Floridiana Magazine

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A Day at the Mount Dora Arts Festival

On a normal day, downtown Mount Dora provides visitors with a variety of unique dining and shopping experiences. This past weekend however, downtown was transformed into an art lover’s dream with the 45th Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival.

Mount Dora Arts Festival | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Having never been to the Arts Festival, we added it to our calendar at the beginning of the year. As one of Mount Dora’s nationally known festivals, we knew the crowds would be big, so we made it a point to arrive early on Sunday.  It was cold outside, but the blue skies offered a better backdrop than the clouds and rain that dampened the spirits on Saturday.  Arriving early accomplished two things: premium parking and a chance to browse the booths and talk with the artists.

Mount Dora Arts Festival Crowds | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Mount Dora Arts Festival Crowds | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

From Baker Street to Alexander Street, nearly 300 artists from around Florida, the United States and Canada displayed their wares. Walking up and down the roads, we saw a representation of all art mediums: crafts, photography, painting, and sculpture, to name a few. Some of the art was more of the traditional, while others leaned more towards the eclectic side. The displays themselves also showcased the artists’ creativity.  Innovative walk-throughs and real-time demonstrations pleased the crowds.

Mount Dora Arts Festival Finger Painting | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Mount Dora Arts Festival | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

At every turn, there was more beauty to behold.  However, two Florida artists especially caught our eyes. Their brush strokes captured the beauty of the old Florida we write about.

Cynthia Mantini is from Lake City and was still setting up when we stopped by her booth.  An 8th generation Floridian, Cynthia brings to life the landscapes and scenery that can be found in small towns and along back roads.  The tobacco barns of North Florida figured prominently in her display.

Cynthia Mantini, Artist | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Sharon Osterholt is also a native Floridian and, like Cynthia, her paintings include old Florida.  What caught our eye with Sharon’s booth was her paintings of old Florida landmarks – some of which are no longer standing.  While some of her painting is done from her photos, Sharon paints most of them en Plein Air (French for in the open air).

Sharon Osterholt, Artist | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

Like other artists at the festival, Cynthia and Sharon shared their passion for their work with us and anyone else who stopped by to listen.

Other Things to Do at the Festival

The Food

All good festivals also include great food.  After a few hours of art gazing, we made our way to some of the many food stands.  There’s no doubt, if you were craving it, it was being served. Of course, the restaurants in Mount Dora were also open and offered special festival menus.  We made a point of sampling some of the festival food, as well as visiting one of our favorite restaurants, The Frog and Monkey Pub.

Food Row at Mount Dora Arts Festival | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

The Children’s Area

Another fun part of the festival was the children’s area.  Games, face painting and a butterfly garden provided the youngest festival goers some fun of their own.

Children’s Area at Mount Dora Arts Festival | Photo by Floridiana Magazine

If you’ve never been to the Mount Dora Arts Festival, make plans to go next year.  The festival, produced by the Mount Dora Center for the Arts, is typically the first weekend in February.  Our first visit to the festival did not disappoint, and we will definitely return next year.  Whether it’s for the festival or just a day to enjoy the historic town, one thing we have learned is that every time we visit, we experience something new and are reminded again of why Mount Dora is “Someplace Special.”

Kennedy Space Center: Gateway to Space Since 1962

Situated on Florida’s east coast and just a short drive from Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center offers a glimpse into the past, all while creating a sense of excitement over the future of the space program. Growing up in Florida, I remember watching early rockets lift off and space capsules splash down.  As a reporter in the 80s, I witnessed the shuttle program get off the ground, and I mourned with the country as I watched the explosion of the Challenger from the side of Interstate 75 just north of Ocala.  Although I visited the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex years later as a teacher and chaperone of more than 150 students, it wasn’t until a recent visit that I truly felt the expanse of NASA and a sense of pride that literally had me on the brink of tears.

Kennedy Space Center

Rocket Garden

Arriving at the Kennedy Space Center, you can’t help but see the iconic Rocket Garden, a collection of rockets representative of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.  Walk along a winding path where rockets tower above you, the initials USA emblazoned on their exteriors, shining in the bright Florida sun. As you walk past, you see the likes of a Mercury-Redstone 3, like the one that sent astronaut Alan Shepherd into the history books as the first American to reach space in 1961. Learn about the Saturn 1B and its place in space history; the F-1 rocket engine, critical to taking astronauts to the moon; and the Gemini-Titan II, used in launching all ten manned spacecraft in the Gemini program.

