Main picture is a Store Front—I believe on Donnelly in Mt  Dora

No reply from the train as to sites—-did locate this info that might help a bit.  So that’s another location where the train stops

Saturday March 9th, take the train to Wooton Park and DragonFest. Park for FREE and ride the train to the DragonFest Concert Featuring: Parmalee for only $5.00 per person round-trip. Parking at Mount Dora Plaza located at 2700 W. Old Hwy 441, Mount Dora, FL.

Train departure times from the parking lot at 3:45 PM & 6:10 PM. Additional departure time may be added based upon demand. Return train ride to parking lot departs the concert at 9:30 PM.

per some research

•  Tavares: 305 E. Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778 – (Corner of St. Clair Abrams & Ruby)

•  Mount Dora: 150 W. 3rd Ave, Mount Dora, FL 32757 – (Corner of Alexander & 3rd – )

Our local theater scene features the Clermont Performing Arts Center — a 1,200-seat performance hall, which is the largest in the county, as well as a 250-seat black-box theater. The newly refurbished center is part of the 69,000-square-foot Clermont Arts and Recreation Center at  3700 S. Highway 27, atop the hills of Clermont overlooking Lake Felter. Moonlight Players in downtown Clermont. The Clermont City Center is located downtown and is available to rent through the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.

https://www.clermontfl.gov/visitors/about-us.stml

As my regulars know I feature question from readers and future readers and this week a couple who came into the museum asked what there was to do in Clermont.

And so we skip the Keys this week and away we go

Well if you start at the town’s center and drive south along and around the small lakes (on CR 561), it is said you’ll pass along a lovely mile and will come to Cypress Cove

Cypress Cove Marina

http://cypresscovemarina.com/

12540 County Road

561 Clermont, FL 34711

Here you can find boat rentals from Kyakas to paddle boards

While I’ve never used them if you’re into water sports looks like someone you might like to check out

A bit further South will bring you to

Lake Louisa State Park

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lake-louisa-state-park

While the main entrance is on US 27—there is a secondary entrance of SR 561.

This park is within the Green Swamp and contains many lakes and water ways which you can explore by boat or by walking along the many pathways that crisscross the park—the wilderness feel is enhanced by the fact that the land is unsuitable for farming and thus has remained undeveloped.

Clermont and Nearby Attractions

• Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards.
• Florida Citrus Tower.
• Diamond Players Club Clermont.
• Presidents Hall of Fame.
• Citrus Valley Campground.
• Universal Studios.
• Walt Disney World.
• https://www.citytowninfo.com/places/florida/clermont

Citrus Tower

Home

•  141 N Highway 27,
• Clermont, FL 34711
• (352) 394-4061
• Ride to the top of The Citrus Tower and stay as long as you would like:
  Adults: $8.00
  Children: $6.00

Group Rate: 20% OFF 20 people or more!

Monday -Saturday
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving, & Christmas

This use to be a famous part of vacationing in Florida (it was completed in 1950s), but in more modern times few visitors have ever hear of it.  While the citrus for the most part is gone, you can see Disney and Orlando and lots more from this tower perched along US 27..

Lily’s Gifts

Is the gift shop here and carries everything from home deco to what they describe as items “with that Florida feel.”

South Lake County experienced one of its early boom periods after the Civil War, when many pioneers were motivated by the offer of free land by the Homestead Act of 1862 and the desire to start a new life with their families. Railroads connected the eastern seaboard with Florida in the 1880s and brought a large influx of new residents. Rail lines between Sanford and St. Petersburg in addition to smaller lines, such as the Tavares & Gulf, brought visitors and new commerce to the communities of Montverde, Clermont, Minneola, Tayorville, (which later became Groveland) and Mascotte and the area prospered. Clermont became known as the Tomato Capital of Florida. A few miles north of Groveland, dozens of wealthy northerners started what was to be an enclave of mansions or villas known as Villa City.

History Of South Lake

The
Mulberry Inn

915 W. Montrose Street   34711

352-242-0670

This lovely former home,  was built around 1890 by one of the town founders who was also a mill owner Achibald Gano.

