Mount Dora is a city in Lake County, Florida. It is a charming town consisting of 1,400 named lakes. Situated on rolling hilly terrain, Mount Dora sits 184 feet (56 m) above sea level on beautiful Lake Dora which is part of the Harris chain of lakes, including Lake Beauclaire, Lake Eustis, Lake Griffin, Lake Harris and Lake Yale.
Mount Dora is a short drive from the Walt Disney World area, Orlando, Ocala, and the beaches (on both coasts).
Understand
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.
Get in
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.
Get around
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 historic Lakeside Inn at 100 N. Alexander Street. +1 352 385-1023. Local bus operator LakeXpress operates a small bus network within the county.
See
- Modernism Museum, 145 E 4th Ave, 28.7997°, -81.6438°, +1 352 385 0034. 2021-03-14
- 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. 2021-03-14
- Mount Dora Center for the Arts, 138 E 5th Ave, +1 352 383 0880. 2021-03-14
- Mount Dora Community Building, 520 North Baker St, 28.8012°, -81.6434°, +1 352 735-7100, CarsonC@cityofmountdora.com. Calendar of live music and theatre. 2021-10-17
Do
Walk the long lakeside boardwalk that leaves 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 lighthouse 📍, one of the few freshwater lighthouses still in operation.
Tours
- Rusty Anchor Boat Tours, 400 W 4th Ave (4th Avenue City Docks), 28.79963°, -81.64735°, +1 352 383-3933. Take a sunset cruise around Lake Dora, or a slow-paced cruise to see the wildlife on the Dora Canal.
- Central Florida Glides Segway Tours, 430 N. Alexander Street, 28.80018°, -81.64562°, +1 352 460-2039, info@centralfloridaglides.com. 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.
- Beaver Air Tours (Lake Country Air Service), Inside Lakeside Inn @ 100 Alexander St., +1 218 682-2006. Take a seaplane ride off Lake Dora. The aerial views of Mount Dora, nearby lakes, surrounding towns, and the rest of Lake County are captivating. Aviation enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the flight aboard an authentic de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.
Parks
- Rock Springs Run State Preserve, 28.8110°, -81.4579°. 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. Amenities include a canoe and kayak, rentals, swimming, tubing, about 17 miles of trails, access to the Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River, primitive canoe and equestrian camping facilities. 2020-06-15
Buy
A wide variety of specialty shops can be found in Mount Dora. You'll discover great unique finds and can interact with friendly folks the South is known for.
Eat
- The Goblin Market, 330 Dora Drawdy Way, 28.7993°, -81.6452°, +1 352 735-0059, info@goblinmarketrestaurant.com. Ambiance and good food. 2021-06-08
- Fifth Avenue Streatery, 846 E 5th Ave (E 5th Ave & N Highland St), 28.8004°, -81.6366°, +1 352 720-3328. Consistently good food. Nice view of Donnelly park. 2021-06-08
- Copa Cabana Cuban Cafe, 320 Dora Drawdy Way, 28.7990°, -81.6451°, +1 352 385-9000. 2021-06-08
- Olive Branch Grille, 115 W 3rd Ave, 28.7989°, -81.6454°, +1 352 729-6734. Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. 2021-06-08
- Las Palmas, 28.7995°, -81.6448°, +1 352 720-3336. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F–Sa 11AM–10PM. Cuban cuisine. 2021-10-17
- Prices Rising, 239 W 4th Ave, 28.7997°, -81.6463°, +1 352 385-2669, info@piscesrisingdining.com. Su 11AM–9PM, M–Th 11:30AM–9PM, F–Sa 11:30AM–10PM. 2021-10-17
- The Frog and Monkey, 411 N Donnelly St, 28.7999°, -81.6452°, +1 352 383-1936, thefrognmonkey@gmail.com. American cuisine. 2021-10-17
Drink
- Upstairs at The Goblin Market.
- One Flight Up Cafe, 28.8002°, -81.6445°. Overlooks the town. 2021-06-08
- Tremain Bar (Lakeside Inn). Please see #Sleep for details. 2021-06-08
Sleep
- 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. 2021-03-14
- Magnolia Inn, +1-800-776-2112. Victorian-themed bed and breakfast located a short walk from downtown.
- The Grandview, +1 352 383-4440. 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.
Connect
Go next
- Greater Orlando to the south
- DeLand and Sanford to the east