Fun on the Harris Chain of Lakes seems never ending.
Nestled in the middle of Florida is a beautiful chain of lakes that you have to add to your travel itinerary. Harris Chain of Lakes is an incredible destination close to many major cities in Florida. If you are looking for a destination to take the family or a great group of friends, look no further than Harris Chain of Lakes.
Harris Chain of Lakes has a little bit of everything that makes it an incredible Florida destination. From taking boats out on the lake to hunting or just sitting by the water and enjoying food, there is something that everyone in your group can appreciate. Ready to learn more about Harris Chain of Lakes? Here are 3 reasons you should visit Harris Chain of Lakes this year.
1. Exploring Harris Chain of Lakes
One of the main reasons visiting Harris Chain of Lakes is so incredible is because of the lakes themselves. There are so many activities you can do on and around the lakes. Whether you are into extreme adventures or leisurely boat rides, the lakes have a little something to offer everyone.
There are family-friendly activities, boating outings for groups, and even considerations for older folks in your party. Harris Chain of Lakes is actually made up of many different lakes. Each lake has its own character and attractions. Here’s a breakdown of the lakes so you can find the perfect one to explore. And if you have time, feel free to check out all of the lakes while you’re there!
Lake Griffin
Lake Griffin is one of the larger lakes in the Harris Chain of Lakes. Lake Griffin is also a Florida State Park and is known for having gorgeous natural scenery. Lake Griffin is home to one of Florida’s longest-living oak trees.
For those that enjoy outdoorsy activities, Lake Griffin State Park is a great place to do some camping with the family. Take advantage of hiking the trails and finding the perfect fishing spot while you’re exploring Lake Griffin. While you visit Lake Griffin you can also check out the town of Leesburg.
Lake Eustis
Lake Eustis can be one of the most fun lakes to explore in the Harris Chain of Lakes. It is connected to many of the other lakes by way of a canal. You can go from Lake Eustis to Lake Harris via the Dead River. Or you can go from Lake Eustis to Lake Dora via the scenic Dora Canal.
Lake Eustis boat rental is a great choice of lake to take a pontoon boat rental out on the water with friends or enjoy the day fishing for bass. Lake Eustis has many residents surrounding the shore instead of commercial buildings. This can make it a great spot to get away for the day and feel at peace on the water. Renting a Lake Eustis boat rental will gain you direct access to all these beautiful, seemingly historic residential buildings and mansions around the Lake Eustis.
Lake Harris
Right next to Lake Eustis is Lake Harris. Lake Harris is a popular spot for boaters and explorers and is made up of two lakes. For those that like to explore the water on small fishing boats and kayaks, you can go southwest to Little Lake Harris. It’s much more underdeveloped and only situated well for these smaller boats.
Harris Lake boat rental is easily accessible from Tavares or Leesburg depending on where you decide to stay in the Harris Chain of Lakes. This makes it a great spot to get out and explore and no matter what, you’ll be able to make it back to your town of choice after being on the water for the day. Lake Harris also has a spring which makes it one of the clearest lakes in the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Lake Dora
Lake Dora is the perfect lake to visit if you want to enjoy a good mix of activities on the water and some small-town charm. Lake Dora is nestled right on the town of Mount Dora. Mount Dora has plenty of wonderful shops and restaurants to explore. Not to mention that the town is right on the shore of the lake.
So everywhere you go you will have the beautiful backdrop of the Harris Chain of Lakes. Lake Dora is the only lake in the Harris Chain of Lakes that is isolated from the rest. But it does have a famous canal that is sure to take your breath away.
Dora Canal
Taking a sunset cruise on Lake Dora is an incredible way to wrap up your day in the harris chain of lakes. Not only can you enjoy time with friends and family but you get to explore the natural beauty of the lake. There is no better way to do this with family and friends than with a Mount Dora boat rental, seriously. Its such a relaxing ride, with so much beautiful nature to adore.
The sunset cruise even goes in the small canal between Lake Dora and Lake Beuclair, so you can take in all of the gorgeous sites that the lake and canal have to offer. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for different wildlife around the area as well.
Lake Weir
One of the smaller lakes in the Harris Chain of Lakes, Lake Weir is a great little lake if you want to enjoy some swimming. There are a couple of different beaches nestled on the shores of Lake Weird. If salt water isn’t your thing, but you still like sand and sunshine, then Lake Weir is a great place to spend a day in the Harris Chain of Lakes.
2. Water Activities in Harris Chain of Lakes
With so many lakes to choose from so close together, you can’t miss getting out on the water while visiting the Harris Chain of Lakes. Looking for some unique things to do in the Harris Chain of Lakes? Here are some of the different water activities you can find in the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Cruise Rides
Each lake on the Harris Chain of Lakes has many different cruise rides that you can go on. Whether it be the sunset cruise on Lake Dora or a brunch cruise out of the marina, there is a cruise that everyone in your group can enjoy. The best part about booking a cruise around one of the lakes is that most of them can accommodate up to 12 people.
Sometimes it can be difficult to find activities for a very large group. But it’s easy when you are on the water in the Harris Chain of Lakes. Most of these boats leave from Tavares on the river connecting Lake Eustis and Lake Harris. You can search boat rentals Tavares to find all of the different cruise rides they have to offer.