Just a few blocks (2) north on West Ave is

Clermont Historic Village 

http://www.clermontvillage.org/depot

352-593-8496   |   490 West Avenue, Clermont, FL

Hours of Operation

Friday – 1pm-3pm

Saturday and Sunday – 1pm-4pm

Admission

Admission: Free
Guided Tour: Suggested Donation $2*

Train Depot

Now contains the Museum

also in the Historic Village

Townsend House (1895)

Moved to this location in 2002

An Outhouse

Kern House (1895)

Replica of Herring Hooks Schoolhouse

Originally a hunting lodge which later served as a one room school house

Cooper Memorial Library (1914)

Quonset Hut WWII Museum

Palatlakaha Boardwalk and Fishing Pier 

https://www.clermontfl.gov/departments/parks-recreation/boat-ramps.stml

12th Street (C.R. 561) in the southwest part of the city.

 800 foot scenic boardwalk through the natural wetland area offering a unique look at our natural habitat.

other piers in the city include

Eighth Street Pier 

 Eighth Street and Osceola Street

Fishing, sight seeing and picnic areas

Fifth Street Pier 

 End of Fifth Street

 fishing and sightseeing.

2nd Street Fishing Pier 

Northern end of 2nd Street at Waterfront Park.

Fishing and leisure relaxation

The main highways in the Clermont area are US-27 (a major north-south highway), and State Road 50 (a major east-west highway that runs from Titusville in the east to Weeki Wachee Springs in the west).  Downtown Clermont is west of the intersection of these two highways.  Over the years, major commercial and residential development has taken place around this intersection until the real nature of Clermont is obscured by the hundreds of chain restaurants, service stations and shopping malls.

https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/clermont-florida.html

City Parks

https://www.clermontfl.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks.stml

WATERFRONT PARK

100 3rd St.

 Lake Minneola, between East Avenue and Eighth Street.  The site of several festivals as well as water competition.  And the coast to coat trail runs thru the park as well as a fitness trail.

Champions Splash Park is also located here. https://www.clermontfl.gov/departments/parks-recreation/champions-splash-park/

LAKE HIAWATHA

450 N. Lake Minneola Shores (west of the roundabout)

 220-acre, 2 dog parks, one playground, picnic pavilion and restrooms.

HANCOCK PARK

3301 Hancock Road

Sports fields (5 softball, 2 soccer) as well as tennis and basket ball courts.  Concessions, bathroom, kids play area, and picnic areas as well as a home t thee local girl’s soft ball league.

PALATLAKAHA PARK

1250 12th St.

Baseball and soccer fields, tennis, racquetball and volleyball courts as well as concessions. A fitness trail, playground and picnic areas.  Also fishing pier and nature walk…home of Little League Team

VICTORY POINTE

938 Victory Way

10-acre part with trails

Royal Crown Stratfordshire England Lavender flowers on White Standard Size Tea Pot

$65.75 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/598332544/royal-crown-stratfordshire-england?ref=shop_home_active_44

This winery which sets on a hill has a great view of the area and while it is a winery and sells wine and all that it is in itself a major destination with all manner of things to do.

They have just adding an after hours

Wine and Cheese Bar

https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/wine-cheese-bar/

In March there’s gonna be a

Wine and Seafood` Festival

https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/wine-and-seafood/

and in April

Blues at the Winery

https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/blues-at-the-winery/

and there’s many more:

https://www.lakeridgewinery.com/Events/index.php

I’ve been to several and they’re great fun.

and that’s not everything in Clermont—but I’m running out of room:

There’s the Show Place of Citrus:  just click on home

Home

and check this out to learn more about the town:   https://www.clermontfl.gov/visitors/about-us.stml

Your Hometown Shopping & Dining Destination. Visit us on our Farmers Market page Facebook.com/downtownclermontfarmersmarket

]

Haven’t done any cuties lately—and if this one isn’t cute—-then I don’t know the meaning of the word.  I met him and his staff on main street in Mt. Dora–Hope his friends found their way down to Pisces for an outdoor lunch.

Endless sunshine, well-lubricated happy hours, and a free-spirited vibe have lured some of the world’s best writers to Key West, Florida. Literary heavyweights like Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and Robert Frost have all called the Keys home, and their influence is still visible on the islands today—-Fodor’s| January 3, 2014

The Royal Palm Railway Experience is  central Florida’s premier tourist railroad, the Orlando & Northwestern Railway! Based in Tavares, FL,, “America’s Seaplane City”, in the region known as the “Golden Triangle”, the Royal Palm Railway Experience is only a short 30-mile drive northwest from Orlando!  And with that I begin another answered question for one of my readers (or future ones).

Golden Triangle Route

Discover Eustis, Mount Dora and Tavares on The Golden Triangle Route. Hop-on and hop-off at any destination and ride all day.  The trains are beautifully restored 1940 vintage passenger cars that take you across central Florida as well back in time.

https://www.thefloridatrain.com/adventurous.php

check out their site here for just a few of the many adventures and excursions.

