The Villages, Florida is a retirement community in Central Florida for those 55 and older. With a population of over 8,000 and growing, it earned the designation as the countries #1fasted growing micropolitian area. Its residents enjoy top notch golfing, including 20 executive golf courses and 8 championship golf courses. Other amenities include a polo field, woodworking shop, community garden, archery range, 2 libraries, shopping, movie theaters, classes at the Life Long Learning College, and 3 fitness centers. They also have their own newspaper, radio station, and medical center. Most residents use golf carts as their main transportation.

One unique feature of the community is its charter school. Although no one under 19 is allowed to live at The Villages as it is a 55+ retirement community, the school provides employment opportunities. The students reside in Marion, Sumter and Lake counties.

Those wishing to reside in the community have three options. They can build a home, move into one of its newly built properties, or purchase a pre-owned one. Costs to build a home start at around $138,000. New homes start at around $140,000 and go up to over $400 for lakefront properties. Properties for sale start at $54,000 for a manufactured home and go up to over 800,000 for a premier home on both lake and golf front property. The Villages offers a wide variety of homes, from lake front cottages to designer showplaces.

Visitors under 19 are allowed for 30 day periods. Since The Villages is just 45 miles away from Orlando and all the family friendly attractions it holds, there are several hotels in The Villages and located nearby. They include the Hampton Inn and Suites (rates start at $79 per night), Holiday Inn Express and Suites (rates start at $89.95 per night), Comfort Suites (rates start at $89), Waterfront Inn (rates start at $129 per night), Microtel Inn (rates start at $69), TownPlace Suites at the Villages (rates start at $109), Lady Lake Guesthouse and more.

For more information on The Villages community, check out their website at www.thevillages.com. You can take tours of the homes available, sign up for their newsletter and more.