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!

"I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed…read moredays, the dark sacred nights And I think to myself...What a wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong The best lyrics for such an experience on this ship. My newly created memory is so dear to me now. Just starting from the entry of the shop to pick up tickets. The staff was so bubbly with smiles and welcoming energy to assist you once you came in. Then after receiving our tickets we got to walk around a bit to enjoy the breeze. Now 15 minutes before our sail time they started guiding everyone to their designated tables. Once we were seated we were informed of all our important safety information while aboard and locations of the restrooms. Then our server came over to take our drinks. Our table was filled with charcuterie boards with fruit and cheese with sweet tea, watermelon tea, and water available within arms reach. We had a live performance throughout the interior time. They even sung requested songs. I enjoyed watching all of the other married couples get up and dance. My husband even got me to get a dance floor for one of the songs. Lol I was so nervous but I really enjoyed it. Once the food started rolling in we started with a house salad and bread. Then we got up and walked around the ship. We took photos and watched the sunset. It was so peaceful with amazing songs playing softly in the background. Once they announced dinner was being served we headed down to our table. Now about my Savory Herb Roasted Half Chicken with a White Wine Supreme Chicken Sauce.I chef's kiss for sure. I picked mashed potatoes and corn for my sides. Anyone who knows me know I love me some corn. Lol the chicken was so juicy all the way through. Flavor was perfect from the white meat to the dark meat parts. I was so stuffed you could probably roll me off the ship afterwards. Lol I enjoyed being able to try two virgin mocktails with a carrot cake that surprised me. The dessert was so tasty and fluffy. I could barely finish it. if ypu have not given this experience a try I highly recommend it. Thank you to the captain and staff on board you guys did amazing!!

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!!!

Captain Alyssa was great! She gave us the perfect tour- we saw baby gators, Mama gators guarding…read moretheir nests, and some really cool birds. She was knowledgeable about the lake and it's inhabitants. She was patient to let us get the photos we wanted, and she kept an eye out for the types of birds that my husband preferred to see. Highly recommend! 10 out of 10 would do it again!

Super fun time. Captain Cabe was great! Highly recommended to both us full time Floridians and…read morevisitors alike!

I can honestly say that visiting this place and riding an airboat were among the most enjoyable…read morethings I have done in many years. Wow! My family, friends, and I had such a great time and wish that we could have remained on the airboat much longer. This place is located at the end of a very long road. The drive to the property is very quiet and relaxing. The property itself was well-maintained, everything was clearly marked, and the venue itself was fun. There is a gift shop, a snack shop, a food trailer offering hot food, a beverage hit, clean bathrooms, gold mining, and so much more. The employees went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. The real reason why you would visit this place is the airboats. Each guest boards the large boats, which can seat 12-15 people at a time. To the rear of the boat sits this huge fan, which controls the boat. Each guest is required to grab a headset or ear protection, as the boats are noisy and loud, and I mean LOUD once they get going. The purpose of the boats is to have fun, of course, but the objective is to look for alligators as you speed through the swamps. During our visit, we spotted nine alligators, and the boat operator stopped so guests could see and experience them up close. The alligators are never disturbed, and they do not seem to mind being watched. Back to the airboats, these things are FAST! The boat operator will have you going so fast on the water, then pull into a complete 360-degree turn when you least expect it. The first time the boat operator sped away from the dock at the start of the tour, you were a tad nervous, similar to riding a roller coaster. After this initial nervousness, you could not get enough of this airboat and only wanted to go fast on the water. I might add that there was a group seated in front of us with a boy between 8 and 10 years old and a young tween girl, and they appeared to enjoy the airboat ride just as much as we adults. This is definitely a fun place for all ages

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.

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.

Beautiful. Cruise on lake Dora. Very hospitable owner and staff. Music good spirits good vistas…read moreand to top it off a glorious sunset

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.

We had an absolutely wonderful float on the Fun Cat. The weather couldn't have been more perfect,…read morethe beverages hit the spot, and the sunset was nothing short of gorgeous. The music set just the right mood, creating a relaxed, laid-back vibe that made the whole experience feel effortless. It was a peaceful, beautiful evening on the water--exactly what we were hoping for and more. Highly recommended for anyone looking to unwind and soak in a perfect sunset.

This place is amazing. Got here at 8:45 am and at the gate was told 3-3.5 hours to wait. Still put…read moreour name on the list and was sat at 9:55 am. Impressed that it wasn't as long and also how speedy the service is. We absolutely love this place. The pancakes are incredible and we also got the All Mill breakfast with 2 eggs, your choice of meat and toast. Delicious . Michelle did such an incredible job taking care of us especially with our refills. It's a hot one today.

What a fun experience! The pancake portion was such an affordable price and you could get…read morebuttermilk, gluten free, pancake batter of the month, etc. And toppings available upon purchase. So fun though that you get to cook your own pancakes. We showed up at 9:15 and there was already a 2+ hour wait so i'm glad we had reservations! Michelle our waitress was a doll and took such good care of us. We had a group of 17 and she tended to our every need so well!

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'