Tremain Street Cottages provide all the comforts of home

Visitors to Mount Dora enjoy many choices in entertainment, shopping, dining and sightseeing and there's no better way to unwind after experiencing these activities than at the tranquil and peaceful setting of Tremain Street Cottages.

The four cottages, three one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom accommodation, are well appointed with central air, cable television, welcoming sitting areas and updated kitchens complete with utensils and serving ware. During the past decade, the cottages have undergone a major transformation with new appliances, wall coverings and fixtures, however, one of the most significant changes culminated in 2007 when the cottages officially went "green."

The establishment's co-owners, Rachelle Lucas and Brian Young, decided to commit to the "Florida Green Lodging Program" by the Florida Department of Environment Protection because as Young states, "We have always lived this way, and we feel like anything we can do for our small part will inspire others, which will hopefully have an overall impact."

To be designated a member of the Florida Green Lodging Program, hoteliers must institute certain green practices. These practices include water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency measures. According to Lucas and Young, some of the actions they took to qualify for the program included installing low-flow showerheads, energy-efficient appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs and high-efficiency air filters. In addition, Tremain Street Cottages instituted programs for linen reuse and recycling.

While the choice to go green was an adjustment for their business, it probably pales in comparison when two years earlier Young and Lucas decided to abandon their fast pace of life in Orlando to escape to the laid-back, small-town charm of Mount Dora.

"We've been coming back and forth from Orlando and hated leaving Mount Dora because we love it," Lucas said. "It was a total change of lifestyle.

"It's very different, I think we feel more at peace here," she continued. "We can walk around and meet our neighbors. The hospitality of the business owners and residents here is just so much different. I think our guests get that same impression when they come to Mount Dora because they don't want to leave."

Since Tremain Street Cottages is only a block away from Mount Dora's enchanting downtown district the quaint shopping boutiques, art galleries, unique eateries and annual street festivals are all common destinations for cottage guests. Unfortunately, many guests forget about the bounty of outdoor activities available in the area. To help share all the outdoor adventures that are available Lucas created a Web site, www.WhatToDoInMountDora.com, which provides a comprehensive guide to dozens of activities, including boating, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding and, even, skydiving and hang gliding.

Other features of Tremain Street Cottages that makes it a special lodging choice in a town full of bed & breakfast inns is it allows small pets and children. Though the cottages do not offer meals, a voucher is provided to weekend guests for a free breakfast at 5th Avenue Cafe. Another interesting trait is Lucas tries to purchase all cottage supplies locally. The bathroom soaps are from Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe, the linens are purchased at Madison Rose Quilts & Gifts and the shampoo and lavender on each bedroom pillow is selected at Noni Home and Bath.