November Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

We are winding our way towards the end of 2019 and preparing to head into another holiday season filled with family, friends, and fun. But the holidays aren’t the only thing happening around the Villages of Citrus Hills this month.

In addition to whatever you have planned with your loved ones, our friends over at the Activity Center also have plenty of excitement on deck for the month of November. So, whether you are looking for social events, educational opportunities, a little friendly competition, or just a great meal, we have plenty to keep you busy all month long.

The Big Show Series

The Big Show Series will make its triumphant return to the Activity Center Auditorium when Summer Breezin’ takes the stage on Friday, November 1. This tribute to Seals & Crofts and America will be performing two different shows starting at 6 pm and 8:15 pm.

The Big Show Series will also be bringing Orleans to the Activity Center Auditorium stage on Thursday, November 14 at 6 pm and 8:15 pm. This is the original band that you know for hits like “Still the One” and “Dance With Me.”

Social Events

The first big social event of the month will be the Activity Club Showcase & Member Social on Sunday, November 3 in the Activity Center Auditorium from 1 pm to 3 pm. This showcase is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about all of the fantastic clubs that exist in our community.

If dinner and a show is what you are looking for, then you’ll want to be in the Hampton Room on Thursday, November 7 for Yesterday Once More, which will be a tribute to the music of The Carpenters. The dinner menu for this event will include Chicken Piccata and Sliced London Broil in Mushroom Sauce.

Monday, November 11 is Veterans Day, and we will be celebrating in the Hampton Room with the 16th Annual Veterans Day Dinner Dance. This year’s buffet menu will include Bourbon Salmon and Thin-Sliced Prime Rib, then there will be live music courtesy of Lisa Beck from Rock Solid.

The 4th Annual Car & Truck Show will be taking place on Sunday, November 17 from 9 am to 3 pm in the Activity Center Parking Lot. Everyone is welcome to stop by to check out the coolest vehicles in our community, and you can register to have your vehicle participate at the Activity Center.

Tasty Trivia Tuesday will be back in the Hampton Room on Tuesday, November 19. This month’s theme is going to be “Television,” and the menu will feature Caprese-Stuffed Chicken and Sliced London Broil in Mushroom Sauce.

Art & Education

The Activity Center will be hosting an AARP Smart Driver Course on Saturday, November 9 starting at 9 am. This course offers a great refresher on important topics like defensive driving techniques and it can provide helpful updates on new driving laws.

Doc Talk will be back in the Activity Center Auditorium on Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 pm. This month’s speakers will be discussing everything you need to know about Colon Cancer Prevention.

Representatives from Countryside Animal Clinic will be speaking in the Activity Center Auditorium on Thursday, November 21 at 6 pm. Topics for this Speaker Series event will include “Hot Topics in Veterinary Medicine” and “Acupuncture 101.”

Golf & Tennis

Competitive golf events will be happening throughout the month with the Giving Thanks Open on The Oaks Course on November 2, the Veterans Day Scramble at Skyview on Monday, November 11, and the Skyview Men’s Better Ball Tournament closing out the month on November 25 and 26.

If you are looking to improve your game, you might want to check out one of the Free Golf Clinics with PGA/LPGA teaching professional Mary Slinkard. She will be working with beginners on November 4, 5, and 6. Then there will be clinics for intermediate golfers on November 11, 12, and 13.

Another option for improving your golf game this winter is participating in the “Newbie” Nine-Hole Golf League that plays every Thursday on The Meadows Course.

This month’s Free Beginner Tennis Clinic will be held on Tuesday, November 12 at the Skyview Tennis Center. This is a perfect introduction to tennis that requires absolutely no prior experience or equipment.

Dinner Specials

Skyview Restaurant is taking us around the world with their November dinner specials. Some of the highlights this month include Taste of Spain Wine Dinner on November 5, French Cuisine Night on November 14, and Bay Scallop Night on November 16.

The Grille is planning a fabulous Thanksgiving Day Buffet that will feature all of the turkey day classics, as well as Carved Prime Rib, Carved Honey-Baked Ham, and Peel & Eat Shrimp. The buffet will be up from 12 pm to 5 pm on Thanksgiving Day, and reservations will be required.

BellaVita Spa

Our friends at BellaVita Spa are also getting into the holiday season with specials like a Pumpkin Spice Pedicure and a Pumpkin Spice Massage. So if you happen to find any free time to pamper yourself this month, that is where you want to be heading.

