Woof! Fido’s Welcome in Mount Dora, Florida

Maggie's Attic & Wine Cellar, Mount Dora, Fla., Jan. 23, 2011 — Maggies's Attic & Wine Cellar, Mount Dora, Florida

Mount Dora is cute, intimate and filled me with warm fuzzies. This a-DORA-ble town gave me the same feeling seeing a sleeping puppy emits. That feeling of releasing an “awwww” when seeing a cuddly canine.

Downtown is charming with boutique shops and independently owned restaurants. There’s a small-town ambiance with an undertone of unpretentious big-city sophistication.

I visited Mount Dora yesterday to attend the Central Florida Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) chapter meeting at One Flight Up Cafe followed by a wine (or in the case of Travelin’Gringo, a beer) tasting at Maggie’s Attic & Wine Cellar.

While sipping a lovely Columbia Winery Riesling from Columbia Valley, Wash., and chatting with fellow TBEXers, in walked the happiest and most lovey-dovey dog I have met in a while.

His name is Oakley, a black and white Shar-Pei, and his “mom” was promoting the monthly PAWS for Mount Dora event. Held the second Sunday each month, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., people and their pooches can enjoy Mount Dora’s pet-friendly eateries, shops and lodging accommodations. Participants can pick up a map at Mount Dora Sushi & Steak and visit listed businesses, get it stamped and be entered to win prizes.

Janet Craig with Oakley while Speaking with Beverly of PlacesAroundFlorida.com, Jan. 23, 2011, Maggie's Attic & Wine Cellar, Mount Dora, Fla. — Janet Craig of Mount Dora Sushi & Steak with Oakley, Speaks with Beverly of PlacesAroundFlorida.com, Jan. 23, 2011, Maggie's Attic & Wine Cellar, Mount Dora, Fla.

The second Sunday isn’t the only time Fido can strut his stuff along Mount Dora’s sidewalks. While walking the downtown, I noticed several water bowls near restaurants with al fresco dining. There are also a handful of accommodations who welcome dogs.

Visit WhatToDoinMountDora.com to learn more about Mount Dora’s pet-friendly accommodations and services and stay tuned for additional posts about Mount Dora.

One Flight Up Cafe
440 North Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Tel: (407) 758-9818
www.oneflightupmtdora.com

Maggie’s Attic & Wine Cellar
237 W 4th Ave # 2
Mount Dora, FL 32757-5599
Tel: (352) 383-5451
www.maggiesattic.us

And be sure to check out these posts by fellow TBEXers about Mount Dora:

A Sunday afternoon…. Mount Dora Style! – The Active Explorer
Dog-Friendly Weekend Getaways: Mount Dora – City’s Best Orlando
Mt. Dora May Be Close to Orlando, But the Difference is Miles Apart – Places Around Florida
Lake Dora – Central Florida Pics

Interested in more pet-friendly travel? Check out my recent article Florida Travel: Dog-Friendly Sarasota.

Mount Dora Vacations

Jenn

Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely. The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo. Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.