By Lulu

[singlepic id=890 w=320 h=240 float=left]I have made yearly trips to Lake County to cover Leesburg Bike Festival, and with the Helter Skelter of trying to make it to the bikini contests, bike shows, concerts, wing eating contests, etc., etc., the only real riding I have ever managed was to make a trip each visit to Lake Harris Hideaway for good food, relaxation out on the tree covered waterfront deck and music.

What I was surprised by while doing our research for this article is that Leesburg is the “Sturgis” of our state, and what I mean by that is there are actually beautiful roads to ride with hills that are even named Sugar Loaf Mountain and Green Mountain Roads. It will be difficult during Leesburg Bike Fest 2011 to stay in town.

I will want to explore the beautiful places we now know exists. When a county is called Lake County you expect lakes and there are lakes everywhere to ride to. Lake front roadways with Spanish moss draped oaks, orange groves for miles, and wonderful places along the way to feast or imbibe.

On the list of possible things to do while in Lake County:

In Altoona go horseback riding at Fiddler’s Green Ranch or swim/canoe at Alexander Spring.

In Clermont take a swamp buggy ride, visit the President’s Hall of Fame or tour Lakeridge Winery.

[singlepic id=878 w=320 h=240 float=left]In Mt. Dora take a horse drawn carriage ride, segway tour or shop at quaint specialty shop which includes a gun shop for men, have an ice cream cone at the Village Coffeepot (425 N. Donnelly St.) or a cold beer at the Frosty Mug (100 E 4th St.), visit Renninger’s Twin Market (20651 US 441), take a Maze Adventure at Long & Scott Farm!

In Tavares ride a sea plane and stop in at Buzzard Beach Grille (2050 W. Burleigh Blvd. 441) for a cold beer and a bite to eat.

In Astor have lunch at William’s Landing tree top deck on St. John’s River at Blackwater Inn (55716 Front St.) and take a boat tour.

In Lady Lakes visit a petting zoo.

In Yahala listen to music while dining on incredible fresh baked pastries or have a German brat at Yalaha Bakery.

In Eustis visit an alpaca farm.

In Leesburg shop at Raw Rider’s Motorcycle Apparel (9924 US Hwy 441) or Gator Harley on 441, eat gator at Gator Bay Marina (10320 CR 44) or wings at Cousin Vinnie’s (10700 US 441).

In Howey-in-the-Hills stop in at JB Boondocks (704 S. Lakeshore Blvd.) on your way to ride Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Our highlights that we recommend are Yalaha Bakery!!! The food was wonderful, the owner charming, the outside patio quaint and there is music on Saturday afternoon. We loved our hotel which was the Mission Inn in Howey-in-the Hills and their restaurant Margarita’s were wonderful. We found Mt. Dora to be a quaint shopping village that as Deborah Speicher who writes for us states, “Makes you feel like you have left Florida.” We had great wings at Back Woods Bar & Grill (4101 CR 561) in Tavares .

We polled Lake County resident bikers and the top 3 bars by the poll were Jesse Black’s in Leesburg, Lake Harris Hideaway (11912 Lane Park) in Tavares and Kickstands in Eustis.

Top 3 restaurants were Gator Bay on 44 in Leesburg for gator tails, the Hideaway for their “messy burger” and Yalaha Bakery in Yalaha for wonderful fresh baked goods and German foods.

Other spots mentioned were Dog Pound[singlepic id=886 w=320 h=240 float=right] in Sorrento, Magnolia Oyster Pub in Leesburg, Jeremiah’s in Mt. Dora, JJ Finns, Little Harris Pub in Astatula, Crazy Gators in Eustis and Zellwood’s in Zellwood. Pirate’s Pub in Paisley has always been a favorite but check to see if they have reopened after their fire. Also Wolfie’s was mentioned for a dynamite breakfast, but you need to check this also as they were closed at the time of this research.

The top roads to ride were 455 to 561 going south and then ride Sugarloaf Mountain Road. Take Lake Shore Drive leaving Mt. Dora following the north side of Lake Dora which takes you to a place you can take a ride on a sea plane in Tavares. if you are up for an adventure and we also enjoyed the ride in the most northeast corner when we rode out to have lunch at Blackwater Inn’s treetop outdoor deck (William’s Landing). The drive past Alexander Springs was pretty with very little traffic. We explored the park, but it was $11 for 2. There is a nice wooden walkway, but unless you plan to rent a canoe or swim in the springs I don’t know that it is worth $11 for a nature walk.

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