As is the case with other “gardens” you might visit, this one is meant to be taken at a leisurely pace.

Rocket Garden

Saturn 1B

Delta Rocket

Heroes and Legends

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

Adjacent to the Rocket Garden is the exhibit “Heroes and Legends,” which also includes the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

The exhibit demonstrates the meaning of the word “hero” and follows the journeys of astronauts Alan Shepard, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Jim Lovell.  A multi-sensory theater provides a different kind of experience through the use of 3-D glasses and the feel of wind blowing through the vents in the auditorium.

Also, in the exhibit, the U.S. Astronauts Hall of Fame, with a statue of Alan Shepherd standing watch at the entrance. The Hall of Fame was created in 1980 by the astronauts of Mercury Seven, who became the first inductees in 1990.  Walk through the exhibit to learn about the contributions of America’s space heroes.

Bus Tours

Included in the price of a regular admission, the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour takes you on a behind-the-scenes trip around NASA property. A video plays throughout the ride, highlighting some of the key points of interest, with periodic commentary by the bus driver.  The route takes you by the Vehicle Assembly Building, Launch Complex 39, and a crawler-transporter once used to take the shuttle from the VAB to the launch pad.

Not all of what you see on the bus tour is about the past.  The present and future are also represented, as noted by the drive by of the facilities for SpaceX, a private company now launching rockets on a regular basis from KSC.

Apollo/Saturn V Center

The only stop on this bus tour is at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, a tribute to the Apollo era of space fight. Witness the excitement of the launch of Apollo 8 from the firing room. Hear the rattling of the windows from inside the control room as the engines ignite to take the first crewed mission to orbit the moon in 1968.

While you are there you can walk under the largest rocket every flown, the Saturn V rocket, responsible for launching all moon landings from KSC, or get a glimpse of a lunar rover like those used by astronauts to travel on the moon’s surface.

The beauty of the visit to the Apollo/Saturn V Center is the tour bus drops you off and you explore at your own pace.  When you are finished looking around, you catch another bus back to the Visitor Complex. Plan on two hours to complete the experience.

Other tours are also offered at an extra cost and for a longer duration.  These include additional stops that provide photo opportunities as well as a third tour especially for space history buffs.  Click here for more information on the special interest guided bus tours.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit

There is a saying about “saving the best for last.”  I must say the Atlantis Exhibit topped all else.  Standing inside of a theater, you watch about the beginnings of the space shuttle fleet, how it evolved from just a thought to what would later become 31 years of space exploration, including spacewalks and docking with the International Space Station.

The video provides a front-row seat to the successes and failures of getting the shuttle off the drawing board and into space. You can feel the frustration of the engineers every time there is a “fail” and their exuberance when the shuttle Columbia launches for the first time in 1981.

The video itself leaves you breathless.  At least it did me as I watched the events unfold on screens around me.

When the video ended, the doors opened to reveal the actual Atlantis, a moment that resulted in gasps of amazement, pure delight, and for myself, overwhelming pride as an American and a sense of nostalgia as I remembered watching shuttle launches and landings.

First view of the Atlantis after the video

With the cargo bay doors open, and the robotic arm extended, the Atlantis is the only shuttle displayed as though it were in flight.  From the shuttle’s main engines to the heat shield tiles, this view of the shuttle provides a close up look at the effects of space on the aircraft.

Fast Facts about Atlantis:

  • Completed 33 missions
  • Traveled 125,935,769 miles
  • Spent 307 days in space
  • The Atlantis’ final flight in 2011 was the final flight for the space shuttle program.

In addition to the Atlantis itself, visitors are offered dozens of interactive opportunities about shuttle history, its technology and its impact on our lives.

The exhibit hall also offers a few other reminders of space flight history, including the Astrovan which carried astronauts to their launches for 27 years.

The most sobering display within the Atlantis exhibit was the tribute to the astronauts of the Challenger and the Columbia, Forever Remembered.  This hall-like memorial to our “Fallen Friends and Heroes” provides photos and personal memorabilia from the 14 astronauts who perished.

