I took my son and his friends on this boat tour and we really enjoyed it! It's was inexpensive ($20…read moreper person) and was an hour tour. It's first come first serve so just hope it's not too crowded if you decide to go. However they do have tours every hour, so you are likely to get on a tour pretty quickly. Our guide was Keith and he was full of knowledge of the chain of lakes. It kind of felt like I was on the jungle cruise at Disneyland as we were going through the canals with all the trees covering us overhead. I was grateful for the shade because once we got out to the lakes it was pure hot direct sun light on us. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a fan if you go in August because it gets HOT and HUMID! We were able to see all the fancy homes along the lakes, some of the previous owners of the homes, and learned a bit about Rollins College which was located on the lake front. Apparently their crew teams compete on one of the lakes as well. An absolute fun way to spend an hour!

My mom absolutely LOVED this! We brought her for her birthday and she had the best time!…read more Firstly, I recommend getting there with plenty of time to park and check-in. The tours are on a first come, first serve basis and leave every hour on the hour. One of the canals was closed for construction when we went but it was truly still so lovely. Our tour guide provided so much history and information! Pro-Tip: SUNSCREEN, handheld fans and water. The boats are not covered and it can get very hot. They do not allow umbrellas for cover. This tour has been around for a while and I can't believe this was my first time taking one. I absolutely had the best time. Looking forward to bringing more visitors to do something so very central Florida! It's grand!

I have been wanting to go on the Barbara Lee for YEARS and we finally did it! I decided I wanted to…read morecelebrate my birthday during their Italian Night with a wine pairing. Our party ended up being 20 of us and we were able to share a unique link for purchasing tickets so our party was all linked together as one party. When we first boarded, there really wasn't any direction as to what to do or what we could do so we just sat down at our table and waited for someone. We weren't sure if we could or should go to the bar to order drinks or if we could walk around before dinner. It took a while (10+ minutes) for anyone to approach our table.) Once someone approached our table we ordered drinks and then walked around the boat. We went to the top deck to take some photos and watch the sunset before dinner started. Once dinner started we were able to go the buffet as munch as we wished. Since it was Italian night they had all Italian dishes, none of the dishes really stood out but nothing was bad. It was good, but not like wow! While eating they started pouring our wine samples. We got two red and two white samples and a sommelier talked us through each sample. After the first two samples they gave us a break to walk around, go to the bathroom, etc. I would have preferred a shorter break in the middle of dinner and more time in the beginning so that we could spend more time on the deck while the sun set. Tickets for this event were $65 and in my opinion it was worth it. We had a great time and it was something I could check of my bucket list!

Came for a drag show on the boat. I'm not sure this is the right space for this idea. We knew it…read morewas first come first served for seating and arrived about ten minutes into doors but still had to find a seat in a back corner on the second floor. I didn't feel like we were able to get a real show because of the location and I'm not sure it helped the queens either. They did try! Plus I appreciate that a company in the Sanford area was willing to host the show! From a river ship standpoint...the ship is showing its age and I'm not sure I heard or saw any safety protocols or briefings. I have to believe there were some because I would think that's a requirement but I must have missed it. The goldfish on the tables were a nice touch but a bit stale. Our drinks weren't weak so that was nice too. The server who came to the table was nice and able to get us what we asked for in a timely manner. Someone at our table had the pretzel and it looked decent, but I didn't try it myself.

A hidden gem in Florida. Looking for a great affordable day out in the lake look no further then…read moreButlers boat rental. The owner received us with boat in the water, instructions, and briefly gave us layout of the lakes. After four hours of fun in the water we arrive back and there he was waiting with boat trailer in water. Highly recommend.

Great time and good boat. We went on the big pontoon boat for several hours. Very easy to schedule…read morewith Daryl. Super guy and right on time. Great fun instead of Chicago winter!!!

Awesome experience. Captain Brian found several gators, taught us about different bird breeds, and…read morealso found a turtlw and small bald eagle.

This is a great experience, highly recommend it. We loved the ride, the outdoors, the birds, and of…read morecourse the gators. We only saw a couple of gators, but it didn't matter. The ride, our fantastic guide, the beauty, being out on the water, such a great time. After the boat ride, they have a baby alligator you can take a photo with if you want. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My husband and I were visiting from Pennsylvania, and this was our first time on an airboat. It…read moreturned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of our trip. The captain was fun, knowledgeable, and made the entire ride unforgettable--we'll definitely be talking about it for weeks. If you're in the area, I highly recommend giving it a try!

