Traveling MamasWondering how to entertain your 2-yr-old on a long trip? Got questions about airfares or car routes? Want to know where the best tourist or camping spots are? Moving across the country? C'mon in!
2 thumbs up for Mount Dora here. (I'd have to mapquest it to see exactly how far from orlando it is.) A friend of ours owns a pottery store there. Most of the businesses are in old houses. It's a gorgeous little town; great fun and nice and quaint.
__________________ Janet -
Mom to Mary "gotta go to work!" 12-11-90
Hannah "Bubbie" 1-21-01
Kali "Peetie" 5-5-03
and wife to the wonderful, the awesome, the fabulous, the one and only, Alex since 9-16-00
I know a friend took her class (kindergarden) on a train trip there. It was inexpensive, but I'm not sure how much. I just know she tries to keep her feild trips really cheap for the parents.
eta: Winter Park is nice too, but it's a "rich" area, and is smack in the middle of lots of businesses/etc. Mount Dora is much nicer, and qualifies for quaint!
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Allison mama to:
DH (lol), Chrissy 15, Mikhail 12, Kiera 10, Kivett 8, Aislinn 6, Alannah 3, and fresh from the oven Kian Oliver-Bell 11/15/07
My in laws live in Mt Dora. I'm actually not too fond of it. I think it tries to hard to be something it's not. Most of the shops are filled with little crafty knick knacks, not real antiques. Not much for kids to do around there, either, unless you time it with a festival downtown or something. I like to visit them, but their town isn't great. I hope I don't sound horrid - I just don't want you to trek all the way there and find nothing suitable!
We live in Lakeland. Depending on where in Orlanod you are, it's not a far drive at all. Our town is not exactly little (80,000 or so), but the downtown area (where I live!) is quaint. It boomed in the 1920s and most everything is in old homes and stores. Downtown is a children's park, children's museum, water play, trolley rides, art museum, restaurants, shops, etc. Let me know if you want more info!
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married to Robert * mommy to Emma (04/2001) & John (09/2004)
ISO:
Giftable digital picture frame
someone to come do all my laundry
Mt. Dora also has a huge public playground down by the lake that my kids love. You can also go on a horse and carriage ride, but I don't know how much that costs.
check out HIGH SPRINGS, FL it is north of Orlando though, before Gainesville off I-75. It has a cute little organic cafe, antique & thrift stores, bed & breakfasts, slow (no rapids) rafting on the ichnatuckee (sp?) river. Such a charming town. We go every year since my daughter attends a summer camp nearby. Historic High Springs FL est 1895
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Christine, Mama of Four
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Mari 18 --> Class of 2011 @ Georgia State University
Jorden 11
Kayden 6
Cameryn 4
Originally posted by cheeky monkey Winter Park is lovely but more "boutiquey." Rollins College is there and has a beautiful campus-it's where Mr. Rogers went to college .
My entire family is from the Orlando area. My dad graduated from Rollins way back when...he's always been partial to that area. All I really remember about Winter Park is going there to church on Sundays. It might be a nice little break from all the mouse-themed stuff if you are down visiting for awhile.
"Before you were conceived I wanted you, Before you were born I loved you, Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life."
- Maureen Hawkins
Deland is really quaint with antique shops and a lot of outside eating. Very small town but a lot of history and very nice shops/street side stuff. There are a lot of historical sites to see for free as well. There are parks nearby for the kids.
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Nicole~ AP/HS/EN/CS/CD mama to 3 cuties in a row, open to more.
I second the suggestion for High Springs. My teens also went to summer camp up there when they were a little bit younger.
imariquinn - what camp does your dd go to? Mine went to Camp Kulaqua, which is a Seventh day Adventist camp, although they will let campers of other denominations come.
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Kathy - mama of four lovely girls
All four in Cinderella's Castle, youngest to oldest
Thank you all for the suggestions I'm in SW Florida and we are trying to travel inland for a week or more. The red tide here is killing me. I have asthma and I can't breathe. I need to go and get well. I'm going to look into the places mentioned.
Thanks again! And I'll let you know where we end up landing
regarding the summer camp. my dd has attended Camp Dovewood, an all girls christian camp for 3 years. She is going as a CIT, counselor in training this year for 3 weeks. it is west of High Springs just outside of Branford. It is a wonderful camp, i wish I started her earlier.
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