| In my quest to find unusual destinations to visit in | | | | Dora. The home sits on Donnelly Street within |
| the Orlando area, I stumbled over a little town by | | | | walking distance from downtown Mount Dora. The |
| the name of Mount Dora just about 45 minutes | | | | Donnelly House is just one of the many restored |
| north of Orlando. I had read that it was a very | | | | 19th and early 20th century buildings in the Golden |
| picturesque small town located on a lake, and one | | | | Triangle area. |
| of its main attractions was a scenic railway. | | | | This charming little town also features a whole |
| Mount Dora is only 27 miles or 43 km northwest | | | | host of specialty retailers and is one of Florida's |
| of Orlando. It has an elevation of 184 feet above | | | | largest antiques and collectibles centers. |
| Lake Dora, which makes it Florida's only "mountain | | | | Renninger's Twin Markets is renowned for its |
| top town". Indeed the rolling hillsides and winding | | | | antiques shopping. The town also features a large |
| roads are a welcome unique feature in the | | | | variety of gift shops, fashion boutiques, |
| generally flat topography of Florida. | | | | decorative art galleries, interesting cafes and |
| Mount Dora's history dates back to the 1800s. In | | | | restaurants as well as charming bed and |
| 1846 Lake Dora was named for Dora Ann | | | | breakfasts. |
| Drawdy. She and her husband homesteaded two | | | | One of my favourite features of this town, which |
| miles south of Mount Dora. In 1880 the town's | | | | also refers to itself as "City of Parks", are the |
| first name was Royellou, named after the three | | | | many public green spaces by the water. Donnelly |
| children of Postmaster R. C. Tremain - Roy, Ella, | | | | Park, located right downtown and dating back to |
| and Louis. | | | | 1924, offers free concerts and other civic events. |
| Then in 1883 the town was renamed Mount Dora. | | | | The park also features a tennis court and |
| Incorporated as a town in 1910 with 370 | | | | shuffleboard facilities. |
| residents, the town now has a population of | | | | After my demanding stroll through Mount Dora's |
| around 10,000 people. The first railroad service | | | | winding streets I walked down to the waterfront |
| through Mount Dora began in 1887 and by 1915 | | | | to Evans Park, which is located across from the |
| there were two passenger trains daily in each | | | | lighthouse. The view from the waterfront bench |
| direction. At one time citrus was the major | | | | was magnificent and I relaxed on the bench as I |
| industry in the area, with a great deal shipped | | | | soaked up the sunshine. The park is adjacent to |
| from Mount Dora, while today Mount Dora's | | | | the Mount Dora Lawn Bowling Club, one of the |
| major industry is tourism. | | | | largest in the United States. Its 300 member |
| According to the Local Chamber of Commerce, | | | | association plays host to local and regional |
| the town also has a number of claims to fame, | | | | tournaments. |
| including: | | | | Simpson Cove and Grantham Point are adjacent |
| - The Friendliest Small Town | | | | to Palm Island Park and feature the only inland |
| - Best Antique Shopping | | | | freshwater lighthouse in Florida. This lighthouse |
| - The New England of the South | | | | was built of bricks and donated by local residents. |
| - The City of Parks | | | | Gilbert Park features a public boat ramp, picnic |
| - Festival City | | | | area, croquet court and children's playground along |
| - Top 100 Great Towns of America | | | | Alexander Creek. |
| - Best Romantic Escape | | | | Palm Island Park features a 1700 foot fresh |
| - Money Magazine "Top Places to Live Today" | | | | water hiking trail and boardwalk through oak trees |
| What drew me here personally was the ride on | | | | draped with Spanish moss. Other wildlife, including |
| the the "Herbie Express", which is part of the | | | | bald eagles, and local indidgenous plants can be |
| Inland Lakes Railway, located in Mount Dora and | | | | admired here as well. |
| Eustis, Florida. The ride I went on is a one hour | | | | The City hosts many major annual events such |
| train ride between Mount Dora and Wooton Park | | | | as the popular "Mount Dora Arts Festival". This |
| in Tavares. We departed in a Pullman sleeper | | | | event attracts over 150,000 people each year |
| railcar originally built in 1949 that was later | | | | and has been ranked among the top art shows in |
| refunctioned as a commuter railcar. | | | | the country. Other events include the Antique |
| The route initially takes you along Lake Dora and | | | | Boat Show, Antique Car Show, Golf Tournament, |
| later continues inland past shopping malls, and | | | | Bicycle Festival, Crafts Fair and Plant and Garden |
| suburban residences. A young conductor explained | | | | Fair. |
| the local sights to us and kept us entertained. The | | | | While I was exploring this charming little town, my |
| Lake Eustis / Mount Dora Railway also features | | | | husband played golf at the Mount Dora Golf |
| other train rides, such as the Lake County | | | | Association. He played a beautifully manicured |
| Champion, the Blue Swan Dinner Train, and the | | | | full-size 18-hole course, and at $18 including cart, |
| Magnolia Sun Lunch Train. The Lake County | | | | this outing was a real bargain. The Mount Dora |
| Champion round trip is 2 hours and 20 minutes, | | | | area also offers a variety of other golf courses, |
| with an opportunity for a short visit in Eustis to | | | | including the Black Bear Golf Club, the Country |
| enjoy Ferran Park and area shops. | | | | Club of Mount Dora, Deer Island Golf Club, Eagle |
| The oldest structure in Mount Dora is the | | | | Dunes Golf Course, Heathrow Country Estates |
| Lakeside Inn, established in 1883. It features a | | | | Redtail Golf Course, the Mission Inn Golf & |
| wrap-around porch, gingerbread trim and a steep | | | | Tennis Resort and the Pine Meadows Country |
| roof crowned with a corner spire. The grounds | | | | Club. |
| are beautifully landscaped. | | | | I capped off my explorations with a delicious late |
| Many of the walking and trolley tours through this | | | | afternoon ice cream on the patio of the Sunshine |
| quaint town start at the former 1915 Atlantic | | | | Mountain Bakery, soaking up the sun while waiting |
| Coast Line Depot, home of the Mount Dora Area | | | | to hear about my husband's golf adventures. |
| Chamber of Commerce since 1973. Mount Dora's | | | | Mount Dora is a great day trip from Orlando and |
| most renowned architectural jewel is the Donnelly | | | | we enjoyed our drive back through the |
| House. This Queen Anne-style structure uses | | | | countryside of rural Florida. |
| design elements characteristic of the Victorian Era. | | | | For more information about Mount Dora you can |
| The Donnelly House was constructed in 1893 by | | | | visit the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce's |
| John Phillip Donnelly, the first mayor of Mount | | | | website. |