Lake County is geographically located in the center of Florida. As part of the Central Highlands, the county has a relatively high elevation of about 50 feet to 190 feet above sea level. Lake County is one of only a few destinations in Florida with rolling hills to climb, offering challenging golf, hiking and bicycling on Sugarloaf and Buck Hill.

While the population of Lake County is only about 150,000 people, there are 13 courses that are open to the public. Accommodations in Lake County are affordable, and a golfer may decide to stay for an extended time to enjoy all of Central Florida’s many attractions.

Clermont golf courses include Clerbrook, Diamond Players Club, Green Valley Country Club, Palisades Country Club, Swiss Fairways Country Club and Kings Ridge Golf Club.

Lake County offers some of the best fishing anywhere. In addition to bass, the lakes have a plentiful supply of blue bream, shellcrackers, stripers, speckled perch and catfish. Bait and tackle shops dot the water’s edge and fish camps provide rural accommodations and country cooking. Anglers can participate in numerous amateur bass fishing tournaments or simply fish for fun.

For the recreational bicyclist, every weekend offers the opportunity to participate in an organized ride hosted by a local bicycling club. After a short briefing about the route and safety of the course, bicyclists can choose from a variety of rides, generally running from 25 miles to 60 miles.

Lake County has its southernmost tip just miles from Orlando. Its northwest tip borders the Ocala National Forest. Lake County has a population of just over 200,000. Its small towns are made up primarily of generation upon generation of native-born Floridians. Locals work hard to preserve the county’s natural resources and beauty.

Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards sits on a 127-acre estate in gently rolling countryside some 25 miles west of downtown Orlando. Sixty-six acres are currently planted, with additional acres to be planted within the next two years.

The Citrus Tower stands unrivaled as a majestic and monumental tribute to Central Florida’s famed citrus industry and its lush subtropical groves. With the area’s changing economic climate, the Tower serves as a beacon guiding a burgeoning new business and population base the scenic South Lake County region. Erected in 1956 on one of the highest hills in Florida’s ridge section, this splendid landmark contains five million pounds of concrete and 149,000 pounds of reinforcing steel. The original plans specified a height of 75 feet, but when completed the Tower rose to the lofty height of 226 feet (equivalent to 22 stories). It was constructed to withstand winds of more than 190 miles per hour.

Lake County's enchantment lies in its sparkling lakes, lazy rivers, unsurpassable weather, fetching forests, and quiet, sleepy towns. The arts, too, play an important part in making our area the perfect place to live -- and visit. With its arts centers, history museums, theater performances, concerts, historical collections, libraries, and outdoor festivals, Lake County fosters memorable and active programs.

The arts and humanities are a vital and intrinsic part of the human experience and individual expression. The annual economic impact of Florida's nonprofit cultural/heritage industry exceeds $1.4 billion. Additionally, one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry is cultural/heritage tourism. Increasingly, a number of special interest travelers rank arts and historic activities as the top reasons for traveling.

Clermont's Cooper Memorial Library is a full-service library and part of the Lake County Library System. It houses more than 40,000 books and other reading materials and features a strong children's program. The library's Florida room contains hundreds of historical pictures and a large collection of Florida-related books and resources.