CENTRAL FLORIDA SUMMER GETAWAY 2023

CENTRAL FLORIDA GETAWAY NEAR ORLANDO

Who says you can’t vacation in Central Florida in the summertime?

Summer is the perfect time to explore Orlando’s numerous museums—inside luxuriously air-conditioned surroundings. Make Thurston House Bed & Breakfast your home-away-from-home for a few days while you discover art, history, and theater—all less than five miles away.

Thurston House is set on eight park-like acres in Maitland, just north of Orlando’s city limits. Built in 1885, this Queen-Anne Victorian has its own story to tell, with gleaming pine woodwork in relaxing parlors and modern hotel comforts in our three unique guest rooms. Set your personal room thermostat as cool as you’d like!

What to Do to Stay Cool in Central Florida Summers

Once you’ve settled into your Thurston House home-away-from-home, head over to the largest collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, held by the Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park. Browse the Museum Shop where you just might find Tiffany-designed jewelry you can’t live without! Then, step outside for just a moment to discover one of dozens of cool bistros or bars for lunch or dinner.

The Orlando area boasts many other art venues where you can continue your cool end-of-summer getaway. The Rollins Museum of Art, also in Winter Park, is featuring several new exhibitions running throughout the summer. A short mile’s drive to Loch Haven Cultural Park (Orlando) is the Orlando Museum of Art, and it’s large permanent contemporary collection.

The intimate Mennello Museum of American Art, also in Loch Haven Park, primarily displays the permanent collection of paintings by Earl Cunningham. As you approach, don’t miss the 350-year-old sprawling live oak tree draped with Spanish moss called “The Mayor” in the Mennello Sculpture Gardens. Art’s not your thing? Stay cool at the Orlando Science Center or the Orlando Fire Museum …yes, also in Loch Haven Park.

Perhaps you’d like to beat the heat with some dramatic entertainment in a cool theater setting. We have that too! The Orlando Shakespeare Theater is only a few miles from Thurston House, and the Winter Park Playhouse is even closer. In August, the Playhouse opens Two for Murder, a new production combining “classic musical comedy and madcap mystery.” This should be fun!

Last but not least…Enzian Theater, right here in Maitland, is another fabulous strategy for a cool getaway during the last hot days of summer. Enzian is a single-screen cinema café and prides itself on being Central Florida’s only alternative cinema offering independent, foreign, and classic films.

Who says you have to stay home to endure Central Florida’s summer heat? Summer won’t last forever…check availability now!

Make The Most Of A Valentine’s Day Getaway to Winter Park Florida

Make The Most Of A Valentine’s Day Getaway To Winter Park Florida

Raise the bar of your Valentine’s Day getaway to Winter Park, Florida with our popular Romance Package lodging special!

Treat yourself and that special someone to the peaceful charm and idyllic lakefront setting of our historic 1885 Florida bed and breakfast. Thurston House is nestled on 8 wooded acres with the best of Winter Park, Florida just minutes away.

The timeless historic culture and natural beauty of the Winter Park area in Central Florida makes it the perfect destination for any Valentine’s Day romantic getaway. Mild temperatures and hundreds of lakes set the backdrop for classic architecture filled with shops, restaurants, museums, theaters, and romantic lake cruises.

When it comes to romantic adventures, Winter Park, Florida will not disappoint. From scenic canal tours, art walks, wine tastings, and live music to French bistros, handmade chocolate shops, and massage, we have it all!

No matter what form your romance takes, Winter Park, Florida remains the perfect place to express it, and Thurston House can help with our romantic lodging packages and specials!

Valentine’s Day Getaway Romantic Packages and Special Add-Ons

Visit our Special Luxury Enhancements page to discover a diverse offering of fun and romantic options to make your Valentine’s Day Getaway in Winter Park, Florida even more delightful.

Our popular Romance Package, for example, includes:

Bedside bouquet (or upgrade to a dozen roses)
Charcuterie Snack Box waiting in your room (surely to include chocolate-covered strawberries)
Two 60-minute massage sessions
Telegraph Hill robes to use during your stay
Delicious home-cooked breakfast each morning

Looking to completely unwind with your sweetie? What better way than to fall asleep in a hammock made for two after a fragrant bath in our clawfoot soaking tub.

You’ll surely win the prize with our All-Inclusive Romantic Package. We’ve thought of everything for you! You’ll have all the features of our Romance Package above, but unwind and rejuvenate from the Hirsch Room including private, exclusive use of the adjacent screened-in sleeping porch with romantic two-person hammock. The Hirsch Room has our only deep-soaking clawfoot tub, original to the house. We’ll even include a supply of bath salts and bubbles to wash all your stress away!

Luxury Enhancements to Your Valentine’s Day Getaway To Winter Park Florida

Customize your Valentine’s Day Getaway with any number of add-ons to make your stay even more special. Choose hand-made local chocolates, fresh fruit, roses, chocolate-covered strawberries, and so much more! Looking for something we’ve not listed? Ask us! We’ll do our best to make it happen.

Oh, but you’re thinking you might need a little extra time to really explore all that Winter Park has to offer?

