Mount Dora???

[Boomer]

Someone here recently mentioned Mt. Dora in a thread.

We had planned to visit Mt. Dora while we were in TV but never got around to it.

I have read a few articles about it, and it looks interesting.

If anyone has any experience with Mt. Dora, I would appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks.

[PJ]

I lived there about a bazillion years ago. It's very quaint and has a lot of interesting shops. About a year ago I went to The Gables restaurant, and liked it very much. It's at 322 N Alexander St. in Mt. Dora.

Also if you like antiques and farmers/flea markets, Renninger's is there too. It's a ton o'fun!
http://www.renningers.com/dora/dorahome.htm

[nONIE]

My daughter has lived in Mt. Dora for 7 years. It is a beautiful quaint town with some actual hills and beautiful Lake Dora which borders the downtown section. I would say the main attraction is the downtown area which has many quaint artsy shops offering unusual items. The Goblin Mkt is an extremely good resteraunt but rather pricey and if you just want to overlook the lake and have a few drinks, Pices Rising is just the place.

It is a 30-40 minute drive from TV depending on your speed but well worth the drive.

[Boomer]

Thanks.

It sounds nice.

Is it a place where snowbirds and/or retirees are part of the big picture or is it more of an established, relatively "closed" community?

[nONIE]

I would say it is a mix but definitely leaning toward the later.

[Boomer]

That's what I thought it could be, even though I have never been there. It sounds like a great daytrip from TV though.

Thanks.

[MSNPA]

Great shops and great restaurants.

[noleguy]

It is definitely worth your time to visit Mt Dora. A beautiful small town with many shops and good eating places.

[beady]

What fun, I just planned a trip to Mt. Dora for Friday.
We'll give a full report when we return.

[nONIE]

Beady, please do, Ill be anxious to hear of something I may have missed while there!

[SteveZ]

Mount Dora has an annual art festival that's one of the best in the state. Check out http://www.mountdoracenterforthearts.org/ for info. Next dates are Feb 2-3.

Parking is tight there, and most of the churches and schools use festival parking as a revenue source. The poster for each year's festival has been a collectible for many.

[beady]

Nonie
Trip postponed until tomorrw(Sunday). I'll have a full travel report when we return.
Love Arts Festival's, so I guess I'll have to go back in Feb. 040 040

[nONIE]

OK Beady, Ill be waiting with anxiously for your report!

[cabo35]

Great day trip! Lots of nice shops. I second Nonie on the Goblin's Market as a great restaurant. Quaint, in an alley, a little hard to find and can get crowded because of its popularity.

[nONIE]

Beady,

Waiting for that Mt. Dora report??? Did ya have a good time?

[beady]

Oops, sorry I forgot to report in. :P doh
Mt Dora was very nice, though a bit tourisy. I expected more antique and shabby chic type shops. It is a very old town with downtown buildings from the 40's era that have been restored. The town square is above the shopping area and below the Town Hall which strongly resembles a Plantation House. Very old Florida.
The lake is much larger than I thought.Most homes have docks and a power boat, some even enclosed with screen houses for entertaining. We found a perimeter road that we followed around maybe half the lake. Scattered along the road were a varirty of homes from gated mansions to summer cottages.
We ate in a pub style restaurant( can't remember the name) in the shopping area, fair prices and good salads (which we had)and probably burgers, although that is a guess.
I would love to go back and have dinner at a restaurant called Picses Rising. It is at the "bottom" of town just across from the lake. Menu looked good and the patio faces west so they suggest dinner there while watching the sunset over the lake. Could be really spetacular.
I would definately recommend a trip to Mt Dora.

[Barefoot]

Mt Dora was very nice, though a bit tourisy. We ate in a pub style restaurant( can't remember the name) in the shopping area, fair prices and good salads (which we had)and probably burgers, although that is a guess.


Beady and I ate at The Frosted Mug (not on the Lake). We walked down to see Pisces Rising and both agreed it would be a great place to watch the sun setting over the Lake. The weather was beautiful, we had a great time walking around.

Barefoot :bigthumbsup:

[nONIE]

Barefoot,

so glad you enjoyed it. I guess I am very fortunate to have my daughter living right on Lake Dora. Have watched the sunset many times and will never take the beauty for granted. Now promise youll take another trip back with Beady & me sometime, we can even stop off at my daughters house and have some ice tea on her lanai!

[Springer]

There is a fantastic nature walk along the lake right near downtown Mt Dora. If you want to see eagles, alligators, hugh bald cypress, herons, storks etc it is really woth the time. It's just east the downtown area near the park and boat launch.

