5 places most Lake County visitors never find — but locals know by heart.
🌅 The Lake Life
Lake County, Florida
The insider's guide to Lake County. 🗺️
Before your first Thursday issue drops, we wanted to share something a little different — the spots that don't show up on the tourist maps, but that locals keep coming back to.
Consider this your welcome gift.
1
Lakeridge Winery — Clermont
Florida's largest winery sits right in Clermont's rolling hills, and it's completely free to visit on most weekends. Free tastings, vineyard tours, food trucks, and live music. It sounds like a road trip, but it's 20 minutes away. lakeridgewinery.com
2
Venetian Gardens — Leesburg
A stunning lakeside park that most people outside Leesburg have never heard of. Gorgeous pavilion, walking paths right on the water, and a small beach. It's the kind of place you bring out-of-town guests just to watch their face light up. Free. Always open.
3
Tavares Seaplane Base — Wooton Park
Tavares is officially "America's Seaplane City" — and you can watch seaplanes land and take off right from Wooton Park on the waterfront. Grab lunch at one of the nearby spots, find a bench, and watch the show. It never gets old.
4
Mount Dora's Back Streets
Most people do Donnelly Street and call it a day. But the real Mount Dora is in the side streets — the hidden courtyard antique shops, the residential streets lined with old Florida homes, and Renninger's flea market on 441 on weekends. Bring cash and a bag.
5
Clermont's South Lake Trail
22 miles of paved trail through actual hills — the only real elevation in Central Florida. Perfect for biking, running, or a long walk with lake views. Free parking at Waterfront Park in downtown Clermont. Best on a weekday morning before it heats up.
That's your starter pack. Your first full Thursday issue arrives this week — with the top events, quick hits, and whatever else is worth knowing in Lake County right now.