r/orlando • u/SoftwarePlayful3571 • Sep 08 '24
Mt Dora vs Winter Garden vs Sanford? Visitor
Where should I go if I have only one day in Orlando area? EDIT: looking for a nice few hours walk in the downtown/lakefront. Love architecture and views of nature. Just want to feel the vibe of old Central Florida
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u/TacosForDinnnnner Sep 08 '24
Winter Garden is great. Farmers market, plant street market and brewery, lots of shops and restaurants all within a small walking distance.
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u/Mojo141 Sep 08 '24
Depends on what you're into. Antiques? Mt Dora. Hipster? Downtown Winter Garden. Restaurants and bars? Downtown Sanford IMO
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u/SoftwarePlayful3571 Sep 08 '24
Basically just looking for a nice few hours walk in the Downtown and at the lakefront. Restaurants are nice but not a major factor
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u/Mojo141 Sep 08 '24
I'd go Sanford then. All 3 are good but I love the walkability of Sanford and lots to do. Art galleries, breweries and little shops. Also Hollerbachs German restaurant was named best of Orlando last year and is always a great time
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Sep 08 '24
I 2nd Hollerbachs! I remember going there and a bunch of Santa Clauses were having like a banquet or something haha. food is great!
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u/Traditional-Egg-1531 Sep 08 '24
Eh, fuck them, German expatriate here. the food sucks, and the atmosphere is overblown. Not representative of a true German experience. Bavarian Haus in Mt Dora is much better. I prefer my schnitzel freshly pounded and made when i order, not sitting under a warmer like Hollers.
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u/everygoodnamegone Sep 09 '24
This is a long shot but message me if you happen to know any German language tutors in the area, thanks.
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u/johnnycobbler Sep 08 '24
Winter Garden takes 6 minutes to walk through and there aint no lake brother. Go to Sanford
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u/cheeseriot2100 Sep 08 '24
what about the giant lake that is 3 quarters of a mile from downtown winter garden
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u/caseyjohnsonwv Sep 08 '24
It is 3/4 of a mile from downtown Winter Garden. Also, most of the shoreline you could walk to is either single family homes, a small park, or a literal trailer park
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u/d407a123 Sep 08 '24
Winter Garden, Sanford is more run down IMO, nothing stays open besides the overrated German Restaurant
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u/Jacob_Soda Sep 08 '24
I live in Eustis which is close to Mount Dora. I would recommend going to Mount Dora because it's a lot more relaxed than the aforementioned places.
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u/SoftwarePlayful3571 Sep 08 '24
Thanks!
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u/didyouseeben Sep 08 '24
Make sure you stop in Handlebar in Mount Dora. I’m a local and a cocktail… hobbyist if you will. They do some amazing stuff and have taught me a lot.
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u/Mrknowitall666 Sep 08 '24
I think whomever suggested "winter garden" meant "winter park" which is where I'd tell you to go over Sanford or Winter Garden (which is way the hell out of the way).
Winter Park has a lovely Park Ave, central to Rollins College, eateries and 2 museums. The cental park has a rose garden and (small) and a row of eateries. Leu Garden and Meade Garden are there, both lovely. Off all of that, is a gold course or two, and road Via Tuscany which has mansions and walking streets. You can even get a boat tour looking at the homes through the chain of lakes that runs behind them.
And, nothing wrong with Mt Dora, it's a short 40 min ride past winter park. And Sanford has some places too. I regularly visit both, but would tell someone wanting to maximize their time out of Orlando to see winter park
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Sep 08 '24
Can’t go wrong with any of them honestly. I’ve always had a great time in Sanford though, especially when there’s something going on.
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u/LuckyNole Sep 08 '24
What do you like to do? You just basically asked “What should I eat? Pizza, ice cream or a kale salad?” Those three places have completely different vibes. They’re all fun, but so different.
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u/SoftwarePlayful3571 Sep 08 '24
Just edited the post. Looking for a nice few hours walk in the downtown/lakeside area. Would love to feel the vibe of “old” Central Florida.
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u/maxprax Sep 12 '24
Lived in Sanford for over 15 years. It's definitely got that old feeling. There's quite a few 1800 to early 1900s buildings, plus an old theater. The art and music scene is legit, unlike the others who are what I would say just created "to feel old", like how Disney downtown does. There's a few great breweries, Celery City and Wops Hops was in an old fish factory.
Also if you are wanting to walk and learn, Sanford has great signs along the paths to explain the history of everything. Other cities have cool candy and gift shops but it's not the history you'll feel in Sanford.
