Hampton Inn Mount Dora Hotel

Palm Island Nature Preserve.

by Michael_D

A short 1/4mi walk from downtown brings you to a park that is a world away from the mini bustle of Mt Dora, muchless the mega-bustle of Orlando 30mi away.

The Palm Island Boardwalk stretches a mile through marshes and tall grass out over the lake.

Its a rare day I dont see at least 3 alligators along this bank.

Gilbert Point at Gilbert Park

by Michael_D

Gilbert Park

The son of Dr. C.R. Gilbert, left this property to the city in his will.

Adjacent to Gilbert Park is my favorite Mt Dora venue>Palm Island> replete with a large picnic pavilion, achildren's playground, its famous lighthouse, fishing dock, boat ramp, a small waterfall and one of the most beautiful nature walks in Florida.

This lighthouse guides many boats to Mt Doras shores. I, myself used it offen for reference at dusk when I was out sailing a bit too long and ran out of daylight.

Trolley

by Michael_D

The Mount Dora Road Trolley ($7.50 adults, $5.50 ages 3-13) is a very informative tour of the village, lakefront, and historic neighborhoods. The tour lasts about 50 minutes, and along the way the hostess is delivering a wealth of little-known facts about the town's pioneers, heroes, and ne'er-do-wells. The mode of transportation (aboard a very plush and comfortable trolley) adds to the enjoyment of this tour.

Quaint & Historic Mount Dora

by SedonaDee

"Perfect Town for a "Girl's Day Out" !"

While staying in Winter Park, FL in August, I had a chance to spend a day in lovely Mount Dora with two of my sisters. It was a fun day lunching at The Goblin Market Restaurant, and browsing the boutiques, gift shops, art galleries, and antique shops.

Mount Dora is only about a 20-45 minute drive from the Orlando area (depending on where you start) and truly worth a visit. It isn't on a mountain or even a high hill, by most people's standards, but maybe in an area a bit elevated in Floridian's eyes, and hence the name. Being more like a village than a town, it is easy to park in one spot and then enjoy walking around to the shops and restaurants. There are several nice Bed & Breakfast inns to enjoy if you wish to spend the night. You can also spend time on the boat tours on Lake Dora and its canals.

This historic little town is a glimpse of "old" Florida and a nice place to go out of the way to see. There are art fairs, antique shows, and a variety of other events to be aware of all year. If you happen to be in the area at the end of October, there is the famous Annual Craft Fair, a nationally ranked juried event to enjoy!

Mount Dora, a touch of "Old Florida"

by annk

Mt. Dora is a quaint, historic, little town (pop. 9200) with the true flavor of the deep south. It is located 30 miles northwest of Orlando and seems worlds away from the modern highways & city, and multitudes of bustling theme parks nearby. It is also at the highest point in Florida, but don't bother bringing your skiis, it's a whopping 150 feet above sea level! The historic downtown area is full of specialty stops, antique stores, restaurants and a few bed & breakfasts. Just a couple of blocks away is Lake Dora where there are parks, nature walks, fishing and boating.