Little Lake Harris

The Harris Chain of Lakes is a friendly and comfortable place to visit – filled with lake and riverfront communities and neighborhoods, each as unique as the people who live in them.

Outdoor activities abound as central Florida is not only home to hundreds of waterways, but the quality of freshwater fishing and boating amenities are among the best in the state. Our members enjoy endless boating and activities available throughout the region. Check out the top 10 our members enjoy:

1. Wakeboarding, waterskiing, hydro sliding and tubing, in several of our protected lakes right here on Lake Dora or the other five major lakes in the area.

2. Attending any number of local activities in Tavares, or Mount Dora by boat. Both locations and many more have easy boat access to a variety of restaurants, bars, Kids Park, Splash Zone, festivals, music, and so much more.

3. Largemouth bass and crappie are found in almost every body of water in the area. In fact, nationally televised fishing tournaments come to Lake County each year. With hundreds of lakes brimming with prize catches, anglers sometimes face a tough decision about where to cast a line.

4. The Dora Canal: One of the Best Waterways for Wildlife Viewing – The most well-known waterway in Lake County – was penned in the 1930s by a leading sports writer as “the most beautiful mile of water in the world.” Lined with towering cypress trees that are draped with Spanish moss, the Dora Canal is a safe haven for nesting ospreys, herons and egrets.

5. The City of Mount Dora truly is ‘someplace special,’ a charming, one-hundred plus year old historic village in the heart of Central Florida on the shores of beautiful Lake Dora in the Harris Chain of Lakes. The historic downtown offers a wide array of shopping, dining, lodging, activities, wellness and entertainment…there’s something for every taste.

6. Animal lovers will thrill at getting “up close and personal” with more than 300 exotic and endangered animals at Amazing Exotics Education Center and enjoy meeting adorable farm animals at Uncle Donald’s Farm.

7. Wine enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a tour and tasting at Lake Ridge Winery and Vineyards, one of the few wineries in Florida.

8. The Orange Blossom Cannonball Train – Get your souvenir ticket, board our 100 year old steam train and take a ride back in time. Staff wears period clothing and narrates the history of Tavares on this 2 hr., 16 mi round trip journey. Also check for special edition “Rails and Ales” “Santa” and “Cowboy” trips.

9. The Jones Bros Seaplane Rides – Take a tour from 10 minutes to 2 hours over beautiful Lake Dora. See the famous plane that Johnny Depp rode in the film “The Rum Diaries.” You gotta try this. Tavares, FL is the Seaplane city, you know!

10. The Ocala National Forest is only minutes away, covering a total of 383,573 acres of well-tended woodlands, trails and natural springs.