Leu Garden's Jazz Stroll

One of our favorite things to do is to attend a Leu Garden’s Jazz Stroll. These wonderful night time events take place from 6-10pm. We never miss the Spring & Autumn strolls. Guests have already contacted me about when the next one will be as they want to fly down here from PA just so they can stay here at our North Orlando B&B again, and also attend this October event. They were here at Thurston House during the Spring event but were obligated to attend a wedding.

Path through Leu Garden's Sculpture Garden

Our North Orlando lodging is the perfect place to stay when visiting Leu Gardens as we are only a short drive away. Get creative and pack a scrumptous picnic dinner to bring. Be sure to include your favorite beverages!  Throw in a couple of chairs or even a blanket and you’ll be all ready to set up near one of the three jazz bands. Get yourselves settled, grab a glass and fill er up, then stroll the many lighted paths that meander through this gorgeous 50 acre botanical garden. This year the Fall Stroll is October 15th. Tickets go on sale a couple weeks in advance and they do usually sell out!

Saturday, October 23 – 7:00 – 10:00 pm

Enjoy live blues and jazz under a starry sky inside Leu Gardens’ 50-acre botanic oasis located in the heart of Central Florida featuring the velvety sounds of the Nightly Blues Band, soulful voice of Selwyn Birchwood and Don Soledad Group.  Each band will feature favorite songs as well as originals. Pack a dinner picnic basket full of your favorite foods/drinks and bring chairs or blanket for this outdoor event.  Vendors selling coffee and pastry. 

Serene Cubbedge Room

This yearly Fall event is one of our favorites! We set our chairs up in “our” place, grab a glass of wine and stroll the many luminary lit paths. What a great way to spend the evening! The only thing that could make it better would be to end the day in your beautiful Thurston House guest room, the only bed & breakfast in Maitland and Winter Park.

Art Under the Stars in Maitland

The Fall is when things start to get busy again in Central Florida. There is a variety of upcoming events very near to Thurston House B&B in Maitland -

10/1-10/3 - 34th Annual Art Under the Stars – Maitland Rotary Arts Festival 

10/8 – Groovy In The Grove - Maitland History’s 12th Annual Benefit Auction

10/9-10 – 37th Annual Winter Park Autumn Arts Festival

10/23 – Leu Gardens Jazz & Blues Stroll

11/6-7 – Rollins College Family Weekend – Sorry, already full!

11/15 – Taste of Maitland – 13th Annual Maitland Chamber of Commerce event

12/2 – Christmas in the Park – Yearly Winter Park Tiffany event

12/4 – Maitland’s Season of Light

And there is much more coming up…..Keep tuned! Click here to book your favorite room for your favorite event before we are sold out!

Date Night Movie – “Duplicity” 

August 6 – Movie begins at dusk.

 Oscar® winner Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as two sexy spies-turned-corporate operatives in the midst of a clandestine love affair. When they find themselves on either side of an all-out corporate war, they’ll put everything on the line to remain one double-cross ahead in a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. From writer/director Tony Gilroy (seven-time Oscar®-nominated Michael Clayton) comes the film critics are raving about. (2009, PG-13)

These date nights are a wonderful way to enjoy Leu Gardens in an evening setting. Pack your blanket & dinner basket, and enjoy the show.

Thurston House yard in the morning

Make it an even better night out and book a room at Thurston House too! This Maitland B&B is just 15 minutes from the gardens. We are like a mini Leu Gardens, with our beautiful lakefront setting. Come see!

Leu Gardens butterfly plants

Vendors will be selling a variety of plants including: bamboo, bromeliads, butterfly plants, citrus, ferns, fruit plants, gingers, heliconias, herbs, orchids, palms, roses, trees, vines and outdoor garden accessories! Bring a plant cart or wagon and fill it up! The garden offers free admission these two days too.

Even though this entire month can be celebrated by romance, this is the week that most choose. All the local restaurants are offering specials…we are offering a special rate all month too! So, what are you waiting for? Rooms are going fast.

roses at Leu Gardens

One of of favorite places, Leu Gardens, is having a Valentine’s Day Concert – A Night of Swing in the Garden. Tickets are $25pp and can be bought online. Pack a classy picnic, tuck in a bottle of wine, book your room at Thurston House, and celebrate your special someone! The garden is always beautiful in February!!!

Coming up later this year are some wonderful events at Leu Gardens. August 7th brings you this-

Enjoy a romantic movie in a beautiful gardens setting.  Patrons may bring a blanket or chairs and dinner picnic basket.  Garden Admission is $7.00 plus tax adult and $2.00 plus tax child; Garden Members receive free admission on all Date Nights.  Admission is collected at the door.  Sponsored by Women in Film & Television Florida. These Leu Garden night events are always a wonderful and romantic way to while away the night. Pack a wonderful picnic, grab a bottle of wine and off you go…just a few minutes from Thurston House!

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

Last few days for our May Madness Special – 25% any room! There is so much to do in this area. Have you ever gone to Leu Gardens? It is only minutes from Thurston House.

Queen butterfly

Empty rocking chairs for you!

We have so many repeats to Thurston House bed & breakfast. Our area is so varied with many things to do that it can give you new things to do every time you come! Have you gone to the Audubon Birds of Prey Center, eaten at Bubbalou’s Bodacious Barbeque, visited the Zora Neale Hurston Museum, eaten at Bosphorous Turkish Restaurant, strolled Leu Gardens, snacked while tasting wine at the Maitland Wine Market,  walked around Lake Lily, visited the Maitland Art Center, gone to Kata Thai Sushi, gotten an Edible Arrangement…… The list is to so long to post here so go to our Important Links page for all the links for these and so much more. ENJOY! You can even just sit on the porch!