The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival attracts thousands for competitive rides over hill and dale. This is your guide to the festival with schedules, a list of nearby campgrounds and links to hotel and vacation home reservations.
Orlando/Central Florida
Central Florida Getaways
Things to do in Orlando and Central Florida, hiking, bicycling, kayaking and canoe, RV and tent camping, road trips, historic places and Funky Florida.
Mount Dora: 12 things I love about this delightful town
Mount Dora has a lively downtown and a well-preserved historic district on a pretty lake. It’s a walkable small town with good dining and shopping. We love the great kayaking and biking nearby.
Outdoor adventures near Orlando theme parks: See the real Florida when visiting Disney
We know what the big draw is in Orlando, and it’s not nature. But it should be! Even if your destination is a theme park, here are 9 natural experiences and places that are memorable additions to a visit to Central Florida
Circle B Bar Reserve: Lakeland preserve with shady trails reopens a favorite trail
Twenty minutes off I-4 between Orlando and Tampa, this little-known wildlife preserve has been called “a free safari.”
Orlando Wetlands: Perfect stop for wildlife lovers
Orlando Wetlands Park is a must-stop for birders and wildlife fans. It’s home to over 100 roseate spoonbills, 1,700 alligators and 200 species of bird. A 5,000 square foot visitor just opened with exhibits and live animals on display. The park is only 20 minutes off I-95.
Manatee Hammock: Waterfront camping near Kennedy Space Center
I’ve camped a few times at this Brevard County park in Titusville, enjoying its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. And I’ve used it as a base for exploring Cocoa Beach.
Best beaches near Disney World
The best beaches near Disney World are an hour away, and your options expand if you are willing to drive a few minutes more.
Reservations required for day-use entry at Wekiwa Springs State Park
The pilot program may be extended to other crowded state parks if successful. You can purchase passes up to 60 days in advance.
Tiger Creek Preserve helps make Lake Wales Ridge a hiker’s heaven
Hikers should discover the Nature Conservancy’s Tiger Creek Preserve, one of several sites located on Florida’s “central highlands,” a beautiful, hilly landscape with many appealing trails.
Hillsborough River State Park offers historic charm, shady campground, lots to do outdoors
Hillsborough River State Park has been closed since October after getting slammed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.