A Tavares Florida day trip from Mount Dora brings you to a Lake Dora waterfront park and a public-use seaplane base. Wooton Park combines outdoor recreation with a front-row setting for seaplane activity, while local vendors also offer ways to get out on the water.
- Waterfront: Wooton Park is at 100 E. Ruby St., Tavares, FL 32778.
- Seaplane base: The Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina is within Wooton Park.
- Park features: Amenities include a fishing pier, picnic pavilions, a large playground and a seaplane-themed splash park.
- Events: The base hosts community events throughout the year, including airshows and fly-ins.
Getting from Mount Dora to Tavares
Tavares is about 5.2 miles from a one-star motel in Mount Dora, making it a nearby Lake County outing from Mount Dora.
In Tavares, Wooton Park is at 100 E. Ruby St., while the Seaplane Base & Marina is at 150 East Ruby Street. The city places the base within the park.
Tavares waterfront and Wooton Park
Wooton Park is the central place to explore Tavares’s Lake Dora waterfront, with family recreation and picnic facilities alongside its marina setting. The city identifies a fishing pier, picnic pavilions, a large playground and a seaplane-themed Children’s Splash Park as park amenities.
The waterfront area also includes the Pontoon Promenade, marina, event space, aircraft apron and volleyball courts. If you’re planning time on the water, private vendors coordinate boat eco-tours, as well as kayak and paddleboard rentals. Lake Dora boat tours and waterfront visits are another way to consider the lake beyond the park’s shoreline.
Seaplane activity and visitor access
The Tavares Seaplane Base & Marina is a public-use seaplane facility on Lake Dora within Wooton Park. The city gives the water landing area’s dimensions as 3,000 by 200 feet and its designation as 09W–27W.
You can watch activity from the public waterfront, but the base is also a working facility. Its features include a boat dock, boat ramp, fishing, picnic areas, restrooms and a seaplane ramp, as well as aviation fuel and a pilots lounge. The city says the base is within walking distance of numerous restaurants and the Lakeview Inn.
Private vendors coordinate seaplane rides and flight training at the base, alongside the water-based rentals and eco-tours. Jones Brothers Seaplanes says its tours leave from and return to the Tavares Seaplane Base; most include a water “splash” when weather permits.
The company requires at least two passengers for flights, and says you should call to check whether a single-rider seat is available.
Events, parking and practical checks
Tavares hosts community events at the seaplane base throughout the year, including airshows, fly-ins, Monster Splash, Seaplane-A-Palooza and Planes, Tunes & BBQ. Event details vary, so check the official site before you go.
The city says the Splash Park is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The seaplane base facility hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday. For current details about access, events or facilities, check the City of Tavares official site before you go.
Aircraft can park on the tarmac, along the shoreline or at floating docks, and there are no tie-down fees. Those details concern aircraft; they do not describe public car parking. If you’re visiting by car, confirm parking arrangements with the City of Tavares before setting out.
FAQs
What can you do at Wooton Park?
Park amenities include a fishing pier, picnic pavilions, a large playground and a seaplane-themed Children’s Splash Park.
Is the Tavares Seaplane Base open to the public?
Yes. It is a public-use seaplane facility on Lake Dora within Wooton Park.
Can you take a seaplane tour from Tavares?
Private vendors coordinate seaplane rides at the base. Jones Brothers says most of its tours include a water “splash” when weather permits.
Are events held at the Tavares waterfront?
Yes. Community events take place throughout the year at the seaplane base, including airshows and fly-ins.