Dora Canal Cottage
Tavares, FL
The Dora Canal Cottage is a spacious and charming 3-bedroom/2-bathroom home that sleeps up to 8 guests. Boat ramps and public lands/waters are located within 1 mile and 5 miles, making it convenient for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The cottage offers direct access to outdoor pursuits, includes kayaks, a paddle boat, and a boat dock.
The Dora Canal is a mile-long waterway connecting Lakes Dora and Eustis known for its beautiful canopy of old bald cypress trees and hanging Spanish Moss. Visitors frequently spot great blue heron, snowy egrets, red-shouldered hawks, alligators, and a variety of other plants and wildlife along the way. Rent your own personal watercraft at Adventure Outdoor Paddle in Tavares, then paddle your way down the half-mile stretch of Lake Dora to the canal’s entrance. Or bring your own kayak and set in at the launch at Summerall Park off of Route 19.
The Harris Chain of Lakes is a series of 10 natural lakes that form the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River in Lake and Orange counties in Florida totaling over 75,000 acres of surface area. Recreational activities include fishing, hunting, boating and wildlife viewing. Largemouth bass fishing is very productive in Lake Harris, especially during the winter months when the bass are spawning. Bass can be caught on topwater plugs, plastic worms, and crankbaits. Fishing in the Dead River and the Ninth Street canals is productive during inclement weather. Both the mile-long Dead River and Haines Creek offer exceptional bass fishing during the season. Lake Dora comes alive in the spring and seems to house the biggest bass out of all the lakes.
Also nearby is Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area, Pine Meadows Conservation Area, Seminole Forest Wildlife Management Area, and Lake Norris Conservation Area all located in Lake County, Florida spanning thousands of acres. These lands feature pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, cypress swamps, and wetlands and are home to a variety of wildlife including alligators, otters, eagles, and many species of waterfowl. Activities include hunting, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Additional hiking opportunities include Daubenmire Trail and Wiregrass and Bourlay Loop.
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