Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Lady Lake, FL

  • Published 2022/09/19

Lady Lake is a small town in northwest Lake County, Florida, just half an hour away from Orlando.

This suburb’s history goes back to the late 19th century when railroad development attracted settlers to the area.

In its early days, the town was sustained by farming, cattle, and the citrus industry.

In recent times, the town is known as the birthplace of The Villages, considered the world’s largest retirement community.

While the town has that small community atmosphere, it is surrounded by plenty of amenities that provide urban comfort and conveniences.

Here are the best things to do in Lady Lake, Florida, to help you plan your itinerary:

Visit the Lady Lake Historical Society Museum

Train depot in Lady Lake Historical Society Museum

Whoisjohngalt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Learn about the town and the region’s history at the Lady Lake Historical Society Museum.

The museum features artifacts from various periods, from the Native Americans, the pioneer settlers, to World War II.

See how Lady Lake might have looked like in the mid-20th century through a beautifully crafted town diorama featuring moving model trains.

You can even see the original schedule board for the train system that operated in Lady Lake for over 70 years.

The museum is housed in the town’s former train depot.

You can find the Lady Lake Historical Society Museum along South Old Dixie Highway.

Experience the Farm Life at Uncle Donald’s Farm

Visit Uncle Donald’s Farm and enjoy a day with its resident animals.

The family-owned farm features plenty of farm animals and wildlife.

Explore the farm and enjoy the various farm activities you can try your hands on.

You can experience milking the goats and feeding the cows.

Visit their wildlife center and say hello to the deer, tortoises, and baby alligators.

Come fall, the farm also features the season’s favorite activities, such as pumpkin patch, hay maze, and hayrides.

You can even see owls and other nocturnal animals at their fun night events!

Uncle Donald’s Farm is located on Griffin Avenue.

Make Your Own Wine at The Corkscrew Winery

Looking for a unique date night activity in town?

Visit The Corkscrew Winery along Main St. and learn to make your own wine!

You can choose the type of wine you want to make, and they will guide you on how to do it, starting with the grape juices.

The winery will watch over your creation, and you can come back when your wine is ready for bottling.

You can also hang around at their wine bar to unwind and try some of their wine.

The Corkscrew Winery also offers beer making and paint and sip classes, microbrewery tours, and hosts live music events.

See the Beautiful Live Oak Tree at Heritage Park

Take a lovely stroll around Heritage Park and enjoy its greenery and serene atmosphere.

This botanical-style park features beautiful walking trails, picnic areas, and benches.

Admire the park’s famous centerpiece—the magnificent centuries-old Live Oak Tree.

This peaceful park is a great spot for a picnic lunch or just enjoying nature.

Bring a paperback and catch up on reading.

The park is also home to a beautiful butterfly garden.

You can find Heritage Park along Banana St. and Old Dixie Highway.

Play Mini Golf at Tree Tops Golf

Bring your friends to a mini-golf party at Tree Tops Golf.

This facility features a challenging yet fun 18-hole mini golf course, ideal for an entertaining get-together with family and friends.

You can also practice your swing at their slow-pitch softball batting cages.

After a round, head to their cafe and enjoy some tasty sandwiches and healthy smoothies.

You can find Tree Tops Golf along South Rolling Acres Road.

Go Thrifting at Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes checking out local thrift stores, then head to Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe while you’re in town.

This beautiful store features a broad selection of quality items and some great bargains.

You can find furniture, lamps, rugs, and other home furnishing pieces.

There are also clothing and accessories, used books, crafting goods, and even sports and outdoor gear.

If you’re visiting in December, it’s a suitable time to check out their Christmas decor and other holiday items.

You can find Ye Olde Thrift Shoppe along West Lady Lake Boulevard.

See the Holiday Lights at Veteran’s Park

If you’re in town in December, stop by Veteran’s Park for some feel-good holiday cheer.

The park is the oldest one in town and is known for its beautiful Christmas display every year.

See thousands of bright and colorful lights illuminate the park for the holiday season.

The park is also home to Lady Lake’s original train depot, as well as several train cars.

You can find Veteran’s Park along US Highway 441.

Shop and Dine at the Spanish Springs Town Square

Night view of Spanish Springs Town Square

Tetraeder, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

No visit to Lady Lake would be complete without a trip to the shops and restaurants at the Spanish Springs Town Square.

This Spanish-styled commercial area is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, offering a fun shopping and dining experience.

The area also has popular entertainment spots such as movie and performance theaters.

If you’re not keen on doing some retail shopping, you can just stroll around and enjoy the town square’s beautiful atmosphere.

You can find Spanish Springs Town Square on Main St., near US Highway 441.

Go Bowling at Fiesta Bowl

Spend an afternoon of bowling fun and great food at Fiesta Bowl.

This bowling center features 32 lanes, which is great for a tournament with friends or just a leisure game with the family.

After a game, catch the happy hour at their pub and enjoy some great draft beer.

Feast on pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and other classic bar snacks.

They also have live music entertainment you can enjoy on some days.

Fiesta Bowl is located along Avenida Avenue.

Pick Fruits at Heather Oaks Farm

Visit Heather Oaks Farm and get to pick your own fresh fruits.

This family-owned farm grows organic produce and offers seasonal fruit picking activities.

You can enjoy picking several types of organic Muscadine grapes, such as Big Jumbo and Triumph.

They also have blueberries available for picking when in season.

The farm also grows blackberries, aquaponic vegetables, beautiful Louisiana Irises, and olives.

