Highwaymen Weekend

Some feel-good-karma for the week ...


Rachelle & Brian,

We had a WONDERFUL time this weekend! We'll definitely be calling to book with you again.

--The Cheathams

July 4th Guest Comments

I love little hand written notes. Here are two we received this weekend. Worth all the work and sweat it took to get things cleaned and ready early so we could enjoy our holiday too!

"Thank you for the stay! We felt like we were at home while staying at your cottages. Hope to visit you again soon!

--Conrad & Cindy

"We had an awesome time! The kids loved the hometown parade and we had fun just hanging out on the front porch."

--Cherrah

Sometimes Guests Say It Best

As business owners we strive to provide our guests with the best Mount Dora experience possible and often enough the reward is this:

Brian and Rachelle,

"My Daughter, Diane and I want to thank you for the wonderful visit we had to your Nantucket Cottage and to the wonderful town of Mt. Dora. We wish we would have had longer, but we did have two great FULL days and a very restful sleep in your cottage. We have recommended it to several. The restaurants you suggested were awesome. Our last late lunch was at the Mt. Dora Sushi and we loved it. As I said in the note that we left you on the counter, we may make this an annual visit. Again, Thanks for all your help" -- Carol Taylor

www.TremainStreetCottages.com

Gourmet Breakfast at the Adora Inn

Are you hungry this morning? Did you have some powdered eggs and dried toast for breakfast at a chain hotel? You'll be wishing you had stayed at a bed & breakfast after you read this guest's comments about their stay at the Adora Inn.

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This is the type of hospitality we expected to receive, only better. We had lovely accommodations in the Olive Room, a VERY comfortable bed, and peace and quiet which we craved, having very hectic jobs and only a few days to take off. We love to go to Mt. Dora as it feels like a step back in time, but this was a wonderful surprise for us, staying at the Adora.

Our hosts were awesome, knew lots of information about the area and showed us their fabulous culinary dishes for our breakfasts. .. gratefully, not the random gooey sweet French toast or boxed pancakes. We had scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives, delicious tortillas with salsa and sour cream and fresh fruits with organic chicken apple sausages. Also on the table was freshly sliced strawberries arranged on a homemade pizza. YUM! The day previous was roasted potatoes and a delightful egg fritatta, bite-sized chocolate or raspberry pastries and freshly baked bread- along with plenty of hot coffees, teas and sparkling water on the table. I noticed fresh orchids in most rooms, along with fresh cut flowers on the dining room table. -

And artwork. Lots of beautiful paintings by Arthur, the resident host and artist. The man oozes art. Arthur's artwork is in each guest room as well as the dining room and living room. Check out his work.

Both hosts took a genuine interest in our adventures for the day and it was obvious, they take special care of their home as well. What a WONDERFUL time we had with them! We have more friends in Mt. Dora now! Try to stop in at the Adora Inn if you can!

Sue from Sarasota

Good Deeds

Need a feel-good story to make you feel all warm and fuzzy in these crazy economic times?

I've got one for you.

How about a story about a couple that spent 4 days of their vacation raking leaves to help an older woman with a chore she couldn't do on her own? I love a good story about people doing good deeds ... I don't think we hear them often enough.

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;
what we have done for others and
the world remains and is immortal." ~Albert Pike

The Havens while here last year, noticed a woman in her 80’s that was raking her front yard. They saw Annie, struggling while raking her yard, and said, “dear, you should have someone helping you with that”. Annie’s reply was, “I did pay someone to do this; however, after getting the money, they never came back to do the job. Unfortunately, now I cannot afford to pay someone.” So the Havens offered to do it for her. She was pretty much done at this point and said, “maybe another time”. The Havens said, “when we come back next year we will come and rake your yard for you”. Of course, Annie smiled and said thank you, but, not expecting them to ever fulfill their promise.

Well the Havens, on their return trip this year, went to Annie’s home, and told her they were there to rake her yard. Annie, was very embarrassed, as she explained that she did not have the money to pay them. The Havens in a very caring tone, told Annie that they never wanted to be paid and this was from the kindness of their hearts. Annie very surprised by their generous offer and accepted their help with tears in her eyes. No one had ever been so kind to Annie.

