In our last blog, we stopped in Sebring, FL on our way to Mt. Dora. Officially, Mt. Dora is about 3.5 hours from Fort Lauderdale, but we took the scenic route on our way there. This is a very interesting town and location. For most of the afternoon, we were on a small interstate Hwy 453, then we entered the metropolitan area of Orlando. Then Google Maps told us to take 46 and suddenly we were taken back in time to a small old town.
A Charming Stay at the Historic Lakeside Inn
During our visit to Mount Dora, Scott and I stayed at the iconic Lakeside Inn for three unforgettable nights. The Lakeside Inn is not just a place to stay—it’s part of Mount Dora’s story. This historic and charming resort has welcomed guests since 1883, making it the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state. Nestled along the shores of Lake Dora, the inn has long been a favorite retreat for travelers seeking tranquility and Old Florida charm. Throughout its storied history, it has hosted notable figures including President Calvin Coolidge, who vacationed there in the 1930s. With its classic Victorian architecture, white verandas, and expansive lake views, Lakeside Inn offers a nostalgic glimpse into Florida’s past while continuing to serve as a relaxing getaway destination in the heart of Mount Dora.
There are no elevators, so prepare for a bit of stair-climbing, but it only adds to the authentic vintage experience. We had way too many bags and were not prepared for all of the stairs.
After we checked in, we headed to the pool bar to enjoy a cocktail before we explored Mt. Dora. The bar stays open (normally) until the sunset, but only if the bartender is busy.
Downtown Mt Dora
After enjoying a cocktail poolside, we headed into Downtown Mt. Dora, which is literally one block from the inn. We found Mt Dora to be very quaint and charming – in fact, it reminded me so much of my hometown in Snohomish, WA.
Scott and I stumbled upon a great tea and spice shop and almost spent our life savings stocking up on some favs – just kidding! If you are visiting Mt Dora, be sure to stop in the Spice and Tea Exchange!
You can walk Downtown Mt Dora very easily as it is about 5 blocks long and wide. The streets are lined with cute shops, restaurants and bars.
Scott and are were on the hunt to find a place to eat dinner and we stumbled upon a great pizza place! Shadrach’s Fiery Furnace Pizza Co had plenty of seating and great entertainment.
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel to watch our first sunset in almost a year. It’s one thing we do miss about moving from Seattle to Florida. Since we face east, we rarely see a sunset in Fort Lauderdale. The Lakeside Inn has plenty of seating at the poolside bar and at the end of the dock to watch the sunset. In fact, the following night the views were even more spectacular!
We wrapped up the night with a nightcap at the Tremain’s Tavern. They had live music and everyone was having a great time. Tremain’s Tavern, located within the historic Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora, is named after one of the inn’s original owners, J.V. Tremain. The tavern reflects the inn’s rich heritage, serving as a cozy and welcoming gathering place that has preserved its Old Florida charm for generations of guests.
Day Two in Mt Dora – Blueberry Festival
We thoroughly enjoyed breakfast on The Verandah, where sipping a great cup of coffee while relaxing on the charming porch made for a perfect start to the day. Dining on The Verandah is a casual and peaceful experience, whether you’re enjoying a sunny morning meal or a candlelit dinner in the evening. As Mount Dora’s only lakefront dining spot, it’s a favorite among both day visitors and overnight guests of the Lakeside Inn. With beautiful views, vibrant people-watching, and the soothing sounds of lakeside life, every meal feels like a special occasion.
When we booked our trip, we had no idea that Mt Dora was celebrating the Annual Blueberry Festival. Mount Dora’s Blueberry Festival is a beloved annual event celebrating Florida’s spring blueberry harvest with live music, local crafts, and plenty of blueberry-themed treats. Held in the heart of downtown, the festival features everything from fresh berries and pies to blueberry wine, making it a fun, family-friendly tradition for locals and visitors alike.
Before we headed to the festival, which was literally three blocks away, we decided to walk a few more blocks in town to explore.
I was shocked to see how many people were attending the Blueberry Festival and how many vendors there were. It seemed like they were everywhere! They had live music, tons of food and plenty of blueberry products. We ended up sampling jerky and salsas and stocked up.
Relaxing at the Pool
After enjoying the festival, we headed back to the hotel to relax by the pool. It is a pretty small pool and definitely not heated.
