For Clermont residents, the trail is more than a recreational amenity. It is part of the city’s identity. Cyclists, runners, walkers and families use it as a way to connect with the landscape and with one another. It reinforces the idea that Clermont is not simply a bedroom community for Orlando. It is a destination with its own rhythm.
“Clermont is a rare mix of lake, town, and recreation. It also has plenty of trails, cycling opportunities, and great commuting access to Orlando,” Simaan said.
That combination has helped Clermont become one of the most desirable places to live in Lake County, one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. Clermont is now the largest city in the county, but its roots go back more than a century. Founded in 1884 and incorporated in 1916, Clermont was once defined by citrus production, an industry that thrived there until the 1960s.
Clermont’s Historic Downtown area offers guests and residents opportunities to sip, shop and stroll (and even jet ski) the area.
Today, reminders of that agricultural past remain part of the city’s story, even as Clermont continues to grow. New neighborhoods, retail centers and residential developments have expanded the city’s reach, but the historic downtown remains its heartbeat.
“The real Clermont is the historic waterfront district because it blends the new with the old. You have restaurants, boutique stores, breweries, and plenty of events,” Simaan said.
That blend of old and new is central to Clermont’s appeal. Downtown Clermont offers a walkable, welcoming environment supported by Clermont Main Street, a group of local businesses and volunteers working to revitalize the area through public funding, grants, sponsorships and community events. The result is a downtown that feels lived in, not manufactured.
Recurring events such as wine strolls and First Friday food trucks help bring residents together, while seasonal festivals give the city a steady calendar of reasons to gnewsather. For families, newcomers and longtime residents, those events help create the kind of community connection that can be difficult to find in faster-growing parts of Central Florida.
On weekends, Clermont’s lifestyle often revolves around the water, the trails and downtown.
“It would have to be the waterfront park, downtown for amazing food, the Farmer’s market, and watching the sunsets off the lake,” Simaan said.
Waterfront Park is one of the city’s signature gathering places, offering lake access, green space and proximity to downtown. It is the kind of place where Clermont’s identity comes into focus: active, outdoorsy, family-friendly and rooted in its natural setting.
Shopping in Clermont also reflects the city’s independent spirit. The Sunshine Book Co., a local independent bookstore, offers literary gifts, author events and book clubs, making it a community hub for readers. The Gray Collective Boutique brings a cheerful, carefully curated retail experience to town. Triangle Vinyl offers LPs ranging from classic rock and vintage blues to soul, country, metal and progressive. The South Lake Animal League Thrift Shop gives shoppers a chance to find something unique while supporting a good cause.
Together, those businesses help make Clermont feel distinct. They offer the kind of local texture that gives a neighborhood personality and gives residents a reason to stay close to home.
The city also has plenty of places to gather over a drink or a meal. Flag Coffee Corner offers a neighborhood coffee stop, while Suncreek Brewery gives residents a place to meet over craft beer and food. Blushin’ Bubbles adds a celebratory option for those looking for something bright, social and a little different.
For homebuyers, Clermont’s growth has created a broad range of options. Newer homes, larger lots and relative value compared with Orlando have made the city especially attractive to buyers who want more space without giving up access to Central Florida’s job centers and entertainment districts.
“Clermont attracts many buyers, especially those moving up who want better value than Orlando, more land, and newer homes,” Simaan said.
That value proposition has become increasingly important as buyers across Central Florida look beyond traditional suburban markets. Clermont offers access to Orlando while maintaining a more relaxed pace. It is close enough for commuting, shopping, dining and entertainment, but far enough away to feel different.
For out-of-town buyers, that difference can sometimes be misunderstood. “It is not your typical suburb, life in Clermont is more spread out and less busy than Orlando,” Simaan said.
That spread-out feel is part of what many residents appreciate. Clermont offers room to breathe, whether that means a larger yard, a quieter street, a lakefront view or easier access to outdoor recreation. It does not have the density or constant motion of Orlando, and for many buyers, that is precisely the point. Still, Clermont is not standing still. Growth corridors around Lake Minneola are drawing attention, particularly among buyers who want to be near the city’s amenities while enjoying a quieter setting.
Residents enjoy a stroll along Lake Minneola.
“Around Lake Minneola has plenty of growth corridors and is quieter than the other areas,” Simaan said. Lake Minneola is central to Clermont’s future as well as its present. Its shoreline, trails and surrounding neighborhoods continue to shape development patterns and lifestyle choices. As the city grows, areas around the lake are likely to remain among its most desirable places to live.
What makes Clermont special is not any single amenity. It is the way the pieces work together. The hills make the city visually distinctive. The lakes create beauty and recreation. The trails connect residents to the outdoors. Downtown gives the city a social and cultural center. The local shops, breweries, restaurants and events make it feel personal.
That is why Clermont continues to stand out in Central Florida’s crowded residential landscape. It offers the practical advantages buyers want, including newer homes, relative value and commuting access, while also delivering something harder to quantify: a strong sense of place. “In one sentence, why do people love calling Clermont home?” Simaan said. “Clermont gives you the lakes, the hills, trails, the space, and a great sense of a friendly community with keeping major city work and entertainment within a short distance.”
For residents, that sentence captures the Clermont lifestyle well. It is a city built around movement, scenery and community. It is a place where athletes train, families settle, businesses grow and neighbors gather downtown. It is close to Orlando, but it does not feel like Orlando. It is active, scenic and increasingly sought after, yet still grounded in the lakes, hills and history that made it special in the first place.