Local Directory
Restaurants, bars, venues, and more across the region
Dora Canal
TavaresA mile-long natural canal connecting Lake Dora and Lake Eustis, often called the most beautiful waterway in Florida. Lined with ancient cypress trees, ideal for kayaking.
Dora Queen
TavaresLuxury 80-foot New Orleans-style paddlewheel boat offering 2-hour cruises on Lake Dora with a full-service bar, lounge seating, and both open-air and climate-controlled decks.
Dora Queen Paddlewheel Cruises
TavaresAn 80-foot New Orleans-style paddlewheel boat cruising Lake Dora. The two-hour tours are scenic and relaxed, and the boat is available for private events. It's one of those experiences that feels like it belongs in another era -- in the best way.
Downtown Tavares
TavaresDowntown Tavares along Main Street near the waterfront. Hosts festivals, seaplane events, and community gatherings on Lake Dora.
Elizabeth Evans Park
Mount DoraSmall waterfront park on Lake Dora in downtown Mount Dora with benches and lake views. A quiet spot for a quick break or photo opportunity while exploring the shops.
Far Reach Ranch UPICK Farm
TavaresFamily-owned U-pick farm and event space on the shores of Lake Dora offering seasonal strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry picking, plus craft jams, honey, and baked goods.
Gilbert Park
Mount DoraLakefront park on Lake Dora with a boat launch, fishing pier, and scenic views. A peaceful spot to watch the sunset or launch a kayak for a paddle on the lake.
Grantham Pointe (Light House)
Mount DoraHome of Mount Dora's iconic inland lighthouse on Lake Dora — one of the few freshwater lighthouses in the state. A picturesque waterfront walk with stunning views and a must-see photo spot.
Kalua Beach Bar
TavaresA lakefront bar with Hawaiian-inspired food, Lake Dora views, and live music on weekends. The vibe is Jimmy Buffett meets lake town Florida -- laid back, sandy-footed, and exactly where you want to be on a Friday night.
Keel & Curley Winery at Lake Dora
TavaresTasting room outpost of the popular Florida blueberry winery, offering wine flights, glasses, and bottles in a relaxed setting.
Lake Dora Boat Tours
Mount DoraCruise the interconnected Harris Chain of Lakes on a guided boat tour departing from Mount Dora's historic lakefront. Sunset cruises offer golden-hour views of one of Florida's most scenic inland lake systems.
Legacy Cigar Bar & Lounge
TavaresCigar bar and lounge in downtown Tavares with a walk-in humidor, 16 beer taps, craft beers, wines, live music, karaoke, and outdoor seating with Lake Dora views.
Mount Dora Lighthouse
Mount DoraOne of the few inland lighthouses in the United States, this iconic structure sits in Grantham Point Park on Lake Dora. A popular photo spot and symbol of the town.
Mount Dora Yacht Club
Mount DoraFlorida's oldest inland yacht club, established in 1913 on the banks of Lake Dora, featuring a granite bar with floor-to-ceiling lake views, a private dock, and an annual regatta tradition.
Palm Island Boardwalk
Mount DoraFree 8-acre nature preserve on Lake Dora with a 1/3-mile boardwalk winding through old-growth live oaks and ancient cypress, offering frequent sightings of alligators, turtles, and wading birds.
Palm Island Park
Mount DoraEight-acre nature preserve on Lake Dora with a winding boardwalk through old-growth oaks, cabbage palms, and cypress. Watch for wading birds, turtles, and gators along the water's edge. Free, open sunrise to sunset.
Pisces Rising
Mount DoraFresh seafood with a view of Lake Dora. Creative preparations and a lakefront setting that's hard to beat in this part of Florida.
Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill & Bar
TavaresLakeside dining with front-row views of Lake Dora and the seaplane base -- which means you might watch a plane land while you eat your burger. The seafood is fresh, the drinks are strong, and the outdoor patio is where you want to be at sunset.
Ruby Street Grille
TavaresTavares' go-to for lakeside live entertainment and cold drinks. Ruby Street Grille keeps the patio packed with regular live music, a solid pub menu, and views of Lake Dora. It's more bar-with-great-food than restaurant-with-a-bar.
Rusty Anchor Mount Dora
Mount DoraPontoon boat tour company on Lake Dora run by a 4th-generation native Floridian, offering 2-hour Dora Canal wildlife tours, sunset cruises, and lunch/dinner cruises aboard covered, USCG-inspected vessels.
Sydonie Mansion
Mount DoraHistoric 1883 mansion on Lake Dora designed in Mediterranean Revival style after Spain's Alhambra Castle, now a premier wedding and event venue with wrap-around porches and live oak gardens.
Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina
TavaresPublic marina and seaplane base on Lake Dora with boat slips, fuel dock, and launch ramps. The hub for waterfront access in America's Seaplane City.
Wooten Park
TavaresTavares's premier waterfront park on Lake Dora featuring a splash pad, pavilions, playground, boat ramp, and the seaplane base.
Wooton Park & Pavilion on the Lake
TavaresTavares' crown jewel on the shores of Lake Dora, Wooton Park features a landmark pavilion, splash pad, playground, fishing pier, and a waterfront amphitheater that hosts concerts and movies. The park's promenade offers panoramic lake views and connects to the seaplane base where Jones Brothers operates. It's the heart of Tavares' 'America's Seaplane City' identity.