Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44FOCUS - JANUARY 2017 39 158 Casimir Street, Port Perry 905-985-2268 I virginia.frew@marlintravel.ca MC TICO #4577532 Register your preferred travel dates with one of our professionals to SAVE on your next flawless holiday south! Ask for details! DailyDeals SAVE $$$$$$$ Jonathan van Bilsen is a photographer, author, columnist, keynote speaker and can be followed at photosNtravel.com story shop owned by artist Bev Neal, who will along with showing you her work, is also a local historian, explaining the history of Mount Dora, complete with photos dating back to the early twentieth century. When you have thoroughly exhaust- ed your stay and head back to your home base, albeit Orlando or Tampa, there is another unique town worthy of a day adventure. St. Armand’s is located outside of Sarasota on Florida’s gulf coast. Like Mount Dora it is another ‘must see’ des- tination, especially if you want to escape the tourist bustle for which Florida is so famous. Alittle more popular than Mount Dora, St Armand’s is also quite a big larger. The central part of the city, which caters to tourists, is divided into four quadrants, each of which centers around the foun- tain. During severe rain storms, the cen- tre area floods, however, this does little to distract from making your visit a fun experience. Of course the first thing I did, after parking my car, was to visit Kilwins, a well-known, old-fashioned confectionery chain which sells chocolates, ice cream and handmade sweets. A good cup of coffee with a waffle cone overflowing with New Orleans pralines and cream is a must, especially after sitting in your car for a while. Depending on your tastes, the Shoppes of St Armand’s should fulfil everyone’s desire. There are many clothing stores, most of which, cater to sunshine patterns of brightly coloured floral designs. Men’s shops carry the latest fashions to look your best on the golf course or on the beach (no, I didn’t buy a Speedo). The souvenir shops tend to get away from the, kitschy stuff offered in larger cities, but the prices are not cheap. Then again, how often does quality come at a low price? I enjoyed leisurely strolling through the numerous art galleries and seeing the work of local artists, displayed every- where. There is an amazing Robert Wyland gallery. Wyland is a marine art- ist, most noted in the Toronto area for his wall mural of the dolphins on the exterior of the Redpath sugar museum and associated grain elevators, along Toronto’s waterfront. His work is fantas- tic and the gallery features many of his works, as well as those of other unique and talented artists. Next time the kids or grandkids insist you head to Florida, think about Mount Dora and St. Armand’s to get away from the spotlight for a day or two. You will enjoy the break. One of the many quaint houses in Mount Dora. A sidewalk in St.Armand’s, lined with boutiques and eateries.