Green Mountain Scenic Byway Road Trip

Total length - 45 miles

While most of Florida is flat land, this region, covered by the Green Mountain Scenic Byway, is known for rolling hills; the byway passes over the highest point on the Florida Peninsula, Sugarloaf Mountain, at 312 feet above sea level. While that’s only about one quarter the height of the Empire State Building, Sugarloaf still offers an expansive view.

This road trip also offers views into a slower-paced, more rural portion of Florida just outside the Orlando and Disney World Resort area, making the drive an attractive option for tourists who want to see natural Florida while staying close to the Disney parks. The scenic route goes from Winter Garden to Mount Dora along the western side of Lake Apopka. The hills make this a popular place for triathletes to train; the area also hosts internationally recognized triathlons. Bike trails accompany nature preserves with trails that lead to tranquil lake views. The quaint downtown areas of Winter Garden, Clermont and Mount Dora are packed with small stores and restaurants. Don't miss the 11- mile Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, a free attraction with opportunities to see native Florida wildlife like alligators, turtles and hundreds of species of birds.

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At 8:30, I met up with my coworker, who's a videographer, on a chilly Florida morning — chilly by the Sunshine State’s standards at least — at the parking garage on Boyd Street in the town of Winter Garden. We headed to the garage roof for a view of the sleepy downtown, the shops not yet open in morning hours, seeing a few bundled up patrons heading to the coffee shops and bakeries, as well as some dedicated cyclists on the West Orange Trail.

We strolled down Main Street, window shopping and taking in the charm of the storefronts before arriving at Rosallie Le French Café, with a display case full of pastries too beautiful to pass up. I bought a fruit Danish piled with several types of berries and slices of peach and kiwi on top of a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling.

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AAA

3.5 miles – about 10 minutes

After eating my indulgent pastry breakfast, we walked back to our car and headed to the Oakland Nature Preserve, stopping at Prairie House Coffee along the way. The small wooden building, clad in white clapboard, was originally a schoolhouse in the 1800s. Inside, the temperature was warm, and cushy chairs and couches complemented the old Florida architecture. The baristas were kind and quickly made our order of a chai latte and a traditional coffee latte.

We took our drinks to go and headed to the trailhead at Oakland Nature Preserve. The boardwalk trail, nearly three-quarters of a mile long, leads to a covered pavilion that looks onto Lake Apopka. The boardwalk made for a leisurely stroll where we saw many types of trees and even passed a group of small elementary-aged kids on a field trip learning about the local ecosystem. After admiring the view from the pavilion, we headed back to the car and off to Citrus Tower, a local roadside attraction.

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7.6 miles – about 15 minutes

Clermont is a small detour off the byway, but it is worth it for the Citrus Tower and the downtown area. We first headed to the 226-foot-tall tower to ride to the top for the views. Just inside the entrance of the Citrus Tower is a coffee shop. Not wanting another cup, we simply bought our tickets from the barista to ride the elevator to the top. Don’t forget to ask for a AAA discount. We received $1 off the ticket price.

The observation floor is about 22 stories high and offers sweeping views of the area in all directions. We were lucky to be traveling on an exceptionally clear day with just a few wispy clouds in the bright blue sky. So named for the many orange groves that once populated the area, the Citrus Tower, which originally opened in 1956, now offers views of rooftops, neighborhoods and lakes.

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2.3 miles – about 8 minutes

Downtown Clermont is a lovely spot where streets are lined with brick buildings filled with a variety of shops and restaurants. We strolled the streets, popping in and out of stores. We had our pick of dining options, like the food hall Montrose Street Market, the traditional British pub The Bell, or Mexican food at Pepe’s Cantina.

Before stopping for lunch though, we wandered into The Downtown Exchange, a collective with a mix of food stalls and shops, where you can buy stationery, cinnamon rolls, coffee, ramen, vintage vinyl records and more. My coworker ordered a drink from Gurch Coffee; they serve simple coffee and espresso beverages made from high-quality beans. We also visited Black Rabbit Bookbar, which is half coffee shop and half bookstore specializing in the dark fantasy subgenre. They serve coffee beverages with amusingly spooky names, such as “peaches and screams” and the “corpse bride”. I purchased a small candle, that had the light aroma of blackberries and resin, labeled “The Alchemist” that I lit that evening before settling in with a book.

For lunch, we chose Cosa Nostra Italian Deli. I ordered the Prosciutto di Parma. The sandwich was on ciabatta and stuffed with prosciutto, Brie and arugula with tomato and apricot jelly spreads. The saltiness of the prosciutto with the sweetness of the apricot jelly was a delightful contrast of flavors.

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AAA

31 miles – about 1 hour

We left Clermont, returning to the scenic byway, and embarked on the longest and most picturesque portion of our road trip. We drove down County Road 455 through the small towns of Montverde and Ferndale. We passed by the Green Mountain Scenic Overlook. We didn’t have time for the hike, but it’s a two-mile mixed-use trail that leads to an observation tower.

We also drove over Sugarloaf Mountain — one of the highest points in Florida and the highest point on the peninsula. Stopping on the side of the road at the peak is prohibited, but you can drive the curve slowly and enjoy the panorama.

Once in Mount Dora, we popped into the Village Antique Mall, stuffed with vintage toys, glassware, Christmas tree ornaments, furniture and more. Renninger's Florida Twin Markets is also a great spot for antiques if traveling on a weekend. We then headed over to Grantham Pointe on the shores of Lake Dora, where a small lighthouse stands. From there, you can visit Mount Dora's downtown, which offers a variety of shops and restaurants to discover. At this point, the short winter day was quickly coming to a close, so I’ll have to plan a return trip to experience more of Mount Dora.

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Courtesy of St. Johns River Water Management

13 miles - about 25 minutes

On the north side of Lake Apopka in the city of Apopka is a must-see attraction for nature and wildlife lovers as well as birders — the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The drive is free to enter, about 11 miles in length and takes about 2 hours to drive. It can take longer depending on the number of stops you take and the length of your stops.

My coworker and I weren’t able to visit the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive because we were traveling mid-week. The drive is only open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, Friday through Sunday, and on federal holidays. Check opening hours before you visit in case there are closures. If you are able to arrange your road trip to fit the wildlife drive’s opening hours, I recommend adding it to your trip.

You’ll enter at 2850 Lust Road in Apopka and drive a hard-packed sand path (with plenty of pullouts) through wetlands and along the lake. It’s possible to spot alligators, a few species of turtles, bobcats and river otters. It’s also one of the best spots in Florida for bird-watching. Over 350 species of birds have been recording here including anhinga, cardinals, hawks, herons, meadowlarks, osprey, swallows and wrens — to name just a few.

You'll exit the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive northwest of the starting point. From here, you can continue back to Mount Dora, head back to the theme park area or continue on driving to see more of Florida.

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