Around the corner from the memorial, behind glass, are items retrieved from both shuttle accidents:  the left side body panel of the Challenger and the cockpit windows of the Columbia.

Shuttle Challenger Left Side Body Panel

Columbia Cockpit Windows

Additional Information

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  In addition to the exhibits we highlighted, there are numerous other activities for you and your family to enjoy, as well as plenty of places to eat and buy souvenirs. Our one piece of advice, if you want to capture the most complete experience, get there early.

Enjoy more of our photos from our trip.

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Mount Dora: Someplace Special

Mount Dora. It’s one of those charming towns in Florida you can’t help but visit time and again.  With an historic downtown, plenty of activities on the lake, and numerous festivals throughout the year, there is something for just about anyone.  Visitors see it as a destination, a place on the map to experience, but for those who live here or even in neighboring communities, Mount Dora is, as the sign says, someplace special.

History of Mount Dora

As is the case for many Florida towns, Mount Dora didn’t start off as Mount Dora.  In fact, its first official name came in 1880, Royellou, after the three children of the postmaster at the time, R.C. Tremain. (His children were Roy, Ella and Louis.)  That name didn’t last long, as three years later the town was renamed Mount Dora, for Dora Ann Drawdy, who along with her husband, were some of the early homesteaders.

Getting to Mount Dora was difficult early on, with travel limited to steamboats or rowboats via the St. Johns River to Mellonville on Lake Monroe, and to complete the trip, travelers had to take a wagon train. After the railroad service began in 1887, travel was easier, and the population grew.

Incorporated in 1921, Mount Dora elected its first mayor, John P. Donnelly, who came to the area in 1879.  He and his wife would eventually own most of what is now downtown Mount Dora as well as most of the waterfront.  However, they also donated land to churches, the fire department and for other community improvements.  Donnelly was also considered the “Father of the Tangerine” for his work developing the local citrus industry.

Mount Dora Today

You won’t be able to see all of Mount Dora without traveling down Donnelly Street, the main road through town.  From the historic buildings, to the quaint little shops, there is plenty to see in whatever direction you choose to take.

Firehouse and Old City Jail – The firehouse was built 1923 on land deeded by J.P. Donnelly and housed the town’s firefighting apparatus. A fire siren on the roof not only sounded when there was a fire, but also every day at noon. An addition was made to the back of the firehouse of five jail cells and a bathroom to accommodate the locals who found themselves in need of “care” during these days of Prohibition.  More cells were added to the front once the new firehouse was built in 1941 and it continued as the jail until 1969.  The building now houses the Mount Dora History Museum and is open from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

The Train Depot was built in 1915 and initially operated two trains a day, in each direction.  That increased to four trains a day in 1922, including mail, freight and passenger trains.  Service to Mount Dora was discontinued in 1950. The depot is now home to the Chamber of Commerce and offers banquet and special event space.

Donnelly House – Located at 535 N. Donnelly Street, this Victorian charmer was built in 1893 by John P. Donnelly as a gift for his wife Annie. The yellow and white house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 for its architectural and historical significance.  It now serves as the Masonic Temple.

Lakeside Inn is one of the most historically significant buildings in Mount Dora as it is one of only five Florida lodges named “A Historic Hotel of America” by the Trust for Historic Preservation and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Built between 1882 and 1883 as the Alexander House, Lakeside Inn was only open in the winter and was comprised of two stories with ten rooms.  In the 1920s and 30s, the Inn was the site of most of the social functions of the town, including a visit by President Calvin Coolidge in 1930.  After numerous ownership and name changes, and a multi-million-dollar restoration, Lakeside Inn now houses 87 rooms and is considered a full-service luxury hotel, with great views of Lake Dora.

Mount Dora Lighthouse – A trip to Mount Dora isn’t complete without a visit to the lighthouse on Grantham Point.  Don’t go expecting to climb another Florida lighthouse though.  The red and white striped Mount Dora Lighthouse is only 35-foot tall and is the only inland freshwater lighthouse in the state. It uses a 750-watt photocell to power a blue pulsator to guide boaters into the Port of Mount Dora after dusk.

Shops and Restaurants – Specialty shops and boutiques line the streets of downtown Mount Dora, each one unique.  A bookstore with spines of classic books painted on the awning, a quaint courtyard with little shops lining the walkway, and the list goes on.  You can spend a day just walking in and out of the shops!

