Minneola, FL

Minneola sits in central Florida's hills about 25 miles west of Orlando, accessible via State Road 50 from the theme parks or US Highway 27 from the north-south corridor. The unusually hilly terrain creates cooler mornings and better drainage than typical Florida flatlands. Popular local routes include the scenic 15-mile drive to Clermont and the 30-mile trip through Lake County's rolling countryside to Mount Dora. The city hosts an annual triathlon each February that challenges athletes with Florida's most demanding hill course.