs State Park. They include: - Birding – Witness woodpeckers, wading birds, hawks, songbirds, and owls - Paddling – Canoe and kayaking rentals - Gardens – Entire headsprings area are bursting with pinks, purples, and whites from azalea blooms - Concession – Sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and soft drinks - Geo-seeking – Use location coordinates to find caches - Hiking – Take a stroll through the gardens and waterfalls with benches located along the path - Swimming – Swimming area is 5-18 feet deep with a water temperature of 72℉

224 locals recommend

Rainbow Springs State Park

19158 SW 81st Pl Rd

224 locals recommend

Rainbow Springs State Park is a 45-minute drive from the Villages and a very beautiful park with its gardens, manmade waterfalls, and sapphire-blue waters. 19158 SW 81st Place Rd They are open 365 days a year from 8 am to sunset and the fee is $2 per person. There are many amazing activities and amenities to choose from at the Rainbow Springs State Park. They include: - Birding – Witness woodpeckers, wading birds, hawks, songbirds, and owls - Paddling – Canoe and kayaking rentals - Gardens – Entire headsprings area are bursting with pinks, purples, and whites from azalea blooms - Concession – Sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and soft drinks - Geo-seeking – Use location coordinates to find caches - Hiking – Take a stroll through the gardens and waterfalls with benches located along the path - Swimming – Swimming area is 5-18 feet deep with a water temperature of 72℉

Crystal River Preserve State Park

It is a one hour drive from The Villages, Florida, to the Crystal Springs State Park. - Parking is between $1 and $5, depending on your length of stay. - The Crystal River Park is the most accessible spring on King’s Bay. - The park features a natural shoreline and beach, bathrooms, changing rooms, a kayak launch, and a boardwalk that is perfect for viewing manatees. - Each winter, hundreds of manatees will return to the springs for their warmth and shelter form the colder waters.

26 locals recommend

Crystal River Preserve State Park

3266 N Sailboat Ave

26 locals recommend

It is a one hour drive from The Villages, Florida, to the Crystal Springs State Park. - Parking is between $1 and $5, depending on your length of stay. - The Crystal River Park is the most accessible spring on King’s Bay. - The park features a natural shoreline and beach, bathrooms, changing rooms, a kayak launch, and a boardwalk that is perfect for viewing manatees. - Each winter, hundreds of manatees will return to the springs for their warmth and shelter form the colder waters.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa beach is about two hours away from The Villages and it is a beach that is well worth the trip. If you are driving into Florida, you’ll want to find your way to I-95 and head south. Get off I-95 at Exit 205A — Route 528 (Beachline) East. Once you cross the IntraCoastal Waterways, you’ll reach Port Canaveral. The Beachline then turns into A1A, leading you right into the heart of Cocoa Beach. - Cocoa Beach has six miles of ocean beaches with three oceanfront parks with restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Activities include: - 27-hole golf course on Banana river - Tennis complex with lighted courts - Wide range of dining choices - Tours of Banana River Lagoon by boat or kayak - Cocoa Beach has four parks with beach access, parking, and restrooms. - The four parks and fees are: Alan Shepard Park – $15 Sidney Fisher Park – $15 Lori Wilson Park – No fees Robert P Murkshe Memorial Park – No fees

673 locals recommend

Cocoa Beach

673 locals recommend

Cocoa beach is about two hours away from The Villages and it is a beach that is well worth the trip. If you are driving into Florida, you’ll want to find your way to I-95 and head south. Get off I-95 at Exit 205A — Route 528 (Beachline) East. Once you cross the IntraCoastal Waterways, you’ll reach Port Canaveral. The Beachline then turns into A1A, leading you right into the heart of Cocoa Beach. - Cocoa Beach has six miles of ocean beaches with three oceanfront parks with restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Activities include: - 27-hole golf course on Banana river - Tennis complex with lighted courts - Wide range of dining choices - Tours of Banana River Lagoon by boat or kayak - Cocoa Beach has four parks with beach access, parking, and restrooms. - The four parks and fees are: Alan Shepard Park – $15 Sidney Fisher Park – $15 Lori Wilson Park – No fees Robert P Murkshe Memorial Park – No fees