They became fast friends, as Annie brought them lemonade, while they raked, and raked, and raked. Annie’s backyard, which the Havens never saw, was three times the size of the front. They still raked both the front and backyard and bagged all of the leaves for Annie. When all was said and done, the Havens had raked more than 75 bags of leaves, and spent four days on their chore. With blisters on their hands and a smile in their hearts, they bid Annie a fair goodbye, and said, “we will see you next year”. Annie gave them both a hug, and said, “the lemonade will be waiting.”

Rachelle, I loved this story and have been meaning to send it to you. --Jim, Mount Dora Historic Inn

Pay it forward!

--Rachelle

Hospitality Exceeds Expectations

The Mount Dora Historic Inn received some great comments from guests recently. I thought, "why just keep them in a book, let's share!"

Here are the notes they received ...


Jim & Ana,

Our first stay in a B & B was a great experience. Your hospitality was far beyond what we would have expected. Jim, your breakfast was out of this world and Ana, we loved all your special touches to make our stay so wonderful.

God Bless,

George & Robin
Cooper City, FL

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Jim & Ana,

Thank you so much for your hospitality, smiling faces and welcoming personalities. Guard your heart with all diligence for from it flows the well-springs of life. Jim ... food was fabulous.

All the best,

Birthday Ladies

Pat on the back ...

I love getting positive guest comments. Sometimes, when you're working for yourself, there is no on there telling you, "good job, well done." Well, we got one of those upbeat messages this morning. Check it out below ...

"I wanted to let you know that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Mt Dora and at your cottage. The cottage suited us well, the bed was extremely comfortable, and the location was ideal. We were amazed at how pet friendly the town is. We were able to take our dog with us for dinner each night. Thank you for your hospitality!" -- Peggy

Rachelle
Tremain Street Cottages

Guthrie Guitar

Staying at a b&b on vacation ... $150 ... tickets to a concert ... $50 ... winning a signed guitar at the concert ... priceless!



Guests at The Captain's Inn recently had a nice surprise ending to their Florida vacation. They attended the Arlo Guthrie "Lost World Tour" concert with Innkeepers Barry and Tamara and ended up winning the biggest prize ... an autographed guitar from Alro himself.

One of our local shop keepers and key organizer for the concert, Al Wittnebert, is a collector of autographs. With 30 years of experience in the business of collecting autographs and being only one of 5 licensed autograph appraisers in the States, Captain's Guest Deborah didn't have to worry about the authentication of her prize!

Here's the note I received from Tamara at the Captain's Inn ...

"During intermission the Mount Dora Library Association called off raffled ticket numbers for donated gifts. One of our guests won the main and largest gift, an autographed guitar of Arlo Guthrie. We congratulate Deborah Powell who came to Mount Dora with her sister for the concert, their last stop on their 5 week vacation from the cold northeast."

Wish Upon A Hero

Everyone has a wish. Anyone can be a hero.



That's the slogan for Wish Upon A Hero, a site dedicated to helping people by perpetuating kindness. This is the ultimate do-a-good-deed-and-pay it-forward website. Basically, if you have a need or a dream ... make a wish. If you have the ability ... be a hero.

A hero in need of a hero ...

Recently, a soldier's wish was to renew his wedding vows to his wife before being deployed again to Iraq. Being a sailor, only a Captain would do! So Therese, with Wish Upon a Hero, discovered Captain Barry and The Captains' Inn located in Mount Dora. Immediately upon hearing the story, Innkeepers Tamara and Barry happily agreed to grant their wish.

Captain Barry performed the touching ceremony for Kelly & Darrell at sunset by the lighthouse on Lake Dora.

"We were proud to make her wish come true. We wish Darrell a safe and speedy return to the USA." -- Captain Barry

Tea and House-pitality

I love it when we receive guest comments. This one below happens to have a "Tea" habit. I've got one of those too. It's funny, I seem to go back and forth between tea and coffee. Right now, I'm a tea drinker. Specifically green tea with a big squirt of orange blossom honey sweetening up the bottom of the cup. Next week ... I'll probably be a hot cocoa drinker ... with a shot of espresso. Okay, enough with my drinking habits. Here's a great comment from Tamara at the Captain's Inn ...

