Florida Travel Cocktail; Brian Young of www.WhatToDoInMountDora.com, Tremain Street Cottages

Written by Rori on 12 July 2011

Ben, Brian and I following our interview. Photo copyright Rori Paul

I first met Brian Young about two years ago on Twitter. Known as @MountDora, Brian quickly became an influential part of my life, showing me how to create a strong and interactive Twitter following, and drawing me to a small, Central Florida town I would come to love.

Along with his active role on Mount Dora’s Merchant’s Association (recently re-named Visit Mount Dora), Brian co-owns the Tremain Street Cottages and is the creative force behind the excellent www.WhatToDoInMountDora.com.

Ben and I spent a few minutes talking with Brian during our Mount Dora-marathon day, when we recorded 6 interviews with 5 other business owners and Brian, who this day represented his own business ventures along with the town of Mount Dora.

Getting ready for a podcast means everything from making he guest comfortable with what is about to happen to making sure the recording equipment is just right. Photo copyright Rori Paul

I’ve come to call him the ‘Ambassador of Mount Dora’ for his undying passion of promoting this historic and quaint town. It started as a way to tell people about his homy cottages and has since become a cottage industry.

Brain arranged our marathon day, getting a variety of Merchant’s Association businesses to allow us to come in and talk with them about their offerings. From the Segway tours to a cafe, the dog’s store to a great wine spot, Brain has his pulse on Mount Dora and helps me bring that to you. I enlisted Brian this day and now Ben and I can bring you even more exciting and fun ways to enjoy this town that sits along the shores of a lake like a novel written by Hemingway.

Do check out Brian’s many projects and if you’re in town for the day, a weekend or one of their many events, keep and eye out for the guy everyone seems to know and when you say hi, tell him Rori sent you!

I call it Frosty the Snowball - our fearless mic that makes on-site interviews fun to record. Photo copyright Rori Paul

Brian helps us great ready at One Flight Up. We had to inturrupt a busy day for owner, Judy, to spend time with us, so Brian even offered to wait on people - he didn't but would have. Photo copyright Rori Paul

Not even joking - Brian knew people as we walked through town between interviews, often stopping to chat with someone in a storefront or even a car! Photo copyright Rori Paul