Mount Dora - A Great Day Out

When we are in Orlando we like to visit down town Mount Dora. It is around 44 miles from Orlando and gives yet another insight into Florida not to mention its quaint little shopping experience. There are some lovely old style shops that have gifts, antiques, clothes, jewellery and arts and crafts. Don't forget the boardwalk under the lake to view the alligators, turtles and many different birds. It is truly beautiful here although the girls prefer the parks! Mom and Dad love it here and you can really imagine how the Old America used to be. Whilst here, you must take a horse drawn carriage ride along the cobbled streets or take the famous historic train ride.

I recommend you arrive early and head straight to the Sunshine Mountain bakery. Breakfast is served and everything is fresh being baked that day. Lots of different types of croissants, bagels and Danish pastries, so hard choices to be made, and lovely coffee served too!

There must be some 30 restaurants in the town and we have tried a few and made the usual “to visit” list! We often stay all day, have breakfast, grab a light snack during the day and then enjoy a leisurely evening meal at one of the restaurants.

There is an organic only restaurant called The 5th Avenue Café. They use fresh organic ingredients, triple filtered reverse osmosis water and all stainless steel cookware. Offering pure vegan food there is plenty of choice – we have grabbed a snack here at lunchtime although not all the family could find something they liked.

If you arrive around 11ish on Sunday The Lakeside Inn offers a Sunday Brunch on the Veranda and the choice and quality is good. It’s like a time warp and can imagine that this is what it was like 120 years ago. The Inn's cluster of five buildings is grand in the quaint Old Florida style, built to last centuries with huge balconies and gables.

The Goblin Market Restaurant is nestled on a back alley in the historic downtown Mount Dora village is a renovated Warehouse featuring two book-lined dining rooms furnished lavishly but with modern art hung on the walls. The private courtyard and garden patio are open all year for alfresco dining. Low lighting and music add romance to the restaurant – bit wasted on the kids though!

There are many other eating and drinking places such as the Windsor Rose English Tea Room and Restaurant, The Garden Gate Tea Room, O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Cafe Stella and Al E. Gators.

When you have had hectic few days at the parks, visit Mt Dora for a relaxing, less stressed time!