Between everything happening and whatever else you might have planned with your family and friends, there is no doubt that November is going to be a very busy month here at the Villages of Citrus Hills. Make sure you get the most out of it by marking some of these activities and events on your calendar and enjoying them!

Choosing Your Home: How Much Square Footage Do You Really Need?

The Westchester Floor Plan

Deciding exactly how big you want your new home to be here at the Villages of Citrus Hills is one of the first steps that every new home buyer struggles with. And while it can often be hard to imagine the difference between 2,200 square feet and 2,800 square feet, the difference in size is a very real factor that must be given a serious amount of attention.

Whether you are planning to downsize from a larger home, upgrading from a smaller condo, or looking for something right in the sweet spot for a perfect retirement lifestyle, there are more than a few options to be had here in our community. In order to get to the heart of your needs, all you have to do is ask yourself the right questions.

How Much Home Can You Afford?

The first factor that comes into play when deciding how much square footage someone needs in their new home is how much they can actually afford. Understanding what your new home is going to cost is a great way to come around to a starting point on how much space you can actually afford.

Once you have a rough estimate of what your new home is going to cost, you can quickly figure out a reasonable range of home sizes you have to choose from.

Do You Plan on Staying Here Forever?

How long you plan to call this new house your home is another critical factor that you are going to want to spend some time thinking about. If you are only planning to spend a few years in this house, you have less to worry about.

However, if the goal is for this new house to be your “forever home,” then you are going to want to nail down each and every detail to make sure that you enjoy your lifestyle here for years to come.

What Does Your In-Home Lifestyle Look Like?

Another way to look at the same question is to examine what your lifestyle will look like once you are moved into your new home. Are you the type of family where everyone needs their own separate space? Or are you comfortable with everyone sharing the same open living spaces?

There are no right or wrong answers here, so the trick is to be completely honest with yourself on how you and your family will ultimately occupy the space you are building.

Do You Need Your Own Personal Space?

With so many of our floor plans offering extra bedrooms and flex rooms that can be converted into different kinds of spaces, this is also a time to be honest with yourself about how much personal space you are going to want to have in your new home.

If there is any chance that you are going to be taking up a hobby like scrapbooking or crafting that will need a dedicated space, this is the time to make sure that you are going to have the square footage to accommodate those activities.

How Often Do You Expect Visitors?

How often you plan on hosting visiting friends and family is another factor that can increase the amount of square footage you will need in your new home. Just as you are going to want to know whether you need dedicated personal space, having a spare room ready for visitors will require extra square footage that you need to account for.

Once again, there are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. It is also important to remember that today’s open floorplan designs maximize square footage in a way that older homes simply can’t compete with, so the same amount of square footage is going to feel much bigger in a modern home.

Regardless of how much square footage you ultimately decide on, you are going to love everything about your new lifestyle here at the Villages of Citrus Hills.

Let’s get started talking about your new home in our community!

October 2019 Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

We’re rolling into the month of October and with all of our snowbird friends heading south for the winter, it’s setting up to be a very busy month here at Citrus Hills.

Between all of the social events, educational talks, sports competitions, and delicious dinner specials, there is an almost endless amount of ways to keep yourself busy in our community this month.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the things you are going to want to have circled on your calendar this month.

Social Events

The first social event of the month will be the Shalom Social Club Dinner at Skyview Restaurant on Friday, October 4. On the menu this month will be your choice of New York Strip Steak, Chicken Piccata, or Bourbon Salmon.

On Friday, October 11, the action will be in the Hampton Room for the Rockabilly Dance Party featuring live music from Sherry & The Rockafellas. Doors open at 7 pm for this event, and there will be Costume Contest Prizes announced at 8 pm.

Tasty Trivia Tuesday will also have a Halloween theme this month with questions revolving around all of your favorite monsters. The competition will happen in the Hampton Room on Tuesday, October 15, and the menu this month will include Shepherd’s Pie and Roasted Pork Loin Dijonase.

We might be well into the fall season, but the Sizzlin’ Summer Show Series has one more concert set for Thursday, October 17 in the Activity Center Auditorium. Rocky and the Rollers will be the featured band for this one, and they will be switching things up a bit and performing an unplugged show.

A fun event this month will be the Halloween Costume Party at Skyview on Wednesday, October 30. The Halloween-themed cocktails will be flowing, and there will also be prizes for most creative, best duo, and spookiest costumes.

