CENTRAL FLORIDA
Quick Trips: Charming inns in Central Florida
Posted on Sun, May. 25, 2008
MARY THURWACHTER / PALM BEACH POST
Tavares' Duncan House, built in 1926, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
LAKELAND --
Sure, you can stay at a Disney-themed resort, one of Universal's hotels or a chain motel. But if you're looking for a softer side of Central Florida, check out one of these inns.
TERRACE HOTEL
New old hotel wraps guests in grand 1920s style
The Terrace Hotel had me at the gorgeous lobby with the soaring ceilings. By the time we got to our suite and saw the bathroom filled with travel-sized Aveda products, I was officially in love.
Yep, that's right. A hotel in little ol' Lakeland turned out to be a surprisingly luxurious weekend getaway.
In our house we have three framed postcards of downtown Lakeland, one of which shows the Terrace Hotel, which was near demise when a $7-million renovation brought it back. Itching to get out of town for a weekend, we decided to check out the new old hotel. We splurged and booked one of the 15 guest suites.
Our suite was roomy, outfitted with a down comforter on the bed and waffle robes in the closet. Out one window, we had a view of Lake Mirror and its nearby amphitheater and public gardens.
From another, we could almost make out the beautiful trees and upscale homes circling Lake Morton.
But the Terrace's public areas were even more impressive, a reminder that this hotel was built during the rich land boom of 1920s Florida.
Leading into the main entrance is a shaded sitting porch with cozy wicker furniture. The main lobby features floors of Italian granite. Past the reception desk is the Terrace Grille, one of Lakeland's best and most upscale restaurants.
It's hard to believe that for two decades the hotel sat crumbling and neglected, a symbol of Lakeland's dying downtown. Today the Terrace is proof of city leaders' success in bringing back this quaint downtown.
Our stay reminded us that some of the best getaways are the most unexpected ones.
• The Terrace Hotel: 329 East Main St., Lakeland; 888-644-8400; www.terracehotel.com. Rooms from $169, suites from $199; includes continental breakfast.
-- SHANNON
COLAVECHIO-
VAN SICKLERSt. Petersburg Times
DUNCAN HOUSE
Stately mansion a haven from the crowds
TAVARES -- Long before his starring role in The Beverly Hillbillies, Buddy Ebsen gave dancing lessons in the upstairs suite of The Duncan House.
Today, the plantation-style home, built in 1926 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, is a bed-and-breakfast.
And since many weddings are held there, folks continue to dance on the grounds. Buddy would be proud.
The three-story brick house, three miles from downtown Mount Dora, 20 miles north of Orlando and 40 miles west of Daytona Beach, is convenient to Central Florida attractions but far enough for those who want to get away from the madding crowds.
The stately manse on the shores of Lake Dora has a fenced-in pool and boat house deck useful for catching cool lake breezes. A rope swing suspended from an old oak tree harkens back to simpler times, when a gentleman lovingly pushed his sweetheart into the air.
When we arrived, we discovered we were the only guests and that the manager, Michael Hughes, had to spend the night in Orlando. That meant we would have the whole 2-acre property to ourselves. In the morning, a woman arrived to prepare a scrumptious breakfast, served on fine dinnerware in the formal dining room.
The inn has three suites and a Carriage House. Rooms are elegantly decorated with antiques and reproductions. Each suite offers its own private bath, cable television and telephone. Our spacious second-floor suite (two large bedrooms and a bath) had a great view of Lake Dora.
Tavares, on the north shore of Lake Dora, is the county seat of Lake County. Built in 1924, the courthouse is home to the Lake County Historical Museum, full of artifacts tracing the area's past. A pamphlet that outlines a walking tour is available at city hall and leads visitors to several other historic buildings.
• The Duncan House: 426 Lake Dora Dr., Tavares; 877-477-0739; www.theduncanhouse.com. Rooms $199-$325, with full breakfast.
-- MARY
THURWACHTER
Palm Beach PostTROPICAL PALMS
Not-so-typical hotel
really is a Fun Resort
KISSIMMEE -- When we arrived at Tropical Palms FunResort, we were stunned: it looked exactly like the charming photos on the Internet.
That isn't always true in our travels -- we're often disappointed with the real deal. But here, the adorable pastel cottages depicted online were just as charming when we saw them in person.
And the wooden decks and canopies of trees provide a very relaxing spot for a getaway. Families who want a kitchen, extra space, a 24-hour heated pool, deck and a place that's within walking distance of entertainment and restaurants should check this place out.
My 13-year-old son, Cody, and his friend, Jacob, were thrilled the minute we opened the door and they realized they had their own bedroom -- on the other side of the cottage from Mom.
Our two-bedroom cottage had a full kitchen, a bedroom with two twin beds, another bedroom with a queen bed and a living room with a sofa sleeper. French doors led to a large wooden deck, perfect for stargazing.
I knew this was the right choice for our getaway when we ran into some friends from home -- soon there were four teens in the living room.
Our cottage (No. 13) was right across from the pool and a café that served inexpensive breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. But the normally ravenous teens forgot all about food when they discovered the field perfect for a football game right next to our cottage. Within 10 minutes, a group of kids joined in and they played for hours.
The 130 cottages sport every hue from lavender to yellow and range from studios to two-bedrooms with lofts. The property is also home to an RV park and guests in both areas tend to stay awhile. It's the kind of place perfect for bringing bikes and skateboards.
There's an arcade and volleyball and basketball courts. There are also scheduled activities, including bingo, croquet, hula hoop and jump rope contests, mini-golf and crafts -- and a shuttle to the theme parks.
• Tropical Palms FunResort: 2650 Holiday Trail, Kissimmee; 800-647-2567; www.tropicalpalms.com. Cottages, $69-$159.
-- LINDA HAASE
Palm Beach Post
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