According to the Chamber of Commerce, there are 25 restaurants and cafes in Mount Dora, from those requiring reservations to those offering quick respites from the sightseeing.  Our favorite was (and still is) the Frog and Monkey Pub, located in the Renaissance Building. Billed as the only underground pub in Lake County, the bar tender tells us stories about a ghost seen in the kitchen and caught on camera.  A great story, considering names on some of the doors in the pub include “Morgue” and “Autopsy Room.”  Ghosts aside, the other spirits and food were divine.  My favorite, by the way, is the Blue Lemosa.

Events

Mount Dora is often referred to as the Festival City, offering events year-round, including annual events like Freedom on the Waterfront  or the Open-Air Farmer’s Market every Sunday, which was in full-swing during our visits.  Of course, you don’t have to go at a time when there’s a festival to have fun.

See our post of the Mount Dora Arts Festival here.

Getting Around Town

Walking is the best way to get around town and is made easier with an ample amount of free parking available.  For the more adventurous, Segway tours are available.  These one-hour tours take you along the waterfront, around to the lighthouse, through Palm Island Park and then through some of the area’s historic neighborhoods.

Mount Dora is located 45 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando, and is easily accessible from U.S.  441. Whether you are browsing for antiques, shopping in the quaint little stores or taking in some of the historic locations, take your time, take it all in, and plan your next visit, because Mount Dora is truly someplace special.

To see more of our photos from our recent visits to Mount Dora, please watch our slideshow below.

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Park Hopping with a Twist

by Diane Hodgman, Guest Blogger

Coming up with creative, low cost ideas to entertain young children can be challenging, even if you are a mom of five and a seasoned teacher. Each summer while I was off with my children (ages 6-25), I would do my best to make sure they had a fun experience of some sort. So, on a hot summer day this July, that was my goal – to find an activity I could do with my six-year-old daughter that would not break the bank.

The idea of park hopping came to mind. No, not the park hopping that requires huge sums of money to be spent. This plan actually included parks or playgrounds in Orlando and an attempt to visit ten in one day.  I first came up with a list of the ones we had been to before, as well as some that were new to us. My soon-to-be first grade daughter Isabella was on board with the plan, and our adventure began.

Dartmouth Park

Our day started at 10:00 a.m. at one of our regular parks, Dartmouth, in the heart of College Park. At Dartmouth Park there are a lot of trees, a walking path around the park and two designated play areas, one for younger and one for older children. A covered picnic area bench and a few scattered benches offer seating and a place to enjoy lunch or a snack. The play equipment is not covered, so it is extremely hot in the summer heat. Parking can be found along the two roads on each side of this park.  Even though there are no bathrooms, Publix on Edgewater Drive is a close walk for refreshments or bathrooms.

Parking:  Yes

Shade: No

Restrooms: No

At each park I took a picture of Isabella in front of the park’s sign.

Gaston Edwards Park

After Dartmouth, we moved on to our second park, Gaston Edwards Park, located on the edge of Lake Ivanhoe. There is a small parking area which is next to Mesa 21 Restaurant. The play area is colorful but designated for two- to five-year-olds.  The most shade at the park comes from the covered table.  A walking path and a volleyball net nearby provide additional activities, but there are no public restrooms.   There is however, a beautiful view of Lake Ivanhoe, which is a definite plus.

Parking: Yes

Shade: No

Restrooms: No

Orwin Manor Park

From there we drove down Orange Avenue, passing Florida Hospital East to Orwin Manor Park. I was unfamiliar with this park and was pleased to find street parking. This park does not provide much shade and the equipment was very hot. They do have a few benches to sit on.

Parking: Yes

Shade: No

Restrooms: No

Mathews Park

Next up on the list was Matthews Park, located in College Park off Formosa Street. Newly renovated, this park has some very fun equipment, but again, the summer heat makes some of it hard to play on, especially the swings. Isabella loved the climbing ropes here. This park has some musical-type of play areas and a handicap able swing. In addition, there is a large grassy play area and a basketball court, as well as a covered picnic table.  Parking can be found along the street next to the park. There are no bathrooms.

