IT’S A MOUNTAIN! IT’S A HILL! NO IT’S A TOWN

Florida Fact: In November 1984 a storm deposited a 230-foot Venezuelan #tankerMercedes behind the sea wall at Molly Wilmot’s Palm #beachfront home–it was stuck there for 103 days. (FLORIDA FUNFACTS/Kleinberg)

I decided to write on one of my favorite Central Florida towns: #MTDORA . It’s been called “Everyone’s Home Town”, “The Rose Capital”, “The Antique Center”, and “one of the Safest (towns) to live”. (THE FLORIDA ONE-DAY TRIP BOOK/Hayes)

“This town…was named for a nearby Lake, which a surveying team had named after a local woman Dora Ann Drawdy, who had shown them kindness and hospitality” (THE BOOK LOVERS GUIDE TO FLORIDA/Editor: McCarthy)

It is also the setting for the classic post-apocalyptic novel, #Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, under the fictitious name of Fort Repose. and The buildings in downtown Mount Dora were painted pink for the feature film, #Honky Tonk Freeway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Dora,_Florida

Its been described as a typical New England town (“except for he palm trees and Spanish moss” –THE BEST SMALL TOWNS UNDER THE SUN/Howard) and it is with its lake side situation and it’s lovely old homes and interesting down town (which is currently undergoing a face lift.) that and much more.

In fact the Chamber of Commerce office is in a train depot built in 1915 . Its a great place to start as it has maps, brochures and friendly helpful staff to plan out your day.

SOME OF MY FAVORITES

1. LAKESIDE INN: Mt Dora’s oldest structure built in 1883 as the 10 room Alexander House it got it’s current name in 1933 and still operates as a hotel and restaurant. Totally charming. (VISITING SMALL-TOWN FLORIDA/Hunt) More info: http://lakeside-inn.com/

2. DONNELLY HOUSE: A wedding gift from Pittsburgh developer and two-time mayor John Phillip Donnelly to his bride Annie McDonald Stone in 1893. (WALKING PLACES IN FLORIDA/Marshall) see more http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34461-d215446-Reviews-Donnelly_House-Mount_Dora_Florida.html

3. PICES RISING: focus is fresh seafood and hand-cut Certified Black Angus Beef served with fresh seasonal vegetables and flair. Lovingly wrapped around a Florida cracker bungalow style home built in the 1920s, the modern addition blends seamlessly with its gracious past …overlooks Lake Dora and the setting sun. See more at http://www.piscesrisingdining.com/Home.html

4. DOWNTOWN & SHOPPING: The heart of downtown Mount Dora is at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Donnelly Street. It’s hard to pick just one road as Mount Dora’s Main Street. Most of the retail action is on Donnelly Street but other shops can be found on 3rd, 4th, and 5th Avenues, and Alexander Street and Dora Drawdy Way. See more at http://www.destinationmainstreets.com/florida/mount-dora.php and that’s just a few: see it all at http://www.mountdora.com/

SOME COLLECTIBLES YOU MIGHT HAVE LYING AROUND and please, please, please check out my store--just click above.