I’ve put an email thru to the company to get exact information on the locations that you enter and/or exit the trains to allow you easier hook up for this fun adventure.

Best Time To Go

Peak tourist season in the Florida Keys begins in late December, right after the holidays, and the area remains busy through May. The number of visitors drops during the summer months, but for Florida residents and other travelers who don’t mind a bit of humidity, the summer months offer an opportunity to take advantage of thinned-out crowds and better deals on hotels. June 1 to November 30 is officially hurricane season in the Keys, though August, September, and November are the most vulnerable months.

Travel and Leisure

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/florida-keys

 Wren on Hand Painted Decorative Bird House

First I forgot to mention any damage to Key Largo by hurricane Irma that went thru the Keys.

September 21, 2017 By Tammy Camp

Hurricane Irma Damage Reports from Florida Keys to Key West

A quick list from some of our favorite bars and restaurants in the Florida Keys. Check their Facebook pages for more information. We included pictures or video if they were harder to locate.

• Caribbean Club, Key Largo – No damage. Open for business.
• Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory, Key Largo – Minor damage to gardens. Closed until Oct. 15.
• Sharkey’s Pub & Galley Restaurant, Key Largo – Minor water damage downstairs. Open for business.
• Snappers, Key Largo – Significant damage. Closed.
• Alabama Jacks, Card Sound Rd. – Found 3 different people commenting on FB that Alabama Jacks has some damage to one porch, had flooding. Cleaning up and should be open soon

Based on this (2017)—and everything opening soon doesn’t appear to be any severe damage about Largo.

Mitten Cats (I’ve not heard them called this before and many people question the connection with Hemingway—but none-the-less they do now dwell at Hemingway’s former home on Key West)

Mitten cats have six toes, and their origin can be traced back to the Keys. The legendary Ernest Hemingway was rumored to have received a mitten cat on his voyage through the Keys. Hemingway’s house and museum are home to a collection of mitten cats.

Interesting Facts About The Florida Keys

EYE MAGAZINE August 1968 Vol 1 #6

1 in stock

$89.06

Expires Jun 5, 2019

https://www.etsy.com/listing/236740099/eye-magazine-august-1968-vol-1-6?ref=shop_home_active_10

The fact that the Keys do things their way is established with places like The History and Discovery Center     

https://www.keysdiscovery.com/

  which sets on the property of the Islander Resort https://www.islanderfloridakeys.com/

  , and which is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

““““““““““““““`

Bike the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail: A bike trail extends from Key Largo to Key West, but it’s not finished and some sections put cyclists next to highway traffic in a narrow shoulder.

In Islamorada, however, this trail takes the Old Highway and this section makes a delightful, scenic and safe 20-mile roundtrip. For 10 miles, the old state road (State Highway 4A) parallels U.S. 1 on the ocean side. It’s a scenic stretch, but has only occasional water views as it mostly passes through a woodsy residential area. It’s fun to spend time seeing life in the Keys up close, including places where people live and work. (A nice stop along the way is the Old Road Gallery, 88888 Old Highway, Tavernier, where you also can see one of the concrete “hurricane houses” built by the Red Cross after the 1935 hurricane.)

Sun Sentinel

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/fl-florida-rambler-islamorada-20161231-story.html

Victoria/Czech Dessert Motif TEA SET

$111.19

https://www.etsy.com/listing/493702765/victoriaczech-dessert-motif-tea-set-with?ref=shop_home_active_9

It’s been forever since I was in the Keys (of South Florida fame), so thought I’d take an on line trip down the not so distantly storm damaged chain of islands that were strung together at the turn of the 19th into the early 20th century by a rail road that “went to sea and was damaged in a mid depression storm (another ‘caine) which ended the railway, which was soon replaced by a road way for motor cars which has managed to stay in existence ever since.

The Keys use to be the crazy place, one of the few real outposts that those of us who didn’t want to brave the coldness of Alaska, or the forgiveness of a strange language of a foreign port could escape to and still maintain their life in the all too straight “real” world, could escape to without destroying our bank accounts or digging out our passports.  But with each passing year when I continued to visit and now that I am just watching from afar, I fear that the horrors of civilization are taming, eviscerating and making extinct the spirit of those who use too live there–and the true free spirits have moved on to places (so few and far between) where there are still those who are original and free spirited.