Parking: Yes

Shade: No

Restrooms: No

Princeton Park (College Park Neighborhood Center)

From Mathews Park, we moved along to Princeton Park next to Princeton Elementary School.  This park is enclosed and offered a lot of shade to children playing on the equipment, as well as a rubber mat surface. There is a public pool next to this park and a baseball field. Parking is on the streets and there are no restrooms. While at Princeton Park, Isabella found an old friend there and the two of them played together for a while, then the three of us went on to the rest of our adventure.

Parking: Yes

Shade: Yes

Restrooms: No 

Guernsey Park

At this point, we headed to our last park in College Park, Guernsey. This park is very colorful, but extremely hot with few shaded areas. There is a covered bench and a walking path with a short bridge, almost like a nature trail. They have a basketball court as well. Parking is on the street and there are no bathrooms.

Parking: Yes

Shade: No

Restrooms:  No

After visiting six parks, we were very hot and needed some shade and air conditioning. We headed to the McDonald’s on East Colonial between Bumby and Primrose. The girls had lunch and played in the spacious play area. This play area has been renovated and is clean with lots of seating.

Mitchell Nutter Park

After our lunch break, we headed to Mitchell L. Nutter Park (Audubon Park) off Maguire and Bennett Road, not far from Fashion Square Mall.  Finding parking for this park was tricky, but I found street parking around the corner to park. This park has a few creative pieces of equipment the girls found to be fun. A spider-like rope climb was their favorite. There are a few benches to sit on, but no restrooms here.

Parking: Yes, around the corner 

Shade: No

Restrooms: No 

Lake Baldwin Park

Close by is the Baldwin Park neighborhood, so we went to check out that park, which offers a parking lot, restrooms and a dog park as well. It is well shaded and has a rock climbing wall and large slide. The girls were able to play on all the equipment as it wasn’t hot.

Parking:  Yes

Shade: Yes

Restrooms: Yes 

Lake Eola Park

What is a trip to Orlando parks without a stop at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando?  Parking can be difficult to find, but we were lucky and found parallel parking close by. (There is a parking garage not far if you can’t find street parking.) This park offers a mile-long walking path around the lake, along with paid swan boat rides.  Large play areas are designated for both the younger children and older ones, all on rubber mats. Neither smoking nor pets are allowed within the enclosed playground area. There are restrooms nearby.  If you want snacks or drinks, there is a 7-11 close by as well as a Publix. In addition to the playground, If you visit on the weekend, you can enjoy the Farmer’s Market. This park has always been a favorite of mine. When my children were younger, I spent many hours walking strollers around the lake and feeding ducks and birds.

Parking: Yes, parking garage nearby

Shade: Yes

Restrooms: Yes 

Delaney Park

On our tenth stop, we drove to Delaney Park in the Delaney neighborhood. It offers an enclosed playground area close to restrooms, a large grassy area as well a baseball and softball field. The playground has a small amount of shade and seating on benches. Parking is along the streets nearby. The girls enjoyed the monkey bars and slides at Delaney Park.

Parking: Yes

Shade: Yes

Restrooms: Yes 

Community Playground, aka Castle Park

Even though we met our goal, we headed to Winter Park to the Community Park also known as the Castle Park. This is an all wooden park with quite a bit of shade, a lot of climbing, tire swings as well as a handicap accessible swing. There is a soccer field close by, a small pond to feed the many ducks around, restrooms and a designated parking area. Parents of small children should keep their eye on their children as there are some areas hard to see from one spot. This park is wonderful, and the girls had so much fun there.

Parking: Yes

Shade: Yes

Restrooms: Yes

Our day ended around 4:00 p.m. with a tired mom and exhausted little girls. It was a fun and inexpensive experience. In all, we drove less than 30 miles and spent less than $25 on lunch and snacks for the three of us. We could have picnicked as well, but I chose not to pack food that day. We made lots of memories that I was able to capture on my phone.

A special thanks to the cities of Orlando and Winter Park for their family-friendly parks.  We found these parks to be clean and well-maintained, although I would love to see more shade and more bathrooms, if possible.

We will continue to explore other parks around our beautiful city.

About the Author

Diane Hodgman is the mother of five, ranging in ages from 6 – 25.  As a long-time teacher, Diane spends the school year teaching middle school students.  During the summer months, she is able to spend time making memories with her children.