Mount Dora - what is there to do and see please?

[WindsorHillsPad]

Hi there, we are off at Christmas and have had a trip to Mount Dora recommended to me. But trailing around behind me I'll have:

DH - just lost 3 stone and feeeeelllinggg gooooood! (I have too!)
Nana a spritely 76 loves walking and bird watching
DS a grumpy 12
DD a spritely 9.

What is there to do please? Is it like Celebration?

[Dcool]

Mt Dora is a lovely little town, lots of gifts shops, antiques, some restaurants, train trips, and boat rides on the lake. The train used to run through MT Dora to Miami in the old days.

The last time we were there we watched as a plane landed on the lake, a guy jumped out and pulled the plane to shore, then carried his wife to the shore. It just seemed like it happened very day. He said they had flown up from Orlando for their dinner date.

[WindsorHillsPad]

So like Celebration but older and bigger?

[FLGirl-UKNow]

It is a really nice little town. Not a place you'd need a long time in but a good place to get away from the busy tourist spots.

Take a look at this (http://www.mtdora.org/) website.

[Happy Feet]

It is a really nice little town. Not a place you'd need a long time in but a good place to get away from the busy tourist spots.

Take a look at this (http://www.mtdora.org/) website.
Thanks for the link. Never heard of this before, but looks like a place we'd enjoy.

[tiggers friend]

We spent a really pleasant day there the year before last, browsing the little shops, getting a bite to eat, coffee and a stroll down to the lake. Unfortunately missed the boat trip which is apparently enjoyable. Makes a great change from the buzz of Orlando and the parks.

[uk_pip]

Mt Dora was the location for the Movie " Honky-Tonk Freeway" . As well as the lake and canal cruises where you'll see gators and crocs etc, the Inland lakes railway runs a dining train from Mt Dora to Tavares with seasonal specials like pumpkin runs and Thomas also visits. There is also the trolley bus tour around the historic areas and at the moment a haunted mansion is offering tours till halloween. Most weekends there are festivals on and there is also a classic car museum. Last Friday of the month they show free movies in the park. At Christmas the park and city hall are decorated with over 2million lights and they also have a snow machine in the park making sleigh runs for the kids. There are fabulous non-chain owned restaurants and eateries, many antique shops and some odd ones like a dogs bakery, the ice-house theatre and also on a weekend is the huge Renningers Flea and Antique market, said to be the biggest in Florida. And should you fancy a change one day, Orlando is only 40 mins away down the new 429 toll :)
This town is a world away from the hustle of Orlando, and is not unlike Key west in feel. If you want to visit small town America, then this is the place to try. Not many Brits know of it, but its popular with the Americans and Canadians as a holiday retreat. There are a few Scottish businesses though and the town is twinned with Forres in Scotland.

[TRACEYA89]

it is a nice drive to Mount Dora and we stopped en route and had some photos took outside a Bail Bondsman building!

[ameliaUK]

We are thinking of a visit here too ,so thanks for all the info,