Mount Dora, FL Road Trips

Mount Dora has been nicknamed "The New England of the South", "The City of Parks", "Antique City", and "The Festival City". Even Money Magazine seemed enthused, naming Mount Dora in their "Top Places to Live Today". With a population of around 12,000, it still holds a small town appeal, but provides many options in shopping, restaurants, and things to do and see. In Mount Dora's early history, citrus was its major industry and even though you can still get a glorious whiff of the fragrant white blossom of the orange tree in springtime, as tourism has grown in importance, the relative importance of citrus has decreased. Mount Dora was the primary setting of the 1981 comedy film Honky Tonk Freeway, a box-office flop, though trivia enthusiasts will enjoy the fact that the entire town was painted pink for the movie (some remnants of which can still be seen today). The downtown is on the side of a hill, sloping down to the lake, and there are pretty and immaculately maintained shops and restaurants in the center of downtown.

1 Modernism Museum, 145 E 4th Ave, ☏ +1 352 385 0034. (updated Mar 2021) 2 Mount Dora History Museum (Royellou Museum), 450 Royellou, ☏ +1 352 383 0006. Th–Su 1–4PM. Small local history museum, located in the former city jail. (updated Mar 2021) 3 Mount Dora Center for the Arts, 138 E 5th Ave, ☏ +1 352 383 0880. (updated Mar 2021) 4 Mount Dora Community Building, 520 North Baker St, ☏ +1 352 735-7100, [email protected]. Calendar of live music and theatre. (updated Oct 2021)

Walk the long lakeside boardwalk that leaves 1 Gilbert Park and follows Lake Dora. It is a beautiful walk and follows the shoreline for a good distance. Also, at the same park, check out the 2 lighthouse, one of the few freshwater lighthouses still in operation. 3 Rusty Anchor Boat Tours, 400 W 4th Ave (4th Avenue City Docks), ☏ +1 352 383-3933. Take a sunset cruise around Lake Dora, or a slow-paced cruise to see the wildlife on the Dora Canal. Glide Adventure Tours, 847 E 5th Ave (in bowling center), ☏ +1 352-325-1442. Embark on a guided Segway tour around the town. You'll have a lot of fun riding these unique vehicles as you zip around the various neighborhoods and nature trails. 4 Rock Springs Run State Preserve. Open from 8AM till 6PM year round. A 14,000 acre (57 km²) State Park in the Lake County, Florida, located about 30 miles northeast of Orlando in Sorrento, 3 miles west of the Wekiva River bridge on State Road 46. The park contains a number of Indian mounds, pine flatwoods, swamps and artesian springs, and a number of creeks and rivers. Among them are Seminole Creek, Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, the Wekiva River, and Blackwater Creek. Activities include bicycling, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hunting and wildlife viewing. Among the wildlife of the park are Florida black bear, Florida scrub jay, sandhill crane, indigo snake, gopher tortoise.

1 The Goblin Market, 330 Dora Drawdy Way, ☏ +1 352 735-0059, [email protected]. Ambiance and good food. (updated Jun 2021) 2 Fifth Avenue Streatery, 846 E 5th Ave (E 5th Ave & N Highland St), ☏ +1 352 720-3328. Consistently good food. Nice view of Donnelly park. (updated Jun 2021) 3 Copa Cabana Cuban Cafe, 320 Dora Drawdy Way, ☏ +1 352 385-9000. (updated Jun 2021) 4 Olive Branch Grille, 115 W 3rd Ave, ☏ +1 352 729-6734. Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. (updated Jun 2021) 5 Las Palmas, ☏ +1 352 720-3336. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F–Sa 11AM–10PM. Cuban cuisine. (updated Oct 2021) 6 Pisces Rising, 239 W 4th Ave, ☏ +1 352 385-2669, [email protected]. Su 11AM–9PM, M–Th 11:30AM–9PM, F–Sa 11:30AM–10PM. (updated Oct 2021) 7 The Frog and Monkey, 411 N Donnelly St, ☏ +1 352 383-1936, [email protected]. American cuisine. (updated Oct 2021)

Upstairs at The Goblin Market. Tremain Bar (Lakeside Inn). Please see #Sleep for details. (updated Jun 2021)

1 Lakeside Inn, 100 Alexander St, ☏ +1 352 383 4101. Walk back in time over a hundred years to 1883. Former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife spent their winters here. The lobby retains a romantic 19th century feel with vintage furniture, fireplaces, a cozy restaurant and ballroom and a wonderful piano bar. You can order an iced tea and sit on one of the rockers on the front porch overlooking Lake Dora, take a lake cruise from the dock, or just stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds. (updated Mar 2021) Magnolia Inn, ☏ +1-800-776-2112. Victorian-themed bed and breakfast a short walk from downtown. 2 The Grandview, ☏ +1 407 694-0612, [email protected]. Southern-style bed and breakfast. Mount Dora Historic Inn, ☏ +1 352 735-1212. Cozy bed and breakfast with separate cottages for those who like more room or privacy.

From Orlando International Airport, Mount Dora is just under an hour's drive away. From the Beachline to west Florida Turnpike, go to Toll 929 to FL-441 going north to Mount Dora. From I-95, to I-4 West to Sanford. Take FL-46 into Mount Dora. From I-75 south of Ocala to Wildwood. FL-44 to US-441, and then south to Mount Dora. FL-44 bypasses Mount Dora on its northern side, connecting Mt. Dora to the east with the college town of DeLand.

Mount Dora is a great walking town, with parks and alleys and little enclaves. You can also take an historic tour through the city by using the Mount Dora Road Trolley which departs at the Chamber of Commerce at 341 N. Alexander Street. +1 352 385-1023. Local bus operator LakeXpress connects Eustis to Mt Dora which serves as a local circulator bus around town on route #3.