There’s nothing like escaping to the mountains for a little R&R and that’s just what I did last weekend. And, I stayed within Florida. My little getaway was to Mount Dora which towers 182 feet above sea level, the second highest elevation in Florida.
Located less than an hour’s drive northwest of Orlando, Mount Dora is an adorable lakefront community with boutique shops, delicious restaurants, an abundance of activities and quaint bed and breakfast inns. During my visit I was the guest of Mount Dora Historic Inn and stayed in their spacious Oasis Cottage.
Choices with Mount Dora Historic Inn
Mount Dora Historic Inn offers a collection of four rooms within the inn and several cottages located nearby. The Inn is a B&B featuring private baths and breakfast each morning. I enjoy B&Bs but I also like some flexibility and independence, which is what the Oasis Cottage offered. Check out Couponers United’s review of her stay at the Mount Dora Historic Inn.
The Oasis Cottage is part of the Conch House Cottages and is located behind another cottage named Veranda (which dates back to 1912). The cottage is adorable and includes an enclosed patio area; an outdoor area (complete with an avocado tree); spacious kitchen complete with refrigerator, oven, stove, sink and microwave; living area; cable television, lovely bedroom and bathroom with shower. Of course, Wi-Fi. The rate for an overnight stay varies throughout the year and from weekend to weekday and ranges from $145 to $190, plus tax. Cottages and rooms can be rented by the night, weekend, week and for extended stays.
The inn and cottages are just a few blocks away from Mount Dora shopping and dining meaning you can park your car and just explore the downtown area and neighborhood all day long without worrying about where to park the car.
Meet the Innkeepers
Chef Jim Tuttle and his wife Ana own Mount Dora Historic Inn and although breakfast is typically not served for Oasis or Veranda Cottage guests, our hosts prepared a special meal typically served at the inn for my colleagues and me. The menu featured recipes from the chef’s upcoming cookbook due out in December.
Breakfast began with Grandma’s Vanilla Citrus Soup followed by a savory cheese souffle and Grandma’s Sweet Potato Pancakes. The entire meal was delicious. Served chilled, the vanilla citrus soup was refreshing on a warm Florida morning while the pancakes were perfectly soft and moist without syrup or butter. The souffle was light and fluffy, yet hearty. It was definitely a great way to begin the day of exploring Mount Dora.
“Everything doesn’t need to be complex to be delicious,” Chef Jim told us as he explained his cooking background and philosophy. He grew up learning from his grandma who lived in Savannah, Ga., and in his adult life trained with a a top chef for Marriott. His upcoming cookbook emphasizes simplicity and will include recipes for what he prepared that morning along with sections on recipes for those with celiac disease and vegan/vegetarian dishes.
Some of Chef Jim’s recipes are posted on the Mount Dora Historic Inn website but you’ll need to wait for his cookbook for more tasty goodness.
Mount Dora Historic Inn
221 East 4th Ave.
Mount Dora, Fla. 32757
Tel: 800-927-6344 or 352 735 1212
mountdorahistoricinn.com
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we are looking for a one-night stay in b&b=like accommdations, at best price?
dec19-20?