Arts & Education

The Activity Center Parking Lot will be hosting an Autumn Farmers’ Market and Craft Fair on Saturday, October 13 from 10 am to 2 pm. In addition to the local vendors, there will also be live entertainment and local food trucks spicing up the event.

Doc Talk will be back in the Activity Center Auditorium on Tuesday, October 22 at 10 am. The Grove Health & Rehabilitation Center will be our guests this month, and their representatives will be discussing everything you need to know about diabetes health management.

Dr. Aparna Bapat will be our guest for Lunch & Learn in the Garden Room on Monday, October 28. The presentation will cover healing and health maintenance through food and lifestyle regulation, then lunch will feature a Zucchini Burger served with a Cilantro Chutney.

Golf & Tennis

Our golfers will be getting right back into the swing of things with the Ghost Open on the Meadows Course on Saturday, October 5. That will be a great event to get ready for the Skyview at Terra Vista Men’s Club Championship on October 28 and 29.

If you need to put in some work on your swing this month, our very own Mary Slinkard will be leading free golf clinics for beginners on October 7, 8, and 9. Then she will be back to work with intermediate golfers on October 14, 15, and 16.

The regular Free Beginners Tennis Clinic will be held on Tuesday, October 8 at the Skyview Tennis Center. That will be a perfect way to prepare for the exciting Tennis BurgerFest mixed doubles event that is scheduled for Sunday, October 20.

Dinner Specials

Skyview Restaurant is going all out with some new weekly specials like Lobster Roll Wednesday, Oktoberfest every Friday in October and our Sunday Brunch on October 27. Plus, you won’t want to miss out on Bayou Night on October 10.

Other great dinner specials to keep an eye out for this month include Pulled Pork Night at the Tiki Bar on Saturday, October 12 and Taste of Germany at The Grille on Sunday, October 13.

BellaVita Spa

When you find your free time, take some time to pamper yourself over at BellaVita Spa with their European Rose Mud Body Treatment on special all month long.

With so many things filling up our calendar in October, you should have no problem keeping yourself busy throughout the entire month. Make sure that you mark these events on your own calendar so that you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

Benefits of Living in Citrus County



Florida is a big state with a wide range of different options that appeal to different people for different reasons.  

But if you are considering relocating to the Sunshine State, Citrus County, which just so happens to be the home of the Villages of Citrus Hills, presents one of the best options you could choose for a number of reasons.  

Residents of Citrus County are in a position to enjoy all of the best aspects of Florida at the same time. They get to experience the famous Florida climate. They are right next to the Gulf Coast, while still not too far from the Atlantic Coast. Great cities like Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville are just a short drive away, and the entire region is filled with amazing state parks and forests.  

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most significant benefits of living in Citrus County: 

53% Will Never Be Built On 

Many people who relocate to Citrus County don’t realize this fact until after they move here, but more than half of the county is protected areas that will never see any type of construction. This assures residents that Citrus County will never suffer from becoming overbuilt the way other parts of Florida have.  

Ideal Climate 

The location of Citrus County along the Gulf Coast near the central part of Florida gives it one of the best climates in the entire country. The average high in the summer is in the low 90’s, and the average low in the winter is in the mid-40’s. This moderate climate allows residents to avoid the cold winters without having to endure the 100+ degree summers that residents find in southern Florida and Arizona.  

Low Cost of Living 

Like all Florida residents, those living in Citrus County are not subjected to any state income tax. However, unlike some of the more urban parts of the state, Citrus County residents enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where they don’t have to worry about gouging prices that you might find in many popular tourist areas. The cost of living is very reasonable in Citrus County.  

Parks and Trails 

Whether you are looking for large state parks, great walking trails built from abandoned railroad lines, or small community parks that offer some of the best sunset views you will find anywhere, Citrus County has them all. There are an unbelievable number of different parks and trails throughout the county that all offer their own unique version of nature in Citrus County.  

Day Trips to “Old Florida” Towns 

Mount Dora

Another advantage that the geographic location of Citrus County offers is that residents are within a short drive of quite a few different “Old Florida” towns that all make for great day trips. Many of these small towns have great historic shopping districts, outstanding restaurants, and plenty of history and art museums.  

An Enormous Amount of History 

From the historic sites of the Second Seminole War to the shell mounds of ancient natives, Citrus County is packed with tons of great history and plenty of places to learn all about it. The county also has a long history of producing outstanding thoroughbred horses, including multiple Kentucky Derby champions.  

