From The Matterhorn to Mt. Dora

You’ve done the theme parks, you got your mouse ears and seen every princess. For a break from all the crowds and lines, you may want to consider a jaunt to Mount Dora, a charming town just 45 minutes northwest of the hotels and theme parks. There’s plenty to do and see, and instead of a set of ears you can get a bumper sticker or a t-shirt that says “I climbed Mt. Dora.”
It’s an affectionate joke, of course, because this Central Florida town of about 10,000 residents may have some relatively small hills for flat central Florida, but the “mountains” in Mt. Dora are no higher than 184 feet above sea level.
Here visitors discover a small, bucolic New England-style town with antique shops, great food and wine and lovely parks.
For such a small town, Mt. Dora has perhaps more antique stores per resident than anywhere else. But even if antiques are not your thing, there are many more reasons to take a day trip to this town that has Central Florida’s more modest attractions—by theme park standards, anyway.
You might start your day with breakfast at Sunshine Mountain Bakery. Everything is baked on the premises. The coffee is excellent. Try anything from bagels to an asparagus and cheddar croissant. You can also buy a fresh loaf of bread for about the same price as you’ll find at Publix.
Energized by your freshly-baked breakfast, you can get an overview of what is here by hopping on the Road Trolley tours that depart from the Lakeside Inn. The cost is $12 for adults for an hour’s ride. You will see streets lined with white clapboard houses, art galleries, shops, ice cream parlors and upwards of two dozen small, family-run restaurants. There’s even a shop catering to Beatles fans.
For couples who are split on the subject of antiques and golf, one can stay downtown and browse, while the other can try the Country Club of Mount Dora. It has well-manicured greens framed by magnificent oaks and pines. Four of the courses’ 18 holes have dramatic lake views.
For hidden treasures, try Renninger’s Twin Markets, which is close to downtown. It is one of the largest flea markets in the Southeast and is often voted one of the top ten flea markets. You may not be able to tell the difference between a flea market and an antique market. If you can, then Twin Markets is perfect for you, because it’s both—offering authentic antiques and unique finds.
All that shopping can work up an appetite. For the health-conscious there’s the 5th Avenue Café. Mt. Dora’s only restaurant dedicated to organic cuisine is not just for the hippie crowd. Delicious dishes such as spicy calamari and warm cashew chicken salad are made from the freshest ingredients. There’s also a great selection of gourmet vegetarian and vegan dishes. Eat in or take your organic eats to an organic locale, like Mount Dora’s newest park, Cauley Lott Park on Highland Street. Or pack your basket and head over to one of the many parks surrounding Lake Dora. The town was named after Lake Dora, after all, and it’s a great backdrop for a picnic.
The upcoming “Old Fashioned 4th of July” celebration features Kids Fest, a day-long festival of face-painting, a water slide, pony rides and games.
The nearby Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards is an attraction in itself, surprising many visitors with the high quality of its sparkling champagne. It has complimentary wine tastes and tours seven days a week. Admission is free.
A 15-minute car trip and you are in Eustis, where you can ride an old-fashioned train. The Orange Blossom Dinner Train is a three-hour evening trip with a four-course dinner (the specialty is a terrific roast prime rib; other dishes to include a Conductor’s Chicken and a Rambling Rack of Lamb).
A great place to stop for a drink and inhale the European atmosphere is the Frosty Mug in the heart of downtown at the corner of 4th and Donnelly. And for something other than Italian, Mexican or Chinese, why not try the hearty Scandinavian dishes at the Icelandic Restaurant & Bar?
If you want to stay the night, there are several historic B & Bs, including the antique-filled Mount Dora Historic Inn, built in the 1880s. Alternatively, you can stay at the historic 88-room Lakeside Inn. Watch the sun go down while you sit on a white wicker rocking chair on the verandah overlooking the lake and sip on a cocktail. You’ll be joining several US presidents (Calvin Coolidge and Dwight D. Eisenhower, among others) who found this a relaxing change of pace from the bustle of the busy world outside.

By David Wilkening
Orlando Today