So stating today I am going to start searching for those things I knew here to see what is left on this land that was once the home to pirates, wreckers,  wicked dolls and even x-ray techs with a taste of love with the unliving—to see how far it is sinking into the mainstream.  Maybe if there is enough left we can return there in reality—if not we can morn its passing

John Huston (The Maltese Falcon) directed this smart thriller about a gangster (Edward G. Robinson) who holds a number of people hostage in a hotel in the Florida Keys during a tropical storm. Humphrey Bogart is the returning war veteran who takes on the villains, and Lauren Bacall is on hand as one of the people on the wrong end of Robinson’s gun.

Tom Keogh

1972 33 1/3 Vinyl LP of 3 Record Set Original Concert For Bangladesh

First stop is Key Largo….it’s had a bridge to the mainland for several years before there was an Overseas Highway …they even made a movie of the same name  (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040506/)  —however the movie starring Humphrey Bogart was actually filmed by John Hurston on Hollywood back lot and except for a couple of place that were used—the only one  that I can find that’s still about today–The Caribbean Club (https://www.caribbeanclubkl.com/ )  and It was never one of my stops on the way to Key Weird—

While Hurston and Boggie never made it to Key Largo, something else they were both familiar with did:

The African Queen

http://africanqueenflkeys.com/index.html

Key West has had some interesting occupants—Homer Ludwig, reportedly a sailor that jumped ship in Key West in the 1870s and lived there for several years becoming a self proclaimed historian for the Keys—and eventually became a treasure hunter—eventually moving up the chain of island in search of this treasure, finally settling in Key Largo where he reportedly thought the treasure was to be found.  Once on Largo he went about building a house of drift wood and a boat for which he used to go to the village that at this time was Miami, to buy his favorite food sardines and crackers.  In 1908 while he was reportedly on his way to the mainland a storm came up and he and his boat were never seen again—leaving some who insisted that the treasure still remains on Key Largo.

Key Largo Underseas Park

• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34344-d218567-Reviews-Key_Largo_Undersea_Park-Key_Largo_Florida_Keys_Florida.html

51 Shoreland Dr
Key Largo, FL 33037

(305) 451-2353

My favorite part of this attraction which I have never been too but it looks worth a trip is the underseas hotel.  Located in the lagoon at Key Largo Undersea Park, Jules’  http://jul.com/    this is the world’s only underwater hotel! In addition to overnight stays in the Lodge, the Park offers a SCUBA training location in its Lagoon, with a depth of up to 30′ in a protected setting.  Some of their visitors have included Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler, actor Tim Allen and former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau!

and the island also boasts the First under seas Park

• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• http://pennekamppark.com/
• 102601 Overseas Highway (MM 102.5)
• Key Largo, FL 33037
• P.O. Box 1560
• (305) 451-6300

The park boasts nearly 500 species of fish and 50 varieties of coral.  For those who don’t dive there are also Glassbottom boat rides—and the famous Christ of the Deep

The Jewfish, Florida post office was opened on February 8, 1912 until May 31, 1921, when it was renamed Key Largo.

Alabama Jack’s

https://www.floridabeachbar.com/alabama-jacks

58000 Card Sound Road
Key Largo, FL 33037
(305) 248-8741

One of those funky places and a bit hard to find—that the Keys use to be known for

To get there take Card Sound Road heading out of Key Largo. Cross the toll bridge–you’ll need cash (was a $1)  Alabama Jack’s is on your left. 

and some other inhabitants you can’t miss are the Dolphins

Dolphins Plus Bayside

https://www.dolphinsplus.com/

101900 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037
Located at MM 102 Bayside
Toll Free: 1-866-860-7946

where you can swim with, even paint with the popular sea creatures

There’s also a

Florida Wild Bird Rehab Center

https://www.missionwildbird.com/

• 93600 Overseas Hwy,
• Tavernier, FL 33070
•  (305) 852-4486
• in case you prefer the feathered inhabitants.

   The 1639 Johannes Vingboons, a Dutch cartographer, chart labeled the island of Key Largo as “Caio dos 12 Ligues.” The Roggeveen chart of 1675 referred to it as “Caio dos Doces Leugnes (Key of 12 leagues).” The 1733 Spanish chart made during the effort to recover the treasure of the New Spain armada after its sinking off of the Upper Keys referred to Key Largo as “Cayo Largo.”  Another chart made in 1760 by J. Proctor also named it “Cayo Largo.” The William De Brahm chart of 1772 shows it as “Peninsular Larga.” Bernard Romans published a 1774 chart that used the specific words “Key Largo.” 

HISTORY OF
KEY LARGO

By Jerry Wilkinson