We spent about an hour or so, but it got a bit noisy with kids and we were done. So we headed back into town for lunch at Las Palmas. Here we enjoyed some authentic Cuban cocktails and small bites. It was delicious!
From Las Palmas, we stopped at one more bar on our way home, the Copacabana Cuban Café. They have both indoor and outdoor seating with live music. The drinks were fantastic and definitely worth the stop.
Sunset & Dinner in Mt Dora
Sunset was around 7:45pm, so we decided to relax in our room before getting ready for dinner. Then we headed down to the lake to enjoy the sunset before heading to dinner. It was an absolute fabulous sunset and the alligators enjoyed it too.
You don’t need to make reservations for dinner in Mt Dora (in our opinion), however, keep in mind that they do roll up the sidewalks by 9:30p or so. We decided to have dinner at the Inn’s infamous restaurant The Beauclaire as it had great reviews.
I didn’t take a photo of the restaurant, but if you picture yourself in an old banquet room with bright lights on, that describes it perfectly. It was a white table cloth dining experience, but not the service or the food (unfortunately). We waited over an hour for our food and my Chicken Pot Pie was cold (how can that be?). In addition, the server barely waited on us, but that was because we were the only table in the entire restaurant.
A Day of Boating
On our third day in Mt Dora, we decided to rent a Starcraft CX 23 pontoon boat from Mt Dora Boating Center and explore Lake Dora. They were very friendly and helpful. The cost was under $400 for 5 hours, which was more than enough time to enjoy the lake. We picked up the boat around 10am and Dusty the manager, gave us a quick brief on how to operate the boat. He was very grateful that we were actual boaters and knew how to handle it.
Boating on Lake Dora offers a scenic and relaxing experience, especially when venturing through the charming Dora Canal to Lake Eustis. There are a number of canals and locks you can use to access other lakes. You could easily spend three days exploring all of them. The boating center does give you a map for reference and we also recommend that if you take one of the canals, be sure to take a photo of the exit, so you can identify it to make your way back. It certainly helped us!
We cruised through Lake Dora right away and headed to Lake Eustis. Here you will find a short bridge to pass under and a narrow canal lined with cypress trees and small homes.
While the canal wasn’t too busy during our trip, its narrow passages can occasionally feel tight when boat traffic picks up—adding a bit of adventure to an otherwise peaceful journey. We spent about four hours cruising across the two lakes, enjoying a simple yet delightful lunch of cheese and crackers on the water. To really get a feel for our day, be sure to watch our YouTube episode exploring the lake.
Here’s a great view of the Lakeside Inn and the pool from our cruise.
I highly recommend renting a boat for the day when you visit Mt Dora. This is what Mt Dora is all about and it really was great being back on the water.
Dinner Surprise!
For our last night, we had no idea where to eat. Scott and I had passed by a few restaurants in earlier days and figured we would try one of them. However, we found out that they closed up early on Sundays! Uh ho. As we were walking around town, Scott was searching Google maps and said “hey, there’s a restaurant down this alley way and I think they are open.” So we headed toward The Goblin Market, not knowing if it was market or a restaurant. To our surprise, it was a hidden gem and set up a bit like a speakeasy. The hostess took us upstairs to a library, where the bar was. The food and service was 5 Star (and so are the prices, but totally worth it). This is a must try restaurant when you are in Mt Dora.
We started with appetizers and I had the deep fried artichokes and Scott had the Escargot and they were phenomenal. The Escargot was prepared in a different style than usual and it was amazing.
For dinner had the peppercorn sauce filets and Scott had crabcakes, both out of this world. We finished with a slice of cheesecake that was one of the best cheesecakes we’ve ever had. I wish this restaurant was in Fort Lauderdale!
Conclusion
This was definitely one of the best long weekend trips we’ve had in a long time. Mt Dora is very accessible from most ends of Florida and we could have spent more days exploring. We highly recommend it and know we will be back!
Watch the full episode (link below) to really get a feel for the town. As always, thank you for following our journey and blog. Please take a moment to subscribe and leave your comments – we love hearing from you.
We are headed to the PNW in July and Portugal in August, so we have some great trips to share with you in the coming months. Cheers, Scott and Ally
