One Of Florida's Most Walkable Destinations Is A Lakeside Beauty Often Called 'Festival City'

The posts in the middle of Mount Dora, Florida, have signs that point in all directions. Over here is Black Swan Mercantile. Over there is Village Coffeepot. Head this way for The Frog & Monkey Restaurant & Pub. Each sign is styled in a different color and font, representing a range of official logos.

The jaunty signage works for tourists, because nearly everyone is on foot. Mount Dora is considered one of the most walkable towns in Florida, with a classic downtown area with public parks and a staggering collection of small businesses, from cafes and eateries to art institutions. The streets are wide and largely composed of cobblestone, and some are cut off to motor traffic during block parties and festivals. Mount Dora is still small at around 13,000 people, and has largely resisted the rampant development of Orlando's suburbs. This quirky and historic town is one of those overlooked spots in Florida that are absolutely worth visiting.

If a map of the Sunshine State had an "exact center," Mount Dora might be it. The town is about a 45-minute drive Orlando International Airport, depending on traffic, and stands on the edge of Lake Dora, whose gentle waters cover nearly 4,400 acres. While the town's name may sound odd in a pancake-flat state like Florida, the town actually stands at an elevation of 184 feet above sea level — nearly twice the state's average.

Lake Dora has long attracted boaters and anglers of all stripes. This body of water and adjacent canal make a great Orlando-area getaway when you've gotten your fill of Disney World. Powerboats are welcome, along with kayaks and standup paddle boards. Dora is part of a larger grouping, known as the Harris Chain of Lakes, and the municipality is fittingly known as Lake County. Perhaps the most iconic landmark in Mount Dora is its candy-striped lighthouse. This 35-foot-tall structure was completed in 1988 and stands on the tip of Grantham Point Park. This inland lighthouse is a pleasant sight and ripe for selfies, of course, and it also guides nocturnal skippers safely to shore.

The town takes its name from Dora Ann Drawdy, a Georgia native who moved to Florida in the mid-19th century. Drawdy was well loved for her social and hospitable nature, and land surveyors ended up naming the nearby lake in her honor. Drawdy led an eventful life: She married a man named James, and when he died, she married his cousin William, who was felled in the Civil War. Genealogists don't know the exact number, but she bore between six and nine children.

Mount Dora grew steadily over the next century, partly thanks to the railroad that cut through town. The Mount Dora Historic Train Depot is no longer a stop along the tracks, but it has been repurposed as a banquet facility and wedding venue. The town was popular with outdoorsy people and snowbirds — even back in the Victorian Age — and the Alexander House hotel was built in 1883. The veranda-covered building is still in operation as the Lakeside Inn, and it's considered the oldest continuously operating hotel in the state of Florida.

You might expect a little Florida town to organize a handful community events, but nothing like the 30-plus festivals that take place in Mount Dora each year. These include the Art Festival, the Blueberry Festival, the Central Florida Film Festival, the Florida Storytelling Festival, and so many more. The area is considered a pickers' paradise, known informally as the "Antique Capital of Florida," so it's no wonder that Renninger's Antique Extravaganza takes place here, showcasing 800 vendors. The lake is a natural setting for the annual Sail Boat Regatta, but the town is also full of surprises: the Jane Austen Festival, the Scottish Highland Festival, and the Steampunk & Industrial Show have all taken place here.

Perhaps the biggest shock about Mount Dora is its appeal to cyclists; long, smooth roads and miles of established mountain biking routes have won national attention. Most visitors park their cars and walk but you can also rent rides, including pedal-assist models. As a result, the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival is a hotly anticipated event, drawing thousands of cyclists to its casual rides and competitive races.

To host all these guests, Mount Dora has a good number of hotels, inns, and B&Bs, many of them clustered near Lake Dora's eastern shore. Seasoned campers can pitch a tent or hook up an RV on one of several campgrounds in Lake County, and of course this area makes for an easy day-trip from Orlando. You may consider a stop here on this scenic Florida road trip route.