Dear Captain and Tamara,

I wanted to thank both of you for your "housepitility" this past weekend. All the little extras like: chauffeur, making early breakfast both mornings, putting up with my Tea habit, parking, sharing our love of arts and crafts of many kinds, and just knowing you guys were there if we needed you.......... Thank you again, Darlene

ps: we signed up for next year so, hopefully we will see you again unless you both decide to become one with the waves again!

Grandview Hotel

Ever wonder what it was like 100 years ago? People were certainly not worried about the price of gas since the main form of transportation was by horse or train. Eggs were 14 cents a dozen. Sugar was 4 cents a pound. Coffee was 14 cents a pound. And the cost to spend a night at an Inn in Mount Dora was $2.50 if you wanted a bath. Finding this information ... priceless!

Somethings just have perfect timing. During a month where we have our first historical ghost tour of Mount Dora planned for Halloween, giving people a holiday thrill while also teaching the history of the town, guests at Tremain Street Cottages brought a little bit of history and nostalgia with them on their trip here to Mount Dora.

As the child of the former owner of the Grand View Hotel, Cindy and her husband had a lot of stories to share along with postcards and memorabilia from the beginning of tourism in Mount Dora. I love history, so for me it felt like we had a celebrity staying with us. I enjoyed hearing the stories about people stepping off the train and walking up to the front desk to check in and reading about a time when Mount Dora was described as being a "daylight motortrip to any important community in Central Florida" and instead of using the internet or phone to make a reservation, the preferred method asked interested travelers to "write now for winter rates."

One of the brochures described Mount Dora as:

"One of the healthiest communities in the United States. Located amidst lakes and hills, deep well water with no trace of sulphur, 265 feet above sea level, 35 miles of paved streets and no malaria."

Thank goodness we're no longer concerned about malaria! And as the mode of transportation and prices may have changed, there are a lot of things that have remained the same. Such as, the fantastic weather, golf, boating, fishing and shopping and dining that have attracted travelers here now for over 100 years.

Where will the next 100 years take us?

--Rachelle

Serendipity

This week I received a heart-warming story of a serendipitous moment in downtown Mount Dora. It is unbelievable how we are all connected in some way. A relative of one of our local Innkeepers is an inventor of card games, and unbeknownst to everyone involved, that same card game was available for sale by one of our downtown merchants. One of the guests at their Inn discovered it and made the connection. Here's the Innside scoop I got from Tamara at the Captain's Inn ...

"This weekend we entertained Barry's sister from Arizona, Marsha. She was in town for a games-show convention in Orlando and she spent five days with us at the Inn. She is the manufacturer and designer of fun and educational award winning games which are marketed on her website www.setgame.com. Saturday morning, she taught one of her games to our weekend guests. That afternoon, one of our weekend guests was in town shopping and noticed the game for sale at the store, Whispering Winds. They purchased the game and told the store owners that the inventor of the game was visiting her brother at the Captains' Inn. They came over & met Marsha, and we all got together & instituted game night now at Captains' Inn. This is a great example of lodging & merchants working hand-in-hand. It was a great weekend for us and all our guests." Sincerely, Tamara

Enjoy The View

I'm going to propose a new tradition. In addition to "wine" down Wednesdays, we're also gonna do Thirsty Thursdays, Speed Boat Saturdays and Sailing Sundays ... pretty much any day of the week with an excuse to get out on the water and have some wine with Captain's Barry, Tamara and Bailey.

We had fun on our little sunset cruise, sipping wine ... spilling wine ... snacking and laughing while we counted baby gators and watched the sun set over Lake Dora. It was a great way to release the stress of the day and a simple reminder of one of the many reasons we moved to Mount Dora.

Something I didn't know ... there is a "wedding tree" in the Dora Canal. Barry explained that there were two trees that grew together as one, connecting at the root and several times again as they grew together over the years. He's married several people on his boat in front of this tree, so we went on a mission to find it. We searched and looked all through the canal and I almost thought this was going to be another one of Barry's "stories" that prove how I'm so gullible ... but then we found it. An unique natural anomaly.