In that case, why not take advantage of our Free Tuesdays Weekday Special. With this lodging special, you can enjoy your home away from home for a little longer with a free Tuesday! An extra day in Winter Park, Florida is an opportunity to take a scenic canal tour, explore the Tiffany Collection at the Morse Museum, or just soak up the peaceful views of Lake Eulalia from the porch at Thurston House. How you spend your extra time is up to you, we just want you to be at home here in Central Florida.

At Thurston House, we’re dedicated to helping make your Valentine’s Day Getaway to Winter Park in Central Florida the best it can possibly be. It’s just around the corner!

Find all the details you need to book your stay at our Specials & Packages page. We hope to see you soon…Happy Valentine’s Day!

2021 At Our Central Florida Bed & Breakfast Home

Our Central Florida Bed and Breakfast…Reflections on 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, we look back over the year and reflect on all the good times and warm memories we have. Hosting guests at our Central Florida bed and breakfast, Thurston House, continues to reward—this year was no exception.

We feel so fortunate, not only living here in the heart of Central Florida with its year-round lush flora and lakes at every turn, but also being able to share our home with so many others. Each guest who stays at our Orlando-area bed and breakfast, people like you, brings along a unique story to tell, and we look forward to making this the most comfortable “home away from home” during your stay.

Since 1885, this charming house has always been a home—to the Thurston, Cubbedge, Hirsch, O’Heir, and Ballard families. Thurston House, celebrating 30 years of hosting guests from all around the world and all 50 states, undergoes a significant transition this year. As veteran innkeepers, Carole and Joe Ballard, retire to their beloved Maine, we welcome a new family—a new innkeeper. As of the fall, Beverly Fuller has moved from Texas to make Thurston House her home and to continue the legacy of helping you have the best possible stay in Central Florida.

Admittedly, it’s easy to find plenty of things to do for an Orlando-area vacation. The cities of Maitland and Winter Park alone offer days of the best shopping, dining, museums, gardens, lakes and theaters that Florida has to offer. In fact, some of Central Florida’s most popular attractions—Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Morse Museum of American Art, Enzian Theater, Leu Gardens, Art & History Museums—Maitland, and more are all just minutes from Thurston House. In addition, there are numerous festivals, farmers markets, and live music events spread throughout the year.

Our goal here at Thurston House Bed & Breakfast is to make you feel at home during your vacation stay in Central Florida. This region is active and flourishing year round, and we love sharing our history and natural beauty with our guests. Reviews from guests, like the ones below, remind us why we love what we do!

From Our 2021 Thurston House Guest Book:

“What a wonderful three days! You will be a huge success, we are sure. Your attention to detail is awesome….” ~Liz & Vince, December 2021

“Beverly, so many thanks for being such a gracious, caring and hospitable hostess. You have found your calling! We were honored to be your first guests.” ~Jody & Kevin, November 2021

“Beautiful place, wonderful innkeeper, clean, cozy, great breakfast, and an incredible front porch!” ~Melissa, November 2021

Looking Ahead to 2022 for Our Bed & Breakfast Home:

Is a vacation in Central Florida in your 2022 future? We’ve all experienced seasons of change—some more wonderful than others. A new innkeeper for Thurston House brings fresh vision and an exciting new vibe. A wonderful buzz about room updates, locally-sourced breakfast ingredients, a backyard urban garden, and free Tuesdays builds anticipation of exciting things to come in 2022. From where—and with what interesting stories—will our guests come this year?

For those of you who have stayed with us in the past, we say “thank you” and invite you to return! If you’ve never vacationed in Central Florida, you don’t know what you’re missing! We do hope you will join us and share in the great things unfolding in 2022.

Beverly can’t wait to meet you…especially on a Tuesday! Happy New Year from Thurston House!

Zora Festival 2020

The Zora Festival 2020 was first presented in 1990. ZORA!™ is a multi-day, multi-disciplinary, intergenerational event composed of public talks, museum exhibitions, theatrical productions, arts education programming, and a 3-day Outdoor Festival of the Arts. The event takes place primarily in Eatonville, Florida (10 miles north of Orlando) and throughout Orange County. Thurston House is just minutes down the road from this renowned event!

The historic Town of Eatonville is the oldest Incorporated Black Township in the United States and dates to 1887. Attending this Zora Festival 2020 will give you a glimpse of just how unique their history is, and how important it was in the growth of this area of Central Florida.

Zora Festival 2020

Imagine back in 1885, Mr. & Mrs. Thurston sitting on their porch amid their 160 acres of groves and woods. In their imaginations, they were probably trying to see what would become of this beautiful land. And now we know. It has been a long journey, with ups and downs for the people of Eatonville & Maitland. But I think they would be proud.

26 Years – WOW!

Let me just say – 26 years – WOW!

This week marks 26 years of being in business for Thurston House. Who would have ever thought that we would be here so long, after totally renovating this beautiful property and starting up the business from nothing? We have hosted guests from all the far reaches of the planet – 33 countries, every state, and even 6 territories, so far. As we see our busy season starting in the very near future, we wonder where they will come from next.