The place itself was clean and organized, and the airboat ride was okay overall, but we were still…read moredisappointed with the experience. We were a group of 7 people, and unfortunately it did not meet our expectations. We only saw one alligator swimming in the water during the entire tour. Instead of wildlife, the driver mostly showed us horses and cows from a farm across the resort, which was not what we came for. What made the experience worse was that the driver kept intentionally driving us into thick grass areas several times. He also stopped the boat in an area full of mosquitoes/gnats, and we kept getting bitten until we asked him to move immediately. Unfortunately, he repeated this more than once, which made the ride very uncomfortable. Overall, the experience was not worth the money for us. We would not return and would not recommend it.

5 stars. My wife and…read moreI celebrated our 17th anniversary on the Dora Queen and it was exactly the kind of evening we wanted. The paddlewheel boat on Lake Dora is comfortable, the upper deck has a great view, and the staff made it feel personal without hovering. They even put a "Welcome Kerr Aboard" tag on our charcuterie board, which was a fun surprise. We sat outside with a bottle of wine, watched the water, and didn't have to rush anything. The weather looked stormy, but the cruise still went and the covered deck kept it easy. Nice mix of indoor lounge seating and open air if you want both. Easy to book, friendly crew, and a memorable way to spend an anniversary. We'd do it again.

Definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Mount Dora/Tavares. The new owners could not have…read moremade this trip any more perfect for me. From the second, I got on the boat until I got off the boat two hours later I was beyond well taken care of. The live music was engaging and the perfect compliment to the boat ride itself and just being on the water. The charcuterie board was yummy and completely worth the $25 it cost. I would 100% recommend doing the sunset cruise to anyone looking to enjoy their time Tavares on the lake.

Our first time on this beautiful sailboat. Captain Pete, Andrew and Jasmine were onboard…read more Honestly, all three were amazing!!! But Andrew stood out as he randomly took guests pictures, suggested great pics, filled beverages, and got soaked completely while raising the sail lol and all with a smile. Jasmine was also amazing with great sincerity in service, always with a smile even while cleaning guests spills. All three are a dream team. This is a two and 1/2 hour sail and the time flew by. The sunset tonight was absolutely beautiful. Captain Pete let his guests pose by the wheel for a fun instagram photo op. Such a great experience. Go with complete confidence.

Great sunset cruise, Captain and Nick made sure everyone had a great time. Highly recommend !read more

Blueberry lemon was to die for! Our server Michelle exceeded our expectations. She truly made our…read moreexperience so much fun & personal! The atmosphere here was so awesome!! Absolutely coming again with friends & family! Also there burgers are top tier definitely try one!

Definitely a fun place to experience once. Cooking your own pancakes at the table is unique and…read morepretty cool. However, it gets extremely hot inside with no A/C or fans, and the prices are ridiculous. Almost $100 for breakfast for two! I can't imagine the bill for a family with kids. Cool experience, but definitely a one-time visit for me.

Exceptional experience for our group of 9. The day was perfect and the boat was beautifully kept…read more Working with Mark was great. Would definitely recommend!

We rented a pontoon boat for the day. Mark is very friendly while also being very professional and…read moreforthright in dealing with his customers. We had a great day on the river. Our 5 year old granddaughter was with us and never got bored. We saw a number of alligators on the banks, and numerous herons and other wildlife. This trip was worth every penny!! Memories made! Thanks, Mark'

Everything was amazing! I have only positive things to say about this place…read more * A small business that offers a wedding venue and water sports out on Lake Bryan. It was a great day. A bit windy- but that was lovely because of the heat. * They allowed me to bring my dog with me!!! She absolutely loves using the paddleboard or kayak with me and she hopped right on the single kayak with me and we paddled away. * The man outside helping us was so kind. The people at the little hut where you pay were nice, too. * It's about $30 I believe (for a single seater) and so worth it. * If you're traveling and need a fun day away from the parks, this is a great way to spend it! And it's nicely tucked away so it's quiet and feels so far from the hustle and bustle of the town!

I highly recommend Buena Vista Watersports. From the beginning to end my experience exceeded my…read moreexpectations. These days it's important to feel safe in any environment. Buena Vista water sports have Implemented safety measures to protect customers as well as employees. Upon checking in, you will notice there is a safety shield in place. Signs encouraging social distancing and maintaining six feet apart. All employees were wearing masks. This place is beautiful from watersports to weddings this place has so much to offer. My only concern was are there any unwanted guest in the water (gators). I was assured by a staff member that the lake is swept often. I'm looking forward to my next visit. Pros: Email confirming your booking Friendly, helpful & informative staff Clean environment Plenty of parking Beautiful views Cons: None