Thursday, July 7, 2011

Top Restaurants in The Villages, Florida

The Villages, Florida has countless offerings for excellent meals, from fine dining establishments to more casual eateries.  The national chain Bonefish Grill has a location at 3580 Wedgewood Lane in The Villages.  While operating just one restaurant that features excellent food and consistent service is tough, managing a successful chain that appeals to demanding tastes is truly a daunting challenge.

Bonefish Grill originated in Florida to give fresh, fabulous seafood a new modern vibe and fusion of spices.  From the Bang Bang Shrimp and Chimichurri Fish, to a hip and contemporary bar scene with chef-worthy cocktails, Bonefish delivers.  All fish and ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the dishes are unique blends of cuisines from all over the world.

Another spot that’s popular with locals is Toojay’s Villages II, located at 1129 Canal Street in The Villages.  Visitors come back over and over again for the excellent food and attentive service, which is friendly even during the busy lunchtime crowds.  Vegetarians will love the Veggie Rueben, and a favorite side is the Creamed Spinach.  Toojay’s also has excellent pastrami and other deli sandwiches, as well as bagels and pastries.

The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grill, at 925 Lakeshore Drive in The Villages, is a great place for fantastic seafood and pub grub.  The prices are reasonable, the burgers are fabulous, and the view overlooking the lake is amazing.  With a focus on southern hospitality and cuisine, there are many deep fried, crispy specialties, but the Lighthouse manages to throw a unique spin on each dish.  The Onion Straws are excellent and even the French Fries are exceptional.  However, because seafood and Southern fare are the focus at The Lighthouse, don’t miss the house specialties on the regular menu and daily specials.

Fun Activities and Historic Landmarks of The Villages, Florida

The Villages, Florida is an exciting destination location which is popular due to its many fun attractions and outdoor activities.  One great location for fun in the sunny Florida weather is Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost and Resort.  The spot has excellent canoeing on the tranquil Ocklawaha River, and the experience levels start from the basic beginner to experts who enjoy longer and more exciting paddles.  As far as camping facilities, there are amazing luxury log cabins that offer all the comforts of home.  For the more adventurous and rustic adventure, campers can pitch a tent anywhere on the grounds.  No matter which spot you stay, all visitors will find a courteous, professional staff that is committed to meeting every need.  The Outpost provides you, your family or your group everything you could want to have a vacation of fun, adventure and relaxation.  It is located in the heart of the wilderness and there are secluded tent camping sites on the fringe of the Ocala National Forest.  For the children, there is a fishing pond, playground, recreation room and a private boat ramp, as well as facilities for bingo, ping pong, volleyball and a host of other fun-filled activities.

A water-filled adventure awaits visitors to Wild Waters waterpark, located right next to the lush grounds and natural beauty of Silver Springs, near Ocala, Florida.  This water attraction an exciting place where the whole family can chill out on a warm summer day.  Visitors can soak up the sun on our man-made beach, or keep cool out of the sun in the shade of our giant oaks and palm trees.  The adventurous can ride the surf or relax on a tube in the park’s 450,000 gallon wave pool.  There is also the twists and turns of the exciting waterslides, such as Osceola's Revenge, Bunyan's Bend and the Mini Monster.  For those seeking a true thrill, dare to tackle the three-story-high Hurricane or 220-foot-long Silver Bullet speed flumes.

There is plenty for the smaller children at Wild Waters, as well.  Younger kids will enjoy the Cool Kids Cove, which is a multi-level fun zone.  Also, the park has the shallow pools of the Tad Pool.  Wild Waters offers cabanas for rental for families who want some privacy and a little shelter from The Villages hot sun.  Each Cabana will accommodate up to 10 people.  Cabanas can be located along side the Wavepool, where guests can easily stroll over to the Surfs Up Snack Bar or the Pizza Palace.

The Villages, Florida Real Estate Market

The real estate market in The Villages, Florida is starting to show signs of movement, and there are many great properties available at good prices.  There are also numerous distressed priced properties that are ideal for investment in the current economy.  As a result of the market heavily favoring buyers, there is a significant amount of inventory available at great prices that will start to rise in coming months.  The Villages is a fantastic and exciting place to live, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in Florida and the world.  The region is a center for digital media and bio medicine industries.  The Villages is in close proximity to the 9th busiest airport in the U.S. and is warm & sunny all year round.

The Villages real estate market is experiencing declining housing inventory at a level that compares to the red hot housing market in 2005.  With the existing inventory level at approximately just under five months, the median price for existing homes has risen for the third month.  The area real estate market has seen a significant improvement in sales during 2009.  However, despite steady growth in 2010 and continuing in the first quarter of 2011, home prices and the current economic market show that there is still progress to be made.  Reputable market indicators have forecasted a 9.8% price drop for 2011, which forecast is derived as the percentage ratio between the average sold property and the actual listed property.  In other words, the average listed property in 2009 was $201,143 and the average sold property was $136,066,  showing a 36% difference.  The true issue is when these numbers will be closer together and approach equilibrium, and the answer is anyone’s guess.  However, most real estate and market experts agree that The Villages is looking at least another year before bottoming out.

Currently, there is an average of 10.5 months of unsold housing inventory in place, which is considered a significant amount as compared to the normal six months.  There are a huge amount of upper scale properties in The Villages where prices continue to come down.  In fact, some of the lower price areas have already seen a bottoming out, though the luxury properties are still far behind.  There are currently a large number of properties over $500,000 for sale in The Villages area, with the average price at $1,155,930 and the days on the market being 301 days.