10 Best Gifts for a Villager Holiday Gift Guide 2024
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The Villages, Florida, is a popular retirement community known for its vibrant lifestyle, rich social activities, and welcoming atmosphere. Whether it’s the golf courses, the pickleball courts, or the endless social clubs, residents in The Villages are always on the go. With so many activities available, finding the perfect gift for your family or friends in this community can be a rewarding experience. From tech gadgets to personalized experiences, here are 10 great gift ideas that will delight anyone living (or wanting to live) in The Villages.
1. Golf Cart Accessories
Golf is a central pastime, and it’s not hard to see why. The community boasts over 50 executive golf courses and several championship courses, making golf accessories a fantastic gift for Villagers. Even if someone doesn’t play golf, they probably have a golf cart to drive to the store, the restaurants, or just to loop for fun! Consider giving any of the following items to make their time on their golf cart even more enjoyable.
Magnetic iPhone Mount for golf carts: This is our MUST HAVE for the golf cart! If you have an iPhone with the Magsafe back, this mount will hold your phone and not fall off, even going over bumpy paths.
Bluetooth Media Remote Control- It’s not always easy to get to your screen to control your music while you are driving. We attached this to the steering wheel of our golf cart and use it to control the music for our soundbar. This gadget can be used with any smartphone and any vehicle that has bluetooth!
Rechargeable 4-Speed Portable Fan - This fan has some power!!! It has a very strong grip that will hold through most of the bumpiest rides. Even though it is rechargeable, it has a very strong air flow and the charge lasts quite a while. We also take it off the golf cart and set it on the picnic tables or outside bar tables to keep us cool and to keep the flies away.
2. Smart Home Devices
For retirees who appreciate the convenience and ease of technology, smart home devices are an excellent choice. Devices like Amazon Echo or Google Nest can help with daily tasks, from setting reminders and controlling smart thermostats to listening to music or checking the weather. Smart doorbells, like Ring, offer peace of mind with their security features. It’s also been fun for us to see people’s Ring doorbell footage of gators walking through the yard or bobcats slinking around the fence. Smart plugs can automate lights or appliances, which will especially be helpful if they don’t live here year-round. These gadgets are both practical and fun, helping retirees stay connected and in control of their environment.
Eufy Video Doorbell (We loooove Eufy products!)
Govee Floor Lamp (We have one of these in every room!)
3. Fitness Tracker or Smartwatch
Keeping up with physical activity is easy with a fitness tracker or smartwatch. Devices like the Fitbit, Apple Watch, or Garmin can track daily steps, monitor heart rate, and even track sleep patterns. For retirees who are dedicated to their fitness routine, these devices can provide helpful insights and motivation. A smartwatch with health tracking features can also make it easier for them to stay connected with family and friends, receive notifications, and even check in on their health from the wrist. We both use Apple Watches to track our sleep, health and workouts.
4. Cooking Classes or Gourmet Cooking Kits
The Villages is home to a vibrant food scene, with many residents enjoying culinary clubs and social gatherings centered around food. A great gift for the foodie retiree is a cooking class or a gourmet meal kit subscription. Whether it’s an in-person class at a local restaurant or an online course, learning new cooking techniques or exploring different cuisines is a fun way to spend time. The Legacy Restaurant at Lopez Country Club offers cooking classes each Tuesday and they include bottomless house cocktails or wine and a $10 voucher for the restaurant! Information and gift certificates are available on their website. The Villages Show Kitchen at Sawgrass Grove is another fun event. We had so much fun and had some wonderful food and conversation at our cooking class. We could not find any information on buying gift certificates, but you could buy them a ticket online if you know a date that will work for them. These cooking demonstrations fill up fast! Meal kit services like Blue Apron or HelloFresh are perfect for those who want to try new recipes without the hassle of grocery shopping. We use a combination of Hello Fresh and Green Chef. We love the affordability and ease of Hello Fresh meals. Green Chef is great if you have dietary restrictions or want to eat Vegetarian or Vegan. (Yes, they have Gluten Free meals!) We have had some very creative plant-based meals with Green Chef, but their seafood and meat meals have been awesome as well.
