Enjoy A Visit to Clermont

Orlando villa customers who find themselves in the Clermont area could be forgiven for asking, “Where ARE we?” after checking in to their fabulous holiday home for the duration of their stay.

You won’t find the city of Clermont, or the area of Highway 27 where many of our villas are located, on much of the tourist literature connected with the theme parks and other attractions.

Even though villa communities like Glenbrook, Clear Creek and Orange Tree are only a short drive from Walt Disney World – which is mostly in Orange County – they are all in neighbouring Lake County and therefore come under the technical distinction of being in Clermont, the county’s largest city.

Being in a city is probably not what you’ll think of sitting on the verandah of your private pool-home, soaking up the tranquil residential vibe, however.

So, exactly what, and where, is the city of Clermont?

Where It Is

The core of the city, downtown Clermont, is actually situated 25 miles west of Orlando and roughly the same distance north-west of Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

It is located just west of Highway 27 at its junction with Highway 50, just 10 to 15 miles north of Glenbrook, Clear Creek and Orange Tree. Turn right out of your villa community and it is barely 20 minutes away, in a beautiful setting on the south shore of 1,809-acre Lake Minneola.

But north isn’t usually a direction most visitors take in their hurry to get to Disney and Co, and that’s a shame, as Clermont itself, and the surrounding area, is another fine example of small-town America with a lot to offer.

Just to start with, the geography of the area is distinctly different to the rest of Central Florida, which tends to be notably flat. In Clermont there are hills, lakes and some actual real, you know, topography.

Amusingly, from Highway 50 in Clermont, and a dizzying maximum of 300ft above sea level, you look east, and down, to Orlando (which is barely 100ft above the coast).

What’s There?

Downtown Clermont is the main attraction hereabouts and, while it’s not exactly extensive, it has a distinct quaint charm that is both genuine and extremely welcoming. They don’t get many visitors compared to their ‘noisy neighbour’ to the east, but they take very good care of them just the same.

Park in Waterfront Park, at 100 3rd Street, and you have both a great view and an ideal spot from which to wander and explore the town. The Park is part of a 30-mile hiking and biking trail around the lake, and also boasts a junior-sized water play area, Champions Splash Park, ($2/person) for young ’uns.

Head along the South Lake Trail and you’ll find the Clermont Historic Village (at 490 West Avenue), which provides a neat introduction to the history and people of the area, with restored 1880s homes, train depot and period school building (1-3pm Fridays, 1-4pm Saturdays and Sundays).

Continue along the Trail and you reach West Beach Park, an ideal spot for a picnic (if it’s not too warm), with a playground and even a fishing pier.

In all, Clermont has around 1,000 free-to use public parking spaces, so you can drive around first and then decide where to park when you’re ready to stretch your legs. Visit during the week and you’ll find things pretty quiet, but try the weekend and things will be much more lively!

Shopping & Dining

Very much like the city suburb of Winter Garden, Clermont is home to a host of original shops and restaurants, all spread out among roughly 12 blocks, from West Avenue to 5th Street, with Montrose Street at its heart.

This is where you’ll find most of the shopping and dining, with original boutiques such as Bacchus Vino Etcetera, Triangle Vinyl and Dash Sports, and no fewer than 20 places to eat, including two local craft breweries, lermont Brewing Company and Suncreek Brewery.

Food hall Montrose Street Market is a one-stop shop for an array of food and beverage options, while Lilly’s on the Lake is a Caribbean-themed bar and grill with great views and the Energy Lab Café (part of Epic Cycles on Osceola St) is a unique coffee, juice and smoothie café.

Here for Breakfast? Try the locals’ favourite of the Clermont Café, while Cheesers Palace is another one-off breakfast-style café with a strong focus on cheese. For food with a distinct accent, Los Reyes Mexican Grill and Pepe’s Cantina serve excellent Mexican cuisine.

Other Attractions

Head back on to Highway 27 and you’ll quickly discover the big attraction, in every sense. The 22-storey Citrus Tower, with its glass-enclosed observation deck, opened in 1956 for panoramic views of the area and is well worth taking the time to investigate.

Almost next door, the Presidents Hall of Fame is a complete original, a wax museum dedicated to all US presidents and a host of their memorabilia, including stunning scale models of the White House and Mount Rushmore!

Seeing as this is also the former heart of citrus country, the Showcase of Citrus is another unique experience, an old-fashioned roadside attraction that offers fruit-picking (Nov-May), an old-time country store, farm animals, gem mining and a monster truck ride.

Lake Louisa State Park is Clermont’s star natural attraction, with 4,500 acres of beautiful Florida countryside to explore by hiking, biking, horse-riding and kayak tours, as well as camping and even glamping (the more upscale version).

Finally, Lakeridge Winery is a genuine attraction in its own right. The state’s largest winery sits a bit further north on Highway 27 in a 127-acre estate of rolling hills, with an extensive tasting room, festivals and gift shop. Complimentary tours and tastings are offered daily, and the tastes just may surprise you.

Fun Fact: Clermont is nicknamed the ‘Choice of Champions’ for the number of international athletes it attracts for warm-weather training along its hills and lakes. Twenty Olympians from the 2016 Olympic Games trained here and went on to claim 10 medals.

All in all, you can make a full day out of the Clermont area, and it will cost a LOT less than a day at one of the theme parks!

For more info, look up VisitLakeCounty.com, including more attractions and dining choices.

Have you visited any of these attractions in the Clermont area? Give us your thoughts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.