What do you think?

I’ll see you out there…!

It started with an idea. If you were to call in sick this summer, where in Central Florida would you go? We asked for your input, you voted on your favorite, and that’s where we went: Mount Dora.

Together with Bess Auer from Orlando Travel & Event site, Central Florida Top 5, we planned to spend the day in Mount Dora, to check  out how to make the best of your sick day. And while Bess called me that morning to say she had some surprise personal business to attend to, Brian and I continued on our adventure. We’ll connect with Bess again in the future.

So what can you do in Mount Dora if you call in sick from work?

If it’s your first time to Mount Dora (like it was for me), start your day by checking out the Old Train Station. It’s now the Chamber of Commerce which has friendly folks who can help plan your day.

Old Train Station

Ben Planning His Day

Before you leave, be sure to see the old train schedule machine. In yesterday you would select your city by spinning the dial and finding your route. It’s an original.

Spin the wheel to find your route.

There’s also the old switch that would alert the train that there were passengers to pick up.

Pull the levers to alert the trains

With our day planned, we walked to the lighthouse and relaxed on a nearby bench. Catching a breeze, and taking a break from the hectic pace of live. The lighthouse is the only inland, freshwater lighthouse in Florida.

The Mount Dora Lighthouse

Brian relaxing on a bench

Next up, a stroll down Donnelly Street. This is the main shopping street in town. Antique shops, cafes and other specialty stores could keep you busy browsing and window shopping all afternoon. Piglets Pantry caught my eye and thus I officially started my 2010 Christmas Shopping!

Donnelly Street

For every taste, Mount Dora offers plenty of restaurants. With menus posted outside, I could have indulged all day in ice cream, fudge, wine and real food too! Each restaurant has it’s own unique charm. Multiple return trips to try out these new dining options are definitely in the future.

But on today’s trip, we selected Mt. Dora Sushi. Active on twitter (@MtDoraSushi), and having supported our call in sick initiative, we thought we’d pay them a visit. This was especially an adventure for me since I’ve never had sushi before.

A very comprehensive sushi menu

Bento Box

Ben eating from the BENto Box: California Roll

Prices were right, food was great, portions were excellent; it was a great spot for lunch and a perfect way to end the day.

What’s your favorite restaurant, shop or attraction in Mount Dora?

Today’s Lesson: I’ve lived in Orlando for 5 years now and never made a trip to Mount Dora. Who would have thought that this small city would offer so much. You’ll never know until you make the trip out there yourself. Find a small town in your community and see what adventures you might uncover. With summer quickly coming to an end, take advantage of the beautiful weather and explore a new part of your world.

I’ll see you out there…! Unless I’m sick of course, but I may still see you out there anyway.

Don’t forget, more photos, videos and stories are available on my Facebook Fan Page.

The Essentials

For More Information: If you’d like to call in sick yourself (or just make a day trip on the weekend), check out What To Do In Mount Dora. They’ve got everything you need to plan your day. They’re also on twitter @MountDora.

Attraction Costs: You can make this day as cheap or as expensive as you want. Whatever your budget, you’ll find a way to enjoy the day. We kept things low, but trolley tours, boat tours and other activities are available.

How to get there: You can take OBT all the way up and continue on 441. You’ll see signs. It’s quite easy – but the directionally concerned  should Google it.

Suggested Time to Experience Fully: Depends on your schedule. We were there for about 4 hours. We could easily have made it 6 with the inclusion of more sightseeing or shopping.

Best Time to Visit: Mount Dora is a “festival town” according to the Chamber of Commerce. Special events are scheduled throughout the year. Summer is quiet and hot, while the Spring is their busy season.

Ben Recommends: Make the trip to Mount Dora and explore with your own interests in mind. If you want to shop, shop. It you want to eat, eat. If you want to…(you get the picture). It’s a charming old town that will remind you of days gone by. A break from the scenery and sameness that living in Orlando can sometimes bring.

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Today’s post is a quick trip planning update and travel tip. After accumulating 280,000 Delta Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles, I’ve cashed them all in for 2 round-trip tickets from Orlando to Sydney in just over 200 days! Now that the dates have been selected comes the monumental task of planning the itinerary.

Sure there are lots of online trip planning websites, but sometimes a book is the preferred medium. Books tend to be more comprehensive, can be written on, are compact and can be taken anywhere. My #1 brand is Lonely Planet, followed by Frommer’s.  The downside to travel books – they can be quite expensive – for a book.

Enter your public library.

Back in high school and college the library was a common place to study and retrieve information. But with the growth of the internet and the disappearance of 20-page term papers, people’s needs to visit the library dwindle. Each time I tell people I get books at the library they look at me like I have 10 heads.

Why I Love the Library

The Orange County Library is magic. Here’s why I love going there.

1. They mail books to my house. – Yes I can be lazy and don’t even have to make a trip to the brick and mortar building. I just have to put pants on and open my front door – and sometimes I don’t even do that!
2. I can preview books before I purchase them. - Try before you buy. Why buy a $30 city guide when I can check it out, review it and decide them if I want to purchase the real thing.
3. Great Selection - Even if some of the books are out of date, I can get a good sense for what attractions and itineraries are out there. But surprisingly, the Orange County Public Library System has current titles.
4. It’s Free! - Yes, that’s the purpose of the library, to have free books. But when you consider that most people pay for what you’re getting for nothing, you can’t stop but wonder why people pay for you got for nothing. Make sense? It’s one of the many ways I save money in order to travel.

So…do you have a Library Card? When was the last time you used it?

Today’s Lesson: Your local public library is an excellent source of free travel information! Get yourself a library card and start planning your next adventure!

I’ll see you out there…! In section 910.

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Remember bounce houses, couch forts and tree houses? Those were the days when we had no inhibitions. When we just did whatever we wanted to to do. Now we grow up, become adults and it suddenly becomes “uncool” or “inappropriate” to do those things anymore.

I say, forgetaboutit.

I decided to return to my childhood at The Valley of the Waves, a water park at The Palace of the Lost City Hotel in South Africa. They had these giant inflatable hamster balls. Take a look in this YouTube video.

So it turns out that hamster balls are tougher than they look. And 5 minutes is plenty of time. I was exhausted after 2 and a half. But it was worth every rand to roll around and laugh incessantly. You can laugh some more at some of my Facebook Photos in the ball.

Today’s Lesson: It’s okay to do something childish. Who cares, really? So do something childish. Kids have all the fun. Adults should too. Comment with your most childish adventure.

I’ll see you out there!…Or in there

adventureswithben.com is supported by The City Scramble. If you'd like to race, click on the image to register.