[Barefoot]

Barefoot,

so glad you enjoyed it. I guess I am very fortunate to have my daughter living right on Lake Dora. Have watched the sunset many times and will never take the beauty for granted. Now promise youll take another trip back with Beady & me sometime, we can even stop off at my daughters house and have some ice tea on her lanai!


Nonie, lookin forward to it, hurry on down. :bigthumbsup:

BF

[Donna]

http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/sun.gif (http://www.millan.net)All these beautiful nature walks,http://www.millan.net/minimations/toolminis/xflora_flowcolor.gif (http://www.millan.net) the Old Town and http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/treeswing.gif (http://www.millan.net)sunsets to see while sitting in the restaurant..

Here I sit looking at filthy melting snow,http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/gaah.gif (http://www.millan.net) trees with out leaves, http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/crysmiley1.gif (http://www.millan.net)and the weather calling for more snow, and last but certainly not least...THE FLU...http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/croaksmileyf.gif (http://www.millan.net)

Calgon..take me away..http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/bathtubsmile.gif (http://www.millan.net)

[beady]

Nonie,
Thanks I would love to go back to Mt Dora and sip iced tea with you, your daughter and Barefoot. We'll make a date as soon as you arrive. :) :)
Beady

[Taltarzac]

Went to Mt. Dora with visiting relatives yesterday. Nice trip once you got there. Ate at Pisces Rising which was quite nice. The waitress even gave a quick tour of the restaurant Pisces Rising which is an old house converted to a restaurant.

[nONIE]

Tal,

How long did it take you to get there???

[Taltarzac]

Tal,

How long did it take you to get there???


We got lost going there, but would say that it should only take about 45 minutes. Depends on the traffic though.

[Rokinronda]

The art festival is great! love art! I have eaten at Pisces, very good food, and atmosphere. . Some of the cafe places are a bit pricey. Also, downtown area heading east is a restaurant/bar called Jeremiahs On N. Highland Ave. It is a family style place that we have lunch often when on the road working. (yesterday actually) Nothing fancy, but a local favorite. They have a chicken walnut apple salad that I love. Hub has the chunky beef chimichanga. The menu has a wide variety and is inexpensive! Many leave w/doggy bags.

[nONIE]

The art festival is great! love art! I have eaten at Pisces, very good food, and atmosphere. . Some of the cafe places are a bit pricey. Also, downtown area heading east is a restaurant/bar called Jeremiahs On N. Highland Ave. It is a family style place that we have lunch often when on the road working. (yesterday actually) Nothing fancy, but a local favorite. They have a chicken walnut apple salad that I love. Hub has the chunky beef chimichanga. The menu has a wide variety and is inexpensive! Many leave w/doggy bags.


Jeremiahs also has fantastic corned beef and cabbage on St. Pattys day, but you have to be willing to take the 45 minute ride.

[beady]

Nonie,
We still need to make a date to go on down to Mt Dora. I guess we got caught up in the frenzy of the Villages. ::) ::)

[nONIE]

Yes Beady definitely. Frenzy isnt the word, I cant even find time to do the laundry or clean my house. I feel like Im losing my mind dont even know what day it is!! I think Im over-doing it a bit!!! I need to go back north for a rest. :(

[Barefoot]

Nonie, you need to come and take Yoga. Beady and I go on Wednesdays, and find it very relaxing. Also I find the dog park a great place to chill out.

I'll bet we all overdo it when we arrive in TV thinking we can jam in everything. I'm thinking it would be great to actually spend time at the pool for a change!!

[Taltarzac]

Anyone been to Renningers in Mt. Dora? http://www.renningers.com/
Renningers bills itself as the largestsuch flea and antique market in FL.

[nONIE]

Tal,

Yes I have been to Renningers flea Market and Antique fair many times. Absolutely enormous in size covers acres and acres of land with many rare and unusual antiques. For anyone who loves walking for hours and looking at antiques this is the antique show for you. They come from all over the country with their finest antiques.

Definitely worth the ride if you are into antique collecting or browsing. :o, However my collecting days are over. Ive traded that hobby for lots of fun activities in TV. No room in my TV house for anything else!

[frannieb]

Just to be aware...we drove to Altamonte Springs and pass the same way to got to Mt Dora and the road is ALL stop and go if you don't mind that great but it drove me crazy. Traffic lights all the way to Alta Sp!!! Costco good there and teenager mall will work for us.
Also we did go to Marion County flee market and it was good.