Fishing in Harris Chain of Lakes
The Harris Chain of Lakes has some great opportunities for fishing. You can reel in huge bass on Lake Harris if you have a day to get on the water. You can bring your own fishing gear or find some at any of the boat rental shops you end up at. Be sure to check out the Mount Dora boat rentals, and bring a buddy along.
Pontoon Boats
Another great way to bring the entire group out on the water is to rent a pontoon boat. You can find pontoon boat rentals throughout Lake Harris. The best part about pontoon boats is that you can customize your Mount Dora boat rental. You can take them out for a couple of hours, half a day, or an entire day.
This makes it incredibly easy to fill up a whole day on the lake. Or if you have other activities planned in the Harris Chain of Lakes, you can still enjoy the waters of Lake Harris for a couple of hours.
Catamaran
Harris Chain of Lakes offers a truly unique boat rental experience with its Catamarans. A catamaran is a small boat that blends the power of a sport boat with the comfort of a more leisurely boat. The catamarans fit up to two people. These little boats are a thrill if you are exploring the Harris Chain of Lakes with a friend or partner.
You will need a boating license to ride one of these boats if you were born after 1988. But you can easily take your boating license test online or when you get to the rental shop. Driving one of these boats also allows you to ride up to some of the bars and restaurants on the shores of Lake Eustis and Lake Harris.
Kayaking
With so many little canals connecting different spots of the Harris Chain of Lakes, kayaks are a great option. You can create your own adventure on the lakes when you take out a kayak rental. You can easily get to different spots that some of the larger boat rentals won’t be able to navigate easily.
Feel free to float down some of the rivers that come off of the larger lakes. You can also explore the beauty of the many different canals and take yourself around without a tour while on a kayak in the Harris Chain of Lakes.
3. The Towns Around Harris Chain of Lakes
Each lake has its own town that it is close to with so many unique things to explore. If you are getting a little bored of the water or just want to do something different, you can have a great day in one of the many towns. Another great thing about the towns on the Harris Chain of Lakes is that many of them have restaurants right on the water.
Enjoy the gorgeous views while eating delicious food or even drive your Mount Dora boat rental right up and order while you’re on the water. Here are some of the different towns you can visit while you’re in the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Mount Dora
If you’re looking for some more leisurely activities to fill your days with, you can find them at Mount Dora. Aside from Mount Dora boat rentals, Mount Dora has a couple of other beautiful things to enjoy such as the gorgeous walkways along the water. There is a long boardwalk that winds around the lake. There is also another raised walkway in Palm Island Park. Here you can see gorgeous views of the lake and spot plenty of wildlife. You can also escape into the beauty of the everglades with gorgeous trees around every turn.
Shopping in Mount Dora
The town of Mount Dora offers great shopping options for visitors to browse through. Mount Dora is known for having incredible opportunities for antiquing. Mount Dora is a historic town built in 1860, and its downtown highlights all of its historic charms. With all of the different antique shops around, you will always find something unique to take home with you.
If you are not out on a boat rental in Mount Dora and just out on the town, you should check out a couple of different museums for those that enjoy art and history. Scattered around the downtown you can find museums for almost anything from gorgeous modern art to antique cars.
Leesburg
Leesburg is the closest town to Lake Griffin. The town itself has some beautiful sights to see. Make sure to check out the Venetian Gardens Park. The park is known for having tons of different birds and wildlife. So if you want to spot a new type of bird, grab some binoculars and head on out to Leesburg. We also offer our guests the ability to enjoy boat rentals Leesburg FL, and jet ski rental Leesburg FL if you want to see the town from the coast side.
Just north of Leesburg, you can also visit the Emeralds Marsh Conservation Area. Even though it’s very close to the town, this marsh area is unlike most natural areas you can find in the country. There are many different walking trails that visitors can use to check out the varying wildlife that lives in the marsh.
Like Mount Dora, there is some history in Leesburg to check out. Stop by the Howey Mansion for a walk back through time. This historic mansion was built in the 1920s and has heritage tours often.
Tavares
Tavares is in a great location right in the middle of most of the lakes in the Harris Chain of Lakes. If you are looking for a boat rental, then Tavares is the town that you will want to be in. Tavares is between Lake Harris and Lake Eustis. If you want to enjoy incredible food with a view or want to take that food on the water you can’t miss Hurricane Dockside Grill.
All of our Tavares boat rentals we offer launch from right out of our Tavares marina directly into Lake Eustis, making it easy to decide which lake you want to explore for the day. Tavares is also home to the Tavares Seaplane Base, so you can see tons of little seaplanes taking off and landing on the water as you are boating around. Tavares is a great location if you want to make the most out of water activities such as Orlando Jetski rentals, and Craig cat boat rentals on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Conclusion
If you are staying in Florida, visiting Harris Chain of Lakes has to be on your travel list. There is an endless amount of activities for groups of all sizes to enjoy. You can easily get a boat rental to go out on one of the lakes or stroll around one of the many towns. The Harris Chain of Lakes really has something for everyone. Be sure to check out all of the different lakes.
Each lake in the Harris Chain of Lakes has its own personality. The natural beauty of the Harris Chain of Lakes should be enough to make anyone want to visit. Harris Chain of Lakes is just an hour away from Orlando too. So what are you waiting for? Get your Mount Dora boat rental on the Harris Chain of Lakes and enjoy the gorgeous views and incredible activities on the water with rentals from Rockon Rentals.