Barry and Tamara also told us a great story about one of their experiences at The Captain's Inn this week. They has several "musical" guests, including Captain Harry. Now ... Captain Barry and Harry in the same room? I almost spewed my wine in laughter. Can you really get two Captain's in the room with rhyming names? But it's no nursery rhyme, it is fact. Captain Harry is a real person and entertained all the guests with his acoustic guitar and quick wit. He even strummed a little song about Barry and Tamara that went a little something like this ...

Take a picture it'll last longer
I think I could make those colors even stronger
The things that you can capture with your camera
The life that could live with your Tamara
A boy's imagination becomes a young man's dream
You can be who you want to be
Let the sails, unfurl,
Travel around the world
Searching for a cultured pearl
Just go for it
Life too short
Travel to a distant port
Plot your course and then navigate
You don't have time to wait
Once you get the picture you are on your way
Carpe Diem
Seize the day
Gather up a table crew
Okay their not so stable, but they'll do
Mother nature will thrill us all
Like a Polynesian waterfall
Greater than your greatest wish
Like when an eagle takes your fish
Because I can color deep and true
And this is what I'll do for you
Many people call it folly
They don't have time to Dali
A boys imagination becomes a young man's dream
You can be who you want to be
Let the sails unfurl
Searching for a cultured pearl
Just go for it
Life too short
Travel to a distant port
Plot your course and then navigate
You don't have time to wait

What a great reminder to live in the moment and enjoy the day! Sometimes I get so caught up in "plotting the course" that I forget to look up and enjoy the view.

--Rachelle

Shopoholics Anonymous!

I've been purposefully not turning on my television to avoid all the doom and gloom the media has been perpetuating this week. The stock market crashing, oil prices rising, hurricane devastation, election polls, mortgage crisis, real estate devalued, nah, nah, nah. The big networks would have us believing that it's the end of the world and there is nothing we can do about it.

Sorry for the rant, but I had to get it out of my system because there is something we can do about it. There ARE positive stories out there. All we have to do is share them. Work is being done, vacations are being planned, Holiday hopes are being held onto, and yes, people are shopping and having a good time while doing it!

Innkeepers, Jim & Ana, with the Mount Dora Historic Inn shared a story that brought a smile to my face and uplifted my day. Recent guests of theirs had a fabulous experience shop hopping in downtown Mount Dora. This was made possible by the friendly merchants and our small town charm. Wall Street may be down, but the spirit on Donnelly Street is looking up.

Here are there comments ...

"Every single shopkeeper we encountered were all extremely friendly and very helpful. Specifically Karen, owner of Timeless Keepsakes, whose sense of humor had us laughing and made us feel very welcome. Also, Larry at the Wildlife Store honored our VIP visitor card even though he was not a participant of this particular promotion. It made our day!" -- Yvonne & Sheri, Gainesville, FL

"It’s very nice to hear that our town has not lost its warmth and gracious hospitality. This is exactly why we moved here, and why we have made Mount Dora our home." -- Ana, Mount Dora Historic Inn

Ana also said Yvonne & Sheri also could not stop talking about Jim’s scrumptious breakfast. They raved about how beautiful the soufflé looked, and once they tasted it … they were in heaven! Full tummies, warm hearts, rested souls, and hands full of shopping bags and good memories to take home.

That's what being an Innkeeper is all about!

--Rachelle

Guest Comments: Mount Dora Historic Inn

Florida has a rainy season, and usually it’s June through August each year. So you just plan on having rain every day at almost the same time for 3 months and get on with your life. If nothing else, it gives you a great looking lawn, and a reason to leave the theme parks.

On this particular day my husband and I were ready to relax. We could care less about the rain, it would only add to the relaxing experience.

We pulled up to the Historic Inn in the early evening, and as we were getting out of the car we noticed something pink coming towards us. It was the inn keeper, Jim, coming to meet us with pink umbrellas and a glass of wine. What a welcome! He helped us with our bags, made sure we didn’t lose our footing on the wet pavement and showed us inside to our rooms.

