WANDERLUST
Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio
The state of Florida has a total land area of 170,312 square kilometers, more than half of the total land area of the Philippines, which is 300,000 square kilometers. The United States has 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska.
Despite its vastness, Florida has no mountain to speak of. It’s relatively flat, whose elevations range from 0 to 320 feet above sea level.
Surprisingly, there’s a city called Mount Dora, whose elevation of 56 meters above sea level is the state’s equivalent of a mountain top town. Its elevation is higher than those of Davao (22 meters), Manila and Zamboanga (16 meters), General Santos City (15 meters), and Cagayan de Oro (10 meters).
No, Mount Dora – about 40 minutes northwest of Orlando City – is not named after Dora the Explorer but for Ms. Dora Ann Drawdy (1819-1885), one of the earlier settlers who farmed in the area in the mid-1800s. She reportedly befriended federal surveyors with her warm hospitality.
Before we (with my sister Marilou and her husband, Dave) visited the place, I got this description from hotels.com: “The relaxed and laidback city of Mount Dora is surrounded by beautiful lakes and offers charming attractions all year round. With a population of around 12,000 people, the small city has a unique charm that’s punctuated by its active arts community.”
Mount Dora is worth a visit any time of the year but it’s better if you visit the place where there’s a festivity or events. After all, it is known as “The Festival City.”
A local told me that the best time to visit is in December as the city celebrates the Christmas Festival. About two million lights cover Donnelly Park in the heart of the city. The switch is clicked on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and after that a series of holiday events continues until the end of the year.
The bad thing about visiting the place during one of its festivals is the city gets crowded. Plus, there’s a lack of parking which is a hassle, indeed.
Don’t worry about exploring the downtown area under the heat of the sun. You can always walk under a canopy of live oak trees that have been loved and esteemed by residents for since time immemorial.
Proceed to its historic district as it has dozens of well-preserved buildings. But before doing so, visit first the Chamber of Commerce located at 341 Alexander Street and get a free brochure with a self-guided walking tour of the historic district.
If antique is your thing, Mount Dora is the place to be. It may be a small city but the downtown area has several antique shops. Go straight to Renninger’s, an antique center which has 200 booths with everything from vintage made-in- shirts to jewelry, furniture and collectibles.
If you happen to visit the city on Sundays, try to go to the Village Market at Sunset Park. It features local produce (onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes, sweet tomatoes), meat and cheese from regional farmers, as well as locally made crafts.
Now that you’re done with exploring the downtown area, the next place to visit is Lake Dora, which is considered its crown jewel. One of the attractions is the Grantham Point Park, which features a 35-foot-high lighthouse. The place is a favorite spot for bird watching and sunset viewing. “Mount Dora is best seen from the water,” a local told us.
If you have the dough, get a room reservation at the historic Lakeside Inn. Get an opportunity to stay in the place where American President Calvin Coolidge and his wife were billeted for more than a month in the winter of 1930.
Of course, you can swim in the lake. Water sports such as skiing, tubing, wakeboarding and wake surfing are very popular. If you swim, it will be at your own risk. Like all natural Florida lakes, the water has alligators.
You can avail one of its boat tours. During the tour, you can see different wildlife species like bald eagles, turtles, fish, alligators, and aquatic birds under the cypress trees.
You can also do fishing as the Dora Lake is a great place to fish for bass (apahap). In fact, many people refer to it as the Bass Capital. It’s no wonder why the lake is a popular fishing spot for local tournament anglers.
Don’t worry where to eat as the downtown area has more than 20 restaurants within a three-block radius. They offer everything from Florida classics and seafood to a world of tastes, including Italian, German, and Indian. On weekends, some bars and restaurants have live music. – ###
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