Gold In Art Jewelers

You’ll find shops and boutiques in every nook of Lake County. Our area holds a reputation as a center for artists. Over a dozen studios, galleries, and museums throughout the city prove that. Mount Dora sponsors art walks throughout the year. And is home to one of the country’s largest art festivals.

Along with the Historic Downtown, the Uptown area offers a variety of opportunities for finding treasures. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the shops and restaurants on and around Highland Street.

Due to the high volume of tourist traffic year-round, most shops are open seven days a week. You should still check a business’s website or Facebook page to obtain their particular hours. From home décor to artisan jewelry to fine wines and hand-crafted beers, shopping Mount Dora combines a wide assortment of modern merchandise and vintage goods with the unhurried atmosphere of an earlier time.

That’s why we are “Someplace Special.”

Mount Dora offers an endless variety of delicious dining choices as an area that attracts very discerning tourists. From a light snack to full-course gourmet meals, our restaurants and cafés rank among the best in all of Florida.

Whether you crave the tang of southern barbecue, authentic Florida seafood, international cuisine, or anything in between, you’ll find a true culinary masterpiece waiting around every corner. No matter what time of day a craving hits, we have eateries specializing in breakfast, lunch, or dinner, with multiple choices for succulent weekend brunches or delightful desserts.

Several of the restaurants offer an outside dining experience. You can enjoy the terrific Mount Dora weather and a great meal.

For delightfully different experiences, sample our local breweries, pubs, coffee shops, and bistros.

Many of our area’s finest dining establishments require reservations. Our little town gets jam-packed on festival weekends, so it’s always best to phone ahead to ensure availability. 

Mount Dora gives you endless opportunities to experience authentic Florida. Take a walk through our historic downtown, a boat trip on one of our many lakes, or a bike ride in the surrounding area and see for yourself. You can play pickleball, tennis and many other activities in Mount Dora’s parks.

Mount Dora is a haven for water activities. We’re home to over 310 miles of navigable waterways, perfect for boating, kayaking, canoeing, or sitting peacefully by the shore. Boat and adventure tours are available on Lake Dora and the Harris Chain of Lakes. We recommend you visit the Dora Canal, described as “the most beautiful mile of water in the world.”

If fishing is your passion, you should know that the Harris Chain of Lakes is known as the Bass Capital of the World. The area is a magnet for pro and amateur anglers, with many tournaments held in our area throughout the year.

For biking enthusiasts, we offer the Mount Dora Mountain Bike Trail . Built and maintained by the Ocala Mountain Bike Association, this challenging 4-mile course offers sharp turns and fast drops. The intermediate-rated track offers speed and sudden switchbacks. The trail is shaded for most of the journey, with breathtaking trees and natural foliage to enhance your ride. 

Dozens of state parks and recreational areas encompassing Lake and nearby Orange Counties surround Mount Dora. They are all open for public use and exploration.

These include:

• Alexander Springs Recreation Area

• Blue Spring State Park (where you can see manatees)

• Clearwater Lake Recreation Area

• De Leon Springs State Park

• Eustis Lake Walk

• Hontoon Island State Park

• Lake Griffin State Park

• Lake Louisa State Park

• Palatlakaha Recreation Area

• Palm Island Boardwalk on Lake Dora

• Rock Springs Run State Reserve

• Silver Springs State Park (where you can ride the famous glass-bottom boats)

• Wekiwa Springs State Park

Closer to home, Downtown Mount Dora has an array of parks and recreational areas for young and old alike.

Gilbert Park , located at Tremain and Liberty, has recently undergone a renovation, adding two new pavilions and new landscaping, as well as an expanded Wood Wonderland playground for the young ones.

Annie Donnelly Park , is located right in the heart of downtown Mount Dora. This park also features tennis and pickleball courts.

Grantham Point Park , adjacent to Gilbert Park, is often referred to as Lighthouse Park because of its 35-foot lighthouse that helps boaters navigate Lake Dora after dark. The lighthouse, by the way, is the only inland freshwater lighthouse in the state.

If you’re a real nature lover, a visit to Palm Island Park at the end of Tremain Street is in order. The park is an 8-acre nature preserve ideal for birdwatching and outdoor hikes along multiple trails. The park includes a fishing pier, picnic shelters, and a mile long boardwalk. If you’re lucky, you might see a few alligators and otters swimming in their natural habitat while ospreys, eagles and herons fly above.

Other area parks include:

• Cauley Lott Park

• D.O.R.A. (Dog Off-Leash Recreation Area) Dog Park

• Elizabeth Evans Park

• Lillie Park

• Lincoln Avenue Community Park & Pool

• Ruthie Watson Park

• Simpson Cove

• Sunset Park

• Trimble Park

Many of Mount Dora’s parks are available on a rental basis for birthday parties, weddings and other special events. 

Mount Dora has long had an outstanding reputation as a a community which embraces the arts. Our city is home to a diverse collection of art galleries, studios, theaters, museums, and other cultural centers dedicated to artistic expression and creative freedom.

Initially founded by a group of volunteers dedicated to supporting fine art, the Mount Dora Center for the Arts (MDCA) has grown into a multifaceted community center with gallery exhibitions and art education programs for all ages and levels. Located on E. 5th Avenue, the Center for the Arts holds monthly Art Strolls and art auctions. MDCA leads the organization of the Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival, one of the top art events in Florida.

Mount Dora is also home to multiple art galleries and studios for those looking to add to their personal collection or to browse and enjoy the art.

One of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the state, the Sonnetag Theater at the Icehouse has been delighting audiences since 1949. Newly renovated facility on North Unser Street, providing a year-round slate of musicals, comedies, and dramatic plays to patrons from all over Central Florida.

Without doubt, one of the most unique museums anywhere, the Modernism Museum Mount Dora on E. 4th Avenue is also one of the city’s newest attractions. Founded in 2013 and dedicated to displaying examples of the modernism movement that fuses sculpture with furniture making to create one-of-a-kind pieces as fascinating as they are functional.

Suppose you’re interested in the area’s history. In that case, the Mount Dora Historical Museum is located near Donnelly Park in what was once the city’s first fire station and city jail. Maintained by the Mount Dora Historical Society, the museum focuses on the significant people and events in Mount Dora from 1880 to 1930.

Any golfer worth their salt knows that Florida has more golf courses than any other state, over 1,100 of them.

Mount Dora has more than our fair share of well-kept greens and rolling fairways. In fact, in and around the Central Florida area, you’ll find more than 50 courses, many of which have been designed and played on by the biggest names in the sport.

While most clubs are open to the public, some are private and a few may have private events on their course any given day, so it’s best to check with the course you have in mind before finalizing plans for your golf outing.