Escape to Florida's lesser-known cities: Stuart and Mount Dora

New Yorkers love to escape to Florida once Mother Nature starts roaring in all her winter glory. While many make their way to Miami, Palm Beach and Orlando, there’s something to be said for Florida’s smaller cities. Two to put on your radar are Stuart and Mount Dora.

Stuart is a seaside town known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World” and Mount Dora offers a lakefront retreat, parks and a surprisingly vibrant arts and culture scene.

For Stuart, fly direct from MacArthur, LaGuardia or Kennedy airports to Palm Beach and drive 40 minutes south and for Mount Dora, fly direct from all three airports to Orlando and make a 50–60-minute drive northwest.

Visiting early fall is ideal as accommodations and airfares are cheaper than summer’s peak. But deals can be had in winter after Christmas and New Year’s. So go where the crowds aren’t and see a different side of Florida.

Stuart: 'Sailfish Capital of the World'

Stuart is on Florida’s Treasure Coast and this city of less than 20,000 people is loved for its beaches, St. Lucie River, thriving arts and culinary scene, historic downtown and waterfront boardwalk, The Riverwalk.

Boating and fishing is big here, as is paddleboarding, surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming or relaxing on Bathtub Beach, with its shallow, calm waters that during low tide lets you walk out to near the reef. Explore Stuart Beach, which has picnic areas and is home to the Seaside Café. Both beaches are free, as is parking.

For more outdoor recreation, visit Halpatiokee Regional Park (free) with miles of trails for hiking and biking. Golfers can head to the 18-hole course at the Sailfish Sands Golf Course. On Sundays, make your way to the waterfront Flagler Park for live music and vendors selling local goods, and then head to the Riverwalk for Rock’n Riverwalk, a free outdoor concert series.

Downtown is historic and happening, with events and festivals. The vibe is artsy with galleries, murals and mosaics doting the landscape. Chains and franchises aren’t permitted. Enjoy local boutiques and restaurants, such as the Riverwalk Cafe and Oyster Bar. Pop in for brunch, like steak and eggs, crab cake benedict or gravlox and everything bagel, on the menu. Consider Stuart Boathouse on the waterfront for cocktails and appetizers like crab, spinach and artichoke dip and Summerlin’s smoked fish dip. The woman-owned Muscle Craft Distillery offers limited edition vodkas, rums and other spirits. 

Get your museum fix at the Elliott Museum with its art and history exhibits and vintage cars. The Stuart Heritage Museum tells the area’s story.

As for where to stay, the Old Colorado Inn, a downtown boutique hotel originally built in 1914, is a favorite. Rooms start at around $200 a night. Another good option is the Marriott Hutchinson Island Resort & Beach Villas, Golf & Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway. Rooms start at about $185.

Mount Dora: Small-town charm 

Mount Dora is proof that the action in Florida isn’t just in the big cities. This 9.2-square-mile town of less than 20,000 people boasts more than 30 festivals a year, such as the free Mount Dora Arts Festival in January that showcases more than 300 artists on downtown streets.

There isn’t a beach in Mount Dora but there’s plenty of water fun. Lake Dora is more than 4,000 acres and ideal for bass fishing. To see wildlife, take a guided pontoon narrated cruise with Rusty Anchor Mount Dora or Premier Boat Tours  You can also kayak or paddleboard through the Dora Canal.

Lighthouse lovers will want to check out the Mount Dora Lighthouse at Grantham Point Park. Kids will want to spend time at Gilbert Park with its pirate ship and climbing structures. 

If you’re looking to get your steps in, Palm Island Park’s walking trails await you and expect to glimpse wildlife too. If you want to stay active on your trip, tee up at the 88-acre Mount Dora Golf Club. 

You not only get nature in Mount Dora but culture. There are galleries and museums, like the Modernism Museum Mount Dora and the Mount Dora Center for the Arts to satisfy your artistic appetite.

Get retail therapy shopping the boutiques and hunting for antiques. And when all that shopping stirs hunger, you have options like The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge where you can feast on New Zealand rack of lamb, bánh mi pork chops and apps like Irish whiskey onion soup and scallop crudo, and Pisces Rising for steak and seafood and views of Lake Dora.

For accommodations, there are bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals and choices like the cozy Mount Dora Historic Inn, built in 1910. Room rates start at around $190.

Consider too, the Lakeside Inn, built in 1883 and Florida’s oldest continuously operating hotel. Room rates start at around $240 a night.