Gulf Coast Lifestyle 

Living in Citrus County places you right in the heart of the Gulf Coast Lifestyle. Fishing, boating, and sunbathing at the beach will all be only minutes away. You can also participate in popular local activities like collecting scallops, catching stone crab claws, or swimming with the manatees.  

Close to Tampa and Orlando 

While the communities of Citrus County are known for their small-town environments, the big-city lifestyle is never very far away with both Tampa and Orlando being only a short drive away. This gives Citrus County residents access to great shopping, cultural events, and professional sports teams that many people like to experience from time to time.  

As you can see, Citrus County is one of the most optimal locations for an active adult lifestyle in Florida. Make sure to include a tour through Citrus County and the Villages of Citrus Hills on your next trip to Florida so that you can see the area for yourself.

August Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

The dog days of summer have officially arrived here at the Villages of Citrus Hills, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have plenty of indoor fun and games to keep us busy as we make our way through the month of August.

Whether you are looking for fun social events, an opportunity to educate yourself, a fun golf experience that doesn’t require skill or sunblock, or just a delicious dinner special, we have thatyou covered on all counts with this month’s activities and events.

Let’s take a quick look at the calendar and highlight some of the exciting things happening around our community this month.

Social Events

The first big social event of the month will be a Comedy Night featuring Rahn Hortman in the Hampton Room on Tuesday, August 6. Rahn is a hysterical local guy from Tampa that you might have seen performing at The Improv, Sidesplitters, or the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.

Tasty Tuesday Trivia will be back in the Hampton Room for another installment on Tuesday, August 20 starting at 5:45 pm. This month’s trivia theme is “Music,” and the menu will include Boursin-Stuffed Chicken Breast and Sliced Sirloin Topped with Mushroom Sauce.

The biggest party of the summer will be Copacabana Night in the Hampton Room on Friday, August 23. Everything for this event will have a Latin feel to it, including the 8-piece Latin band on the stage and the Roasted Mojo Pork on the menu.

Friday, August 30 will be the first Farm Fresh Friday event in the Activity Center Parking Lot. Beasley Farms will be setting up a fresh produce stand right in our community, so don’t miss out on the chance to pick up some amazing produce straight from the farm.

Education

There will be a Crime Prevention Workshop in the Activity Center Auditorium on Wednesday, August 14 at 3 pm. As a part of this workshop, The Crime Prevention Task Force will be leading an open discussion addressing popular topics like identity theft and other scams.

Golf & Tennis

If you are looking to participate in a golf outing this month, The Meadows Course will be hosting the Awesome August Open on Saturday, August 4. There will be an 8:30 am shotgun start for this event, which is a great way to keep your competitive game fresh for the fall season.

Another way to keep your game crisp during the summer months is to participate in one of the Free Golf Clinics hosted by Golf Pro Mary Slinkard. This month, she will be working with beginners on August 5, 6, and 7. Then she will be back to work with intermediate golfers on August 13, 20, and 27.

Our golf community is also planning a fun event at TopGolf Tampa this month on Monday, August 19. Not only is a visit to TopGolf an exciting experience, but it is also one that comes with air conditioning, which makes it a perfect adventure for a Monday in August.

There will also be a Free Beginner Tennis Clinic at the Skyview Tennis Center on Tuesday, August 13 at 11:30 am. These clinics are always a fantastic opportunity to learn about all things tennis here at the Villages of Citrus Hills.

Dinner Specials

Not only is it going to be hot outside this month, but there is also going to be plenty of heat in the kitchen at Skyview Restaurant. They are planning an Italian Night on August 1, a Turkey Buffet on August 15, and a Hawaiian Night on August 29.

In addition to those specific dinner specials, don’t forget about the new Summer Faire menu that Skyview Restaurant is serving every Friday, or the Saturday night Prime Rib special.

Over on the other side, The Grille is planning a celebration for National Red Wine Day on August 28, and the Tiki Bar will be hosting a Karaoke Night on Tuesday, August 6.

BellaVita Spa

In addition to all of the events and activities happening around the community this month, BellaVita Spa is also offering a Swedish Massage Special and a Bioelements Herbology Facial all month long for anyone looking to beat the heat and relax for a bit.

It’s going to be a great, warm month here at the Villages of Citrus Hills, but we also have plenty of cool experiences on our Activities Calendar. Make sure that you make a point to get out of the house and enjoy some of these fun events.