Things To Do
Downtown Mount Dora
A great place to walk around, shop, or grab a drink. Known as “Festival City,” there’s a good chance you’ll stumble upon a market, art fair, or live music if you visit on the weekend.
Mount Dora Boat Tour - Premier Boat Tours
Relaxing ride through the lake and canal system with local history and wildlife. Book ahead if going on a weekend.
CatBoat Adventure Tours
Drive your own little two-person catboat around the lake—super fun and unique. Reservations recommended.
Long & Scott Farms
Seasonal events, farm stand, and kid-friendly fun. Check their website for hours and event dates.
Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive
A scenic route through wetlands, perfect for spotting wildlife from your car. Only open Friday-Sunday. Note: the drive is 11 miles long and can take 2-3 hours to get through since traffic moves very slow. Check out this video to prepare: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1585218099122959
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
Florida’s largest winery, offering free tastings and a variety of wines made on-site. They often host weekend events with live music, food vendors, and outdoor seating—perfect for a laid-back afternoon with friends. Check their schedule before visiting—events vary week to week.
Kings Landing Paddle board/Kayak
Make reservations in advance! A scenic spot to rent kayaks or paddle through crystal-clear waters. It’s a popular launch point, so reservations are strongly recommended (especially on weekends). Ideal for guests who want an active, nature-filled Florida experience, but be prepared to paddle!
Wekiva Island
A laid-back riverfront spot with drinks, kayak rentals, and prime people-watching. It gets filled to capacity often on the weekends, so we recommend going early or swinging by later in the day once the morning crowd clears out. Cabanas are available to rent in advance, but they tend to sell out—so if that’s your vibe, plan ahead!
Downtown Sanford
A fun area to walk around, grab some food, or check out a local brewery. There are often events or live music on the weekends, so it’s a great place to explore and hang out.
Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens
A low-key, family-friendly zoo with over 350 animals, a splash pad, and even giraffe feeding.
Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
Cruises through the chain of lakes with views of historic homes and gardens. Great for a relaxing afternoon.
Leu Gardens
A quiet botanical garden near downtown Orlando. Shady trails, big trees, and great spots for photos. Check their event calendar to see what they have going on that weekend! Fun fact: Its also where we took our engagement photos!
Orlando Watersports Complex
Home to a giant inflatable obstacle course on the water—perfect for kids and adults alike. Jump, climb, splash, and laugh your way through it. Great option if you have older kids with you! They also offer wakeboarding for anyone looking to try something new.
Orlando Magic Game
It will be basketball season so keep an eye on the schedule and see if you can catch a game!
New Smyrna Beach
Alexis’s favorite beach in the area! About 1 hour and 15 minutes from Mount Dora, and worth the drive if you’re in the mood for a beach day. The sand is soft, you can drive on the beach, and Flagler Avenue has plenty of great spots for food and drinks. It can get pretty crowded in the spring, so it’s best to either go early or later in the day after the morning crowd clears out. They can be strict about alcohol, so pour drinks into cups and keep everything in coolers. As long as you're low-key, they usually leave you alone.
Cocoa Beach
A popular beach spot that can get busy in the spring—just be ready for crowds. The main area is near a restaurant called Coconuts (kind of the local landmark), and it's usually the most packed. If you venture farther out, you’ll find quieter areas depending on the vibe you're going for. You can’t drive on the sand here, so if you're bringing beach gear, a wagon is your best friend or be prepared to lug it all by hand.
Detroit Tigers Spring Training
About an hour and 15 minutes from Mount Dora, the closest spring training stadium is in Lakeland where the Detroit Tigers train. Keep an eye on the MLB spring training schedule as it gets closer if you want to catch a game!
Renninger's Flea Market & Antique Center
It’s everything you’d expect from a flea market _ chaotic, crowded, and full of totally random stuff you didn’t know you needed. And yet... you won’t be able to look away. Only open on weekends