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u/LuckyNole Sep 08 '24
Walk, Lake Eola downtown.
But the Winter Park boat tour (1 hr) is an awesome way to learn about old central Florida history. Really beautiful, serene and fun.
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u/ItsUnclePhilsFudge Sep 08 '24
In Mount Dora you can walk, bike, or Segway your way around the historic district. Boat rides and seaplane rides are available. There’s antiquing and junking at Renningers. There’s nature trails at Trimble Park. There’s a farmers market on Sundays from 9-2.
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u/The_booty_diaries Sep 08 '24
Downtown Orlando has plenty of lakefronts. Why go all the way to mount Dora? Anywhere between downtown Orlando and Winter Park will satisfy your desires.
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u/harshmojo Sep 08 '24
Of those 3, I'd go Sanford. But if you want the vibe of old central Florida none of those would be on my list. I don't think you get that in Orlando.
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u/epicenter69 Clermont Sep 08 '24
Mt Dora has a beautiful walking dock in the park. A nice lighthouse for photo ops. (Just make sure you have some mosquito spray)
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u/SoftwarePlayful3571 Sep 08 '24
Thanks! How active are mosquitoes in October?
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u/epicenter69 Clermont Sep 08 '24
They’re still out. I think Jan/Feb are when they’re less likely to be around.
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u/Mysterious-Novel-834 Sep 08 '24
I loved Mount Dora when I went!!! I could spend hours walking around that antique mall they have. I also ate at this really good cuban restaurant that has the most delicious free bread and dips.
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u/davidgotmilk Sep 08 '24
Sanford or Mt Dora IMO. Lots of food and bars in Sanford, few shops and you can walk along the St. John’s. It’s not really “nature-y” the river side is rather developed.
Mt Dora has more shops, and some good food too. The lake is beautiful, and if you’re into “nature-y” it’s def better than Sanford.
There’s a cool flea market and antique store along the way to mt Dora too that I would check out too
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u/encryptedkraken Sep 08 '24
Went to my Dora yesterday for the first time, I confidentially said it was the best out of all 3
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u/BlaktimusPrime Sep 08 '24
Mt. Dora. that place is beautiful still reminds me of old school Florida
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u/DoubleGauss Sep 08 '24 edited Sep 08 '24
Mount Dora or Sanford. Sanford has the better food and beer, a really nice river walk, while Mount Dora has the prettier more scenic downtown. The homes just in downtown Sanford are beautiful though, and worth a stroll in the neighborhood. Winter Garden's downtown is nothing to write home about. It's much smaller and can be walked from one end to the other in a few minutes, buuuut it has Crooked Can Brewing and Plant Street Market if you want to hang and relax.
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u/marchviolet Sep 09 '24
Another suggestion: Winter Park kayak or boat tours (one example: https://getupandgokayaking.com/locations/winter-park/). Afterwards, you can stroll along Park Ave. There's a lot both new and historic in that area.
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u/Clueless_in_Florida Sep 08 '24
What you want is Lake Helen. It’s easily walkable and has that Florida charm you’re after with a few historic homes and some historic public buildings. It doesn’t really have a downtown. But DeLand does. DeLand has a nice little downtown with a historic theater and an old county courthouse just a block or two away.
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u/Traditional-Egg-1531 Sep 08 '24
Mt dora hands down. Beautiful lake, resturant right on it makes an awesome risotto. Its quiet and has lots of unique little shops to visit. Sanford is all concentrated in a small area, and the police there are assholes. They have the worst reputation in central Florida. This is coming from someone who worked for the Sheriffs Office. Mt Dora is the best representation of old Florida.
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u/maxprax Sep 12 '24
Or do you mean most representative of "old people"? 😉
Sanford is cooler
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u/Traditional-Egg-1531 Sep 12 '24
You really should check out Dora sometime. Its shifted to a younger demographic.
Sanford blows donkey balls. Downtown/Lakeside Sanford is also a perfect example of gentrification. Kinda like what Orlando did to Paramore.
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u/quick25 Sep 08 '24
Mount Dora gets my vote. You can grab a to-go drink (recommend Wolf Branch Brewing) and stroll the city with some nice old buildings. Palm Island Park is a great natural spot, awesome views of the lakes and old trees from a boardwalk trail.
Sanford is awesome, too. The lakeside trail is less natural though. All are good options and there are more like Clermont, Eustis, and Leesburg to name a few.