Florida or saving the best part for last

For our last day in Florida we had only one goal – to find the airport in Orlando and our plane to New Orleans. The starting point was Crystal River. Since there was enough time for the approximately 140 miles, we wanted to see the “country life” around Ocala from the car and make a short stop in Silver Springs – the place where the glass-bottom boats were invented (says my travel guide).

We reached Silver Springs after only 40 miles. Here, crystal-clear spring water has been bubbling to the surface for thousands of years. We were a bit surprised, from the yawning emptiness in the parking lot and from the oversized entrance to the “park”. We were charged around 30 dollars entrance fee and yes, we paid without hesitation. The only “attraction” that interested me was the glass-bottom boat tour and so we headed straight for the boats.

The tour lasts 30 minutes and observing the flora and fauna in the crystal clear river water was a fabulous experience for me. Afterwards we wanted to take a quick look at the rest of the park, but quickly realized that it can be compared to the abandoned Wild West movie locations. Ancient infrastructure, no people on the road and looks like a park 50 years ago or so. Well, in retrospect we would have been better off spending the 30 dollars entrance fee on something else, but you learn something new. By the way, the park has been bought and the new management is planning a “redesign” and “reopening” for the fall of this year. Please let me know when Silver Springs is experiencing a resurgence.

Afterwards we still had 100 miles ahead of us and thought about where we should make a stop. I don’t know about you on road trips – I always feel like I’m missing out. You just drive past so many places and think “you’ve seen it” and afterwards I usually notice that I miss the pictures of all the impressions on the way. It’s a pity.

After an in-depth study of our guidebook, we agreed that Mount Dora was worth a stop. Mount Dora is a small town and has – as the name suggests – a 56 m high hill – a mountain for Florida, so to speak.

Well, we were excited. Mount Dora welcomed us like so many other towns and cities before. With this sensational street, which leads along Wendy’s, gas stations, Seven Elevens and other “inner-city” highlights through the “town”. We followed the sign in the direction of the “historic center” and arrived in the center of Mount Dora after what felt like an eternity and just before despairing of where to go.

Well, as we all know, persistence is rewarded and this small-town idyll literally blew me away. There are only three cross streets, but they are lined with pretty houses, flowers, were miracle shops, tea houses and you feel like you’ve been transported back about 100 years.

I could have easily spent a whole day here – unfortunately we only had 30 minutes. But I fell in love – in love with this pretty spot on Lake Gertrude, in love with so much attention to detail and in love with the fact that even American towns can have beautiful town centres.

And keep this story in mind if you’re traveling by car – follow the signs in the direction of the “historic center” and don’t get stuck on the thoroughfares. Florida isn’t just about gas station shops and oversized roadways. Honest.