Heather Oaks Farm is located along Christmas Lane.

Play a Round at The Lakes Golf Club

If you want to squeeze some tee time while in town, head to The Lakes Golf Club.

Whether you’re looking to play 9- or 18-hole rounds, this beautiful Par 63 course with water and elevation changes can provide you with a great Lady Lake golfing experience.

The course offers players an exciting mix of Par 3s and 4s on the front and back and a finishing split fairway Par 5 on 18.

This golf course was established in 1995.

The Lakes Golf Club is located along Canopy Lane.

Practice Your Swing at Lady Lake Bob Johnson Legacy Driving Range

Looking for a relaxing activity to spend some downtime?

Visit the Lady Lake Bob Johnson Legacy Driving Range and spend some time practicing your swing.

This outdoor driving range offers affordable buckets of balls and features targets and yardage signs to make hitting the mats a fun learning experience.

What’s more, you’ll be able to put your visit to good use, as the facility donates its proceeds to local charities and institutions.

You can find the Lady Lake Bob Johnson Legacy Driving Range along Rolling Acres Road.

Enjoy a Stay at the Recreation Plantation RV Resort

If you’re traveling on an RV and want to explore Lady Lake, the Recreation Plantation RV Resort offers a relaxing spot for campers.

This family-owned adult RV resort features spacious lots with full hookups, various amenities, and plenty of activities to keep you both active and relaxed.

You can play pickleball, tennis, and bocce, or just enjoy the outdoor heated pool.

You also need not worry about convenience, as they have cable tv, phone, and high-speed Wi-Fi.

You can find Recreation Plantation RV Resort along Highway 466.

Dine at OakWood Smokehouse & Grill

Indulge in some Lake County barbecue at OakWood Smokehouse & Grill.

Established in 1998, this casual restaurant offers smoked barbecue that is slow roasted in oakwood.

Pair your barbecue with their specialty salads.

You can also feast on some burgers and classic side dishes, and don’t miss out on their award-winning baby back ribs.

OakWood Smokehouse & Grill is located along South Highway 27.

Shop at Gold In Art Jewelers

If you’re shopping for a special gift while in town, you might find one at Gold In Art Jewelers.

This jewelry shop carries several jewelry brands as well as exclusive pieces.

From rings, earrings, and bracelets to necklaces, the shop offers an excellent selection of precious jewelry pieces fitting for a special gift.

You can also find other specialty gift items plated in gold or silver.

This shop was opened in 2009.

You can find Gold In Art Jewelers along Clay Avenue South.

Other Things to Do Nearby

There are many other nearby attractions you can explore around Lady Lake.

Here are some destinations you could also visit:

Explore the Lake Griffin State Park

A bird standing on the shore of a lilly pond at Lake Griffin State Park

TAMMY M JOHNSON / Shutterstock.com

Spend a day in nature at the Lake Griffin State Park in the nearby city of Fruitland Park.

This 620-acre park offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature, whether you’re the adventurer type or the relaxed type of traveler.

Join a guided kayak tour and venture out into the waters to explore the marshes of Lake Griffin.

Or join a pontoon tour if you want a more relaxed way of exploring.

Landscape of Lake Griffin State Park

TAMMY M JOHNSON / Shutterstock.com

If you’d rather stay on land, hike along the trails, spot some wildlife, and enjoy the scenery.

No visit to the park would be complete without seeing its 400-year-old live oak tree, Florida’s second largest living oak tree.

The park also has campsites and picnic areas you can enjoy.

Lake Griffin State Park is a 4.5-mile drive from Lady Lake.

Ducks at Lake Griffin State Park

TAMMY M JOHNSON / Shutterstock.com

Go Wine Tasting at Dragon Flower Winery

Head for some wine tasting and unwind at Dragon Flower Winery in nearby Summerfield.

This winery produces quality handcrafted wines and lets you experience these flavors through their wine tasting events.

Some of the wine varieties you can try are raspberry, hibiscus, and bourbon barrel-aged red blend.

The winery also hosts occasional live music events and food trucks throughout the year.

You can reach Dragon Flower Winery after a 7-mile drive from Lady Lake.

Take a Trip to Eaton’s Beach

Drive up north for some fun beach atmosphere and great food at Eaton’s Beach, 11 minutes drive away from Lady Lake.

This waterfront property in the nearby town of Weirsdale offers dining and water activities on Lake Weir.

Soak up some sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery by the beach.

Enjoy their signature beach dishes at the waterfront deck.

By sundown, enjoy your cocktail while watching the lovely sunset.

Eaton’s Beach is a 6.2-mile drive from Lady Lake.

Visit the Cottom Farm’s Christmas Village

If you’re visiting in December, stop by for some holiday cheer at the Cottom Farm’s Christmas Village.

Hop on a hayride and see their beautiful holiday displays illuminated by magical Christmas lights.

Take your kids for a souvenir photo with Santa Claus.

Afterwards, visit the various booths on the grounds, where you can sample some local food and shop for crafts.

You can reach Cottom Farm’s Christmas Village along Marion County Road after about a 4.7-mile drive from Lady Lake.

Final Thoughts

The town of Lady Lake is a destination worth visiting for the variety of leisure and recreational activities it offers.

With plenty of great shopping and dining areas, entertainment spots, and beautiful sceneries, an exciting and relaxing trip awaits you in this charming Lake County town.

Plan your trip now and experience some of the best things to do in Lady Lake, Florida.

© All rights reserved.