5. Hobby-Related Gifts
Many retirees have hobbies they are passionate about, and The Villages is a community where residents are encouraged to explore new activities. Whether they love gardening, painting, or crafting, there’s a hobby-related gift that can enhance their enjoyment. High-quality gardening tools, art supplies, or woodworking kits make great options. Consider a set of watercolor paints, binoculars for birdwatching, a beginner’s knitting kit, or something related to their favorite model of car. You might also be buying for an avid golfer that would appreciate golf balls, golf towels and other gadgets. The Villages, FL has over 3,500 groups and clubs centered around specific hobbies, so matching the gift to their interests will always be appreciated.
6. Subscription to the Local Newspaper
Residents in The Villages, FL love staying informed about local events, community news, and activities. A subscription to The Villages Daily Sun can help them stay connected to the community. This thoughtful gift allows Villagers to enjoy their mornings with a cup of coffee while reading up on what’s happening nearby. Did you know that you can get The Daily Sun sent to you anywhere in the United States?
7. Travel Gift Cards or Vacation Packages
Many retirees love to travel, whether it’s exploring Florida’s hidden gems or venturing further afield. Travel gift cards, like those for Airbnb or Hotels.com, allow retirees to plan their own vacations. You could also gift them a weekend getaway or a cruise package to a nearby destination. For those who prefer a more structured experience, a guided tour or package vacation to a popular destination, such as the Florida Keys or the Bahamas, makes a memorable gift.
8. Anything that Saves Space!
Most of the homes in The Villages, FL do not have much storage space, whether it is closet space, pantry space or bedroom space. Plus, retirees like to live more simple so they have more time to relax or go out and have fun! We have found quite a few items that have been very helpful in organizing a downsized space.
Progressive Prokeeper Kitchen Storage Containers There are a few different styles in our Amazon Shop. With the humidity and possible little critters in Florida, these containers keep everything dry and safe. The square shape stacks well and fits perfectly in small spaces. We may or may not own over 20 of these. I keep everything from sugar to lentils to crackers in these.
Souper Cubes - A lot of Villagers are only cooking for one or two and often have leftovers. My newest obsession is SouperCubes. There are different sizes and I save dinner leftovers like Jambalaya, or extra soup, or I even save leftover tomato paste in my SouperCubes. After they are frozen, you can pop out the food and put in baggies to stash in the freezer when you need it! Saves lots of space in your refrigerator and freezer. Plus, you have yummy dinner ready as soon as you defrost it.
9. Rest, Relaxation and Entertainment
Part of The Villages lifestyle is rest and relaxation. Reading books, listening to books on tape or playing music are favorite past times. A device or subscription could make the perfect gift.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite - We chose this model because it is lightweight, the battery lasts forever, and you can read it out in the sunshine. As much as we love real books, the Kindle doesn’t take up much space and is easy to take with you everywhere. Add a Kindle Unlimited gift subscription with the device. We read about 10 books a month, so it really pays for itself!
Prefer to listen to books? Give a gift subscription of Audible to listen to thousands of audiobooks and podcasts. You can choose a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month gift subscription.
The Villages, FL has an incredible variety of live entertainment and many venues. These high-quality shows are a prime time for Villagers to have a night out and reminisce the music of their lives or to see a Broadway caliber show. You can buy tickets for events at the websites for the different venues:
10. Philanthropy Opportunities
Villagers are passionate about giving back to their communities, and The Villages offers numerous opportunities for sharing. Consider gifting a donation to a charity or sponsoring a local cause that aligns with their values. The gift of philanthropy can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose, making it an ideal choice for those who want to make a difference.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect gift for a Villager is all about enhancing their lifestyle and helping them enjoy the vibrant community they are part of. Whether it's through technology, hobbies, relaxation, or socializing, these 10 gift ideas provide plenty of options to suit different tastes and interests. Personalized, thoughtful gifts will not only make their day but will also support the active, fulfilling life that makes retirement in The Villages, FL so special.
No matter which gift you choose, the most important thing is to show that you care and appreciate unique preferences. After all, the best gifts are the ones that bring joy and meaningful experiences to their lives.