Mount Dora, Florida; Dog friendly town welcomes the furry family to join you
Laura, Jake (black) and Abby (grey) enjoy Donnelly Park in Mount Dora, Florida, a dog friendly town with plenty for your furry family to enjoy. Photo by Rori Paul.
Few who’ve read this blog don’t know about my love for Mount Dora, Florida. The sweet little town along the shores of Lake Dora, an easy and lovely 45 minutes from the Walt Disney World/Orlando area offers up so much to do, you can spend a day or a week and still want to return for more.
Did you know that Mount Dora is also a welcoming place for your pets? Most specifically dogs – I rarely see cats being led on a leash – with businesses from hotels and cottages to the dog store to restaurants inviting you to bring Fido and Fluffy along for your day.
Where to Stay: Check out the Tremain Street Cottages for their pet friendly room. Two buildings on the edge of town, within walking distance of everything, and as warm and friendly as staying with friends. My friends Brian and business partner Rachel host you to this charming little cottage. With pets there is one room, without several others to choose from.
Where to Shop: Among the many shops in town is Piglet’s Pantry, a doggie store with food, home-baked treats, toys and people stuff with doggies on it all. There is cat stuff here as well, and we love it – everything is very healthy with decent pricing.
Where to Eat: We have two favorite spot for eating with our dogs (though the dogs haven’t actually yet gotten to join us for meal time in town yet) the Chew Chew Express Sandwich Depot and One Flight Up. Chew Chew – located on the edge of town near the Lakeside Inn – offers both indoor and outdoor dinning with your furry friends able to join you on the patio. In your view, the lake, town, people, a train. The menu is American traditional fare with tuna sandwich, burgers, bread-bowl soup, and a pizza Laura loves. I go for the tuna and sweet potato fries – a craving I occasionally need to feed.
Tremain Street Cottages are a home-away-from-home for you and your dog family. Photo courtesy of Tremain Street Cottages.
One Flight Up is in the main portion of town, situated on the second floor of a building. Climb the somewhat narrow stairs and settle into a living room setting, cafe like spot, or out on the patio – which happens to overhang the sidewalk below with the best view of downtown Mount Dora. Enjoy wine, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks with your sandwich, soup or tummy-tempting dessert.
Where to Chill: Maggie’s Attic is a great little wine and beer bar off in a low rise white strip mall that is anything but traditional. You’ll step from the white-washed building exterior into a dark and warm welcome, with plenty of couches to sink into or spots to stand and talk about the drinks in hand, day outside, or whatever joyful conversation you break into. Dogs are welcome inside and out – we’ve seen it – with owners laughing and sipping and canines watching all the humans.
Dog Friendly Events: Don’t miss Mount Dora’s dog-friendly, dog centered events; Paws for Mount Dora and Yappy Hour.
For more on Mount Dora – of course we have plenty of images and stories around Rori Travels Florida – or check out www.WhatToDoInMountDora.com - run by my buddy and Tremain host, Brian.
Piglet's Pantry in Mount Dora offers a range of dog and cat supplies from healthy food to toys, beds to home-baked treats. Photo by Rori Paul.
One Flight Up welcomes dogs while serving their humans tasty food, adult beverages, and more. Photo by Rori Paul.
Laura (on this day, minus the dogs) enjoy the patio at Chew Chew Express. Photo by Rori Paul.
Maggie's Attic is an excellent spot for humans to enjoy their adult beverages with their furry family along for the fun. Photo by Rori Paul.