Overlooking Lake Eulalia – 26 years WOW!

Our location is such a unique one, hidden away in a quiet suburb only 5 miles from downtown Orlando and next to Winter Park. Guests come to this area for the fine dining, world-class museums and wonderful shopping found here. Many use us as a base for a few days, heading one day to Disney, another day to Cape Canaveral, and the rest of the time seeing all the wonderful attractions right in our backyard. Just in Maitland, we have the Audubon Birds of Prey Center, the Maitland Art Center & History Museums and more.

A Thurston House resident owl – 26 years WOW!

When we tell guests it has been 26 years, they do say 26 years – WOW! Come to see for yourself soon. Book your room now.

Getdown Downtown – New Event!

With the completion in October of the City of Maitland Downtown area, a new monthly event will be starting – Getdown Downtown! On the first Friday of each month, this pedestrian friendly area will be filled with live music, vendors, food and drink. We have waited a long time for this wonderful new addition to our city. The downtown area is just over 1 mile from us here at Thurston House. Take a stroll through our beautiful neighborhoods and arrive at the event ready to enjoy a fun evening.

So book your room now and plan for a great start to a fabulous weekend in beautiful Central Florida!

New City of Maitland event – Getdown Downtown 2018

Sizzling Summer Rates

Just now Sizzling Summer Rates were posted for the rest of the summer. Take advantage of a more quiet time here in Central Florida. There is still lots to do, everything from museums and great shopping to antiquing and all types of fabulous restaurants. The posted rates are never lower than they are right now so book early for your favorite room. Enjoy the peaceful Hirsch Room with its original claw-footed tub, our largest room. Wake up in the O’Heir Room with the sun coming up over Lake Eulalia, the only lakefront room. Or enjoy the calm of the Cubbedge Room that overlooks the side garden with its variety of casual flower areas and a patio.

Everyday snacks are offered along with Sizzling Summer Rates

All guests are welcome to enjoy the 3 porches. The hammock in the upstairs sleeping porch is a very popular place to read. The many rocking chairs and other seating areas on the front wraparound porch are great places to sip a glass a wine while watching the birds chase each other from tree to tree. You’ll probably see an owl or two! The side porch has a cozy swing overlooking the gardens.

And if it is just too warm for you, the two parlours give you areas to just relax, something that is missing in most peoples everyday lives these days!

You will still be able to enjoy our famous savory breakfast each day regardless of the weather. So book now with our Sizzling Summer Rates before it is too late!

Central Florida Colleges Are Back to School!

Within the next 2 weeks, Central Florida Colleges Are Back to School! What an exciting time for all those students, particularly the ones who are coming for their freshman year. Lots of excitement, angst, and pressure for sure. Usually, the incoming Freshman is brought to school by a parent or parents in order to help with the settling in and the furnishing their resident room space.

Central Florida Colleges Are Back to School! North Orlando Inn.

With so many coming to the area all at the same time, often accommodations can be full so consider a wonderful stay at Thurston House Bed & Breakfast. Located just 3 miles from Rollins College, and nearby to Full Sail and UCF too, our location gives you the quiet you need after a busy day of getting everything done and organized. Enjoy our Sizzling Summer rates too, lowest prices of the year!

So when Central Florida Colleges Are Back to School! and you need a place to stay, book at Thurston House, celebrating 25 years this year!

Sizzling Central Florida Summer

Sizzling Central Florida Summer Overlooking Lake Eulalia

Yes, it is time for a Sizzling Central Florida Summer. This one is a bit more sizzling than usual. You still want to get away but the beaches and the attractions area are just too hot. How about a place where fine dining, wonderful museums and great shops are plentiful? There is even a local historic theater, the Enzian, where you can watch indie films comfortably while enjoying your dinner and a glass of wine while sitting in a comfy chair at a real table.

Thurston House has been serving guests for almost 25 years now, through 24 years of Sizzling Central Florida Summer. The building has wonderfully cool central air conditioning and your guests room has its own thermostat! Start off your day on the porch while it is still cool, enjoying a cup of our fabulous Organic dark roast Peruvian coffee. Lake Eulalia is beautiful in the morning with the sun coming up behind it. The birds will entertain you too, singing and hopping around from bush to tree.

Let the aroma of your breakfast being made entice you into the dining room at your agreed upon hour. Enjoy your bountiful breakfast offering while planning your fun filled day. There are so much many activities to choose from, and lots of it located in well air conditioned buildings. The innkeeper can help plan your museum visits, give you brochures and even help you decide where to eat, a difficult task as there are so many great choices very close by.

North Orlando Sizzling Central Florida Summer

So, if you are staying home this Sizzling Central Florida Summer because you don’t know what else to do, make a reservation and come see what this beautiful area has to offer to you. We have an unheard of low rate just for you right now – any room the Sizzling Central Florida Summer rate of $199! This does include a complimentary beverage and cheese time from 5-6pm, a full breakfast each morning, complimentary safe free parking and even 2 Tesla charging stations. What are you waiting for?