Clearwater Beach

It is about a two-hour drive from The Villages to reach Clearwater Beach, home of white sand beaches and clear Gulf waters. There are many different recreational activities you can participate in. - Motorboat rental - Deep-sea fishing - Dolphin tours - Spa Clearwater Beach has a trolley service that can transport you through the beach

1870 locals recommend

Clearwater Beach

Gulf of Mexico Drive

1870 locals recommend

It is about a two-hour drive from The Villages to reach Clearwater Beach, home of white sand beaches and clear Gulf waters. There are many different recreational activities you can participate in. - Motorboat rental - Deep-sea fishing - Dolphin tours - Spa Clearwater Beach has a trolley service that can transport you through the beach

St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a two-hour drive from The Villages. St. Augustine is located on Anastasia Island, known for its 42 miles of ocean-facing beaches. Along with beaches, St. Augustine has many attractions you can check out, some attractions are: - Military forts - Stately castles - A spiraling lighthouse - Nature trails There are several different beaches you can visit in St. Augustine: - Anastasia State Park - Crescent Beach - Frank B. Butler County Park - GTM Guana River South Beach - Island Beach Shop and Grill - Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park - North Beach - South Ponte Vedra Beach - St Johns County Ocean Pier - Vilano Beach St. Augustine has many different activities to participate in: - Fishing - Surfing - Kayaking - Sailing - Nature walking - Boogie boarding

821 locals recommend

St. Augustine

821 locals recommend

St. Augustine is a two-hour drive from The Villages. St. Augustine is located on Anastasia Island, known for its 42 miles of ocean-facing beaches. Along with beaches, St. Augustine has many attractions you can check out, some attractions are: - Military forts - Stately castles - A spiraling lighthouse - Nature trails There are several different beaches you can visit in St. Augustine: - Anastasia State Park - Crescent Beach - Frank B. Butler County Park - GTM Guana River South Beach - Island Beach Shop and Grill - Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park - North Beach - South Ponte Vedra Beach - St Johns County Ocean Pier - Vilano Beach St. Augustine has many different activities to participate in: - Fishing - Surfing - Kayaking - Sailing - Nature walking - Boogie boarding

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is an hour and a half drive from The Villages. 250 N Beach St – Daytona Beach FL - There are countless activities to choose from while visiting Daytona Beach’s 23-miles of sand, like golfing, shopping, arts, and sports. - Daytona Beach also offers beach wheelchairs for people needing assistance, which makes this a good beach for people with wheelchairs to enjoy. - Daytona Beach has dozens of beachfront parks that allow you to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

517 locals recommend

Daytona Beach

517 locals recommend

Daytona Beach is an hour and a half drive from The Villages. 250 N Beach St – Daytona Beach FL - There are countless activities to choose from while visiting Daytona Beach’s 23-miles of sand, like golfing, shopping, arts, and sports. - Daytona Beach also offers beach wheelchairs for people needing assistance, which makes this a good beach for people with wheelchairs to enjoy. - Daytona Beach has dozens of beachfront parks that allow you to explore and enjoy the outdoors.

The Beach Club at The Villages

The Beach Club at The Villages is a group of beach lovers who plan days out at the beach. A few popular beaches they have visited are: - Clearwater Beach - Madeira Beach - Anna Maria Island - New Smyrna Beach - Nokomis Beach They plan a full day to travel by bus to the beaches where they can relax, enjoy food and drinks, and enjoy time with friends. The fee covers transportation, tip, and water and a snack on the bus. The fee is $49±.

The Beach Club at The Villages

The Beach Club at The Villages is a group of beach lovers who plan days out at the beach. A few popular beaches they have visited are: - Clearwater Beach - Madeira Beach - Anna Maria Island - New Smyrna Beach - Nokomis Beach They plan a full day to travel by bus to the beaches where they can relax, enjoy food and drinks, and enjoy time with friends. The fee covers transportation, tip, and water and a snack on the bus. The fee is $49±.