Things to Do in The Villages, Florida

Eastport Emerald Escape sits in the vibrant southern end of The Villages — minutes from Eastport Square and Sawgrass Grove, and a short golf-cart or car ride from Brownwood Paddock Square. The Villages is the country's largest master-planned community, and it's packed with golf, live music, dining, and easy day trips across Central Florida. Here's how to make the most of your stay.

Town Squares & Nightly Live Entertainment

The heart of The Villages is its town squares, each with free live music and dancing every night of the year. They're open to everyone — grab dinner, listen to a band, and soak up the atmosphere:

• Brownwood Paddock Square — the closest major square, with a ranch-and-rodeo theme, restaurants, shops, and nightly entertainment.
• Lake Sumter Landing — a waterfront Main-Street square with boutiques, lakeside dining, and a market on the square.
• Spanish Springs Town Square — the original square, with a classic Old-Florida feel and frequent themed events.
• Eastport & Sawgrass Grove — the newest entertainment districts in the southern Villages, right by the home, with waterfront dining and a food-truck pavilion.

Golf

The Villages is one of America's premier golf destinations, with dozens of executive and championship courses woven throughout the community, plus practice ranges and golf academies. Whether you play a quick executive nine or a full championship round, tee times are never far away.

Dining & Shopping

Each town square has its own collection of restaurants — from waterfront seafood and steakhouses to casual pubs, cafés, and ice-cream shops. Sawgrass Grove's food-truck pavilion and the markets at Lake Sumter Landing are local favorites. Everyday shopping, groceries, and pharmacies are just minutes from the home.

Recreation & the Outdoors

Beyond the squares you'll find pickleball, tennis, walking and biking paths, and the home's own community pool and lake paths for an easy morning stroll. The region's lakes and preserves are great for fishing, kayaking, and birdwatching.

Day Trips from The Villages

The home's central location makes Florida's best attractions an easy drive:

• Orlando theme parks (Disney, Universal) — about an hour southeast.
• Florida's natural springs — Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Juniper Springs are roughly 40–60 minutes away for crystal-clear swimming and glass-bottom boat tours.
• Crystal River — swim with manatees on the Gulf coast, about an hour west.
• Mount Dora — a charming antique-and-lakeside town about 40 minutes away.
• Ocala & horse country — world-famous horse farms and the Ocala National Forest, about 30–40 minutes north.
• Beaches — both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are roughly 90 minutes by car.

Getting Around

The Villages is famously golf-cart friendly, with hundreds of miles of cart paths connecting neighborhoods, squares, and shopping. By car, Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about an hour away, making arrival simple. Eastport Emerald Escape offers self check-in with a smart lock so you can start exploring the moment you arrive.