The Mt Dora Historic Inn looks like a dollhouse, both inside and out. Very quaint and charming and so comfortable and relaxing. Jim and his wife Anna had wine, cheese and vegetables ready for us, so we easily slipped into vacation mode while getting to know them better.

The tour was fantastic… every room was wonderfully decorated with antiques, lace and flowers. The beds were fluffed and welcoming and when I happened to glance out of the window I realized that we were just steps away from all the shops and restaurants that Mt Dora is known for.

After a rejuvenating night of sleep, it was the moment we had been waiting for. The breakfast at the Mt Dora Historic Inn is famous in this town for being THE BEST. And….OH MY GOODNESS…it was! I don’t even recall how many servings we had because I was so deliriously happy with what I was eating. And the descriptions of each serving were just as yummy! Just hearing all the passion and care that went into each item made my mouth water. There was citrus infused with French vanilla, Polynesian soup (similar to a smoothie but SO much better) an egg soufflés with kielbasa, cinnamon potato pancakes and stuffed French toast. I was overwhelmed by the amazing breakfastie-goodness!

This was definitely a wonderful experience from start to finish. Jim and Anna were gracious hosts and wonderful people to get to know. Make sure you are ready for the ultimate in relaxation when you book a stay at this B&B and make sure you go there hungry!

--Beth
Orlando, FL

Guest Comments: The Grandview Bed & Breakfast

Southern hospitality at its finest. That’s what I thought of upon meeting Mel and Andy, our gracious hosts for a fantastic night at this historic bed and breakfast.

It started the moment my husband and I parked the car. Andy and Mel met us in the parking lot and helped us with our bags. We were shown to our room and told to come down when we were ready. Eager to have a look around, we headed down the solid wood staircase and into the spacious, perfectly decorated living room. Already they had laid out some crackers and some caviar cream dip for us. They opened a bottle of wine and we settled in for what would be a fantastic evening.

What struck me the most was how much Mel and Andy love what they do. They showed us a box filled with pictures of past guests and told several stories of their regulars who come each year to visit. You could tell that it’s all about getting to know people and making you feel comfortable in their home. And what a home it is! They had old pictures of the original owner, William Watt and his family, and pictures of the home back in 1906 when it was a citrus grove. Mel said that the pictures came with the house and will remain in the house forever…along with other assorted items that they found when they took ownership of the property.

By the end of the evening we had our fill of a wonderful dinner prepared by Mel; a rice dish loaded with shrimp, scallops, chicken and andoullie sausage and a side of fresh veggies and warm rolls… and plenty of wine. But there was more…chocolate cake and homemade ice cream served with coffee and liquors. Amazing. It was that warm and comfy feeling that you get from good company and conversation, and when you are fat and happy and ready to relax after a good homemade meal.

After dinner we sat by the pool and had some tea. The sun had gone down and the soft glow from the lights surrounding the pool made for a relaxing atmosphere. We sat, rocking in our rocking chairs and sipping our tea…happy in the moment, but kind of sad that the evening was coming to a close. And as I sat looking at the stars (and realized how many more stars you can see in Mt. Dora vs Downtown Orlando) I started to drift off to sleep. Comfy, happy and somehow not being eaten alive by mosquitoes (must have been all the wine I drank).

After a good night’s sleep, we got up early and headed down to the dining room for some breakfast. And surprise, surprise…Mel had outdone himself again! French toast, crisp bacon, fresh fruit, coffee and juice. It was quite a feat, and a perfect close to a fantastic stay at the Grandview Bed and Breakfast.

--Beth
Orlando, FL

Guest Comments: Farnsworth House B&B

You referred me to the Farnsworth House in June when you were unable to accommodate my family for July 4th. I just want to thank you because we would never have met Vivian and Bob. They were very attentive to our needs and to the other guests. I would have been overwhelmed entertaining so many people but they managed to take care of everyone with style and grace. On my first day, I felt like I was visiting a family member. Breakfast was delicious and the barbecue was a wonderful treat. I have never felt more at home away from home. Thank you again for the referral.

--Deborah
West Palm Beach, FL