Take a boat trip on the Dora Canal

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Old 10-08-2010, 09:43 AM
RVRoadie RVRoadie is offline
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Default Take a boat trip on the Dora Canal

JJ Fin's is one of our favorite restaurants outside of The Villages.

We recently had friends visiting from the west coast and decide to try one of the boat tours that leave from the dock at JJ Fin's. The outfit is Gator's Adventures 352-390-4710 and we went out on the pontoon boat (he also has a 4 seat airboat). It was 1 1/2 hour tour that include the Dora Canal, a beautiful stretch of water that is unchanged since the days when Henry Ford "camped" in the area. Lots of birds, turtles and gators.

The cost was $25 each for four people ($20 each for six). You also get a 10% discount at JJ Fin's, a $10 gift certificate for a future meal at JJ Fin's and a $10 gift certificate for a future ride at Gator's Adventures.

It was a very enjoyable and relaxing trip. Go during the week and you will have the Dora Canal all to yourself.

Be sure and try the doughnuts on the desert menu. You get five little beignet type fried doughnuts covered in a vanilla raspberry cream sauce. One order is enough for four people to have a nice treat.
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Old 10-08-2010, 10:00 AM
Ohiogirl Ohiogirl is offline
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We definitely plan to do this. We also did the canal tour in Winter Park - I think it was in a small pontoon boat that barely fit it places. Went thru parts of Rollins College also. Another thoroughly enjoyable tour. Saw lots of wildlife and also nice local info from the boat operator/narrator. It's not a "canned" narration, but an actual person.
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Old 10-08-2010, 10:00 AM
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This trip is on our todo list. Did you go thru the locks?
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Old 10-08-2010, 11:34 AM
RVRoadie RVRoadie is offline
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This trip is on our todo list. Did you go thru the locks?
No locks. This leaves the dock at JJ Fin's and follows the Dead River into Lake Eustis. Across a small section of the lake then into the Dora Canal. You go as far as the Hwy 19 bridge, then turn around and go back to the dock at JJ Fin's.
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Old 10-08-2010, 02:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVRoadie View Post
JJ Fin's is one of our favorite restaurants outside of The Villages.

We recently had friends visiting from the west coast and decide to try one of the boat tours that leave from the dock at JJ Fin's. The outfit is Gator's Adventures 352-390-4710 and we went out on the pontoon boat (he also has a 4 seat airboat). It was 1 1/2 hour tour that include the Dora Canal, a beautiful stretch of water that is unchanged since the days when Henry Ford "camped" in the area. Lots of birds, turtles and gators.

The cost was $25 each for four people ($20 each for six). You also get a 10% discount at JJ Fin's, a $10 gift certificate for a future meal at JJ Fin's and a $10 gift certificate for a future ride at Gator's Adventures.

It was a very enjoyable and relaxing trip. Go during the week and you will have the Dora Canal all to yourself.

Be sure and try the doughnuts on the desert menu. You get five little beignet type fried doughnuts covered in a vanilla raspberry cream sauce. One order is enough for four people to have a nice treat.
Thanks for the advise. We're heading to TV for 2 weeks on Monday and this sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon. We will have company joining us during the week so it should be fun.
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Old 10-28-2010, 01:47 PM
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Default We went there today for lunch. What a great place to visit.

Their menu is quite extensive with excellent food. Our lunch was excellent.
Next time we go we are doing the air boat ride.
If you haven't been there give it a try. Here is their link:

http://www.jjfins.com/

Takes about 30 minutes to get there. And Roadie was correct...there was a very, very light crowd there. It is a pretty big place so getting a table anytime of the weekday should not be a problem.

Thanx for the post roadie.

btk
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Old 10-28-2010, 02:09 PM
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So please give us a food review . . . what d'ya have to eat . . . how was it?
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Old 10-28-2010, 06:34 PM
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Default OK! I had the prime rib Philadelphia staek sandwich.

I am a fanatic for them where ever I go and they are on the menu.
The one today was hands down the very best one I have ever had. Very generous amount of beef, smothered in red (sweet) peppers and onions with cheese. My wife had the fish and chips and she ummmmmed through the whole meal. Served with french or home made chips (the chips are not bag chips but home made). Again very generous portion with two large fish fillets.

Check their web site for the menu and prices.

This place is one of the best of the many water front fish n stuff restaurants around here.

We are hooked.

btk
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Old 10-28-2010, 10:02 PM
Tweety Bird Tweety Bird is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by billethkid View Post
Their menu is quite extensive with excellent food. Our lunch was excellent.
Next time we go we are doing the air boat ride.
If you haven't been there give it a try. Here is their link:

http://www.jjfins.com/

Takes about 30 minutes to get there. And Roadie was correct...there was a very, very light crowd there. It is a pretty big place so getting a table anytime of the weekday should not be a problem.

Thanx for the post roadie.

btk
Thanks for the link! We'll definitely try it out sometime soon! It's nice getting "out of the bubble" at times. hahaha. I wonder what their sushi is like. The chef has a great bio.
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