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Mount Dora 2025
Mount Dora 2025
We spent Thanksgiving 2025 in Mount Dora, and this charming Florida town won over our entire family. With a group of 25 of us, it was a full extended-family trip. Most of us stayed in nearby bungalows, while two families stayed at the historic Lakeside Inn. I would recommend Mount Dora to anyone looking to spend a little time in a charming Florida town.
Why did we fall in love with our AirBnb?
Why did we fall in love with our AirBnb?
From the moment we walked in, it felt like home. The decor was thoughtful and cozy, with subtle touches of deep purple woven throughout that made the space feel warm and intentional. The house itself was incredibly comfortable and well-appointed—a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a spacious living room, dining area, and kitchen that easily accommodated our stay.
We even hosted Thanksgiving dinner there for our entire group of 22. Beforehand, I let the owners know our plans, and their response set the tone: “It’s your house while you’re here.” Thanksgiving morning, I realized I was missing a turkey pan and an electric knife. I sent a quick message, and within minutes, the owners showed up with everything we needed—plus a beautiful platter to serve the turkey on.
That level of care made this one of the nicest Airbnbs we’ve ever stayed in. And as if that wasn’t enough, the location was perfect—walking distance to Mount Dora’s historic district and just steps from the other two homes our family rented.
Things to See in Mount Dora
Things to See in Mount Dora
If you are visiting Mount Dora, this will help you plan your trip. Here is everything we did during our stay. We were there Wednesday to Sunday.
Lakeside Inn is worth seeing and walking around. It is on a huge lake and you can walk out on their docs and explore the property. The Lakeside Inn is Florida's oldest continuously operating hotel, built in 1883, representing the last of Central Florida's grand Victorian-era hotels, having hosted famous guests like President Calvin Coolidge, and remains on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving its original charm and serving as a living piece of Old Florida history.
We had a great time with Premier Boat Tours. We did a private 2-hour canal tour because there were so many of us, we took up the entire pontoon boat. We brought our own drinks and good. They took us into the canals and it was gorgeous. The kids also enjoyed this and we had 4 kids ranginging in ages from 11-15 yo.
One of my favorite things was Palm Island Park & Boardwalk: We strolled along the elevated boardwalk through an 8-acre nature preserve, offering great opportunities for bird-watching and spotting alligators amidst cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. Definitely worth seeing.
You have to see the famous little lighthouse at Gratham Point. Located on Tremain Street across from Gilbert Park on Lake Dora, Grantham Point Park is sometimes referred to as Lighthouse Park. You can stroll from here to the boardwalk with ease. We grabbed a bench and sat and looked out for a bit, it felt relaxing to look out and see the boats coming and going.
A must do is to just walk around the Historic Distric and go through the shops, we met some great shop owners and left with souvenirs.
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