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!

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!

18 years for Maitland B&B – WOW!

Come sit on our porch!

In two weeks, Thurston House will mark another milestone – 18 years providing wonderful accommodations to guests from all around the world. So far we have enjoyed guests from 21 countries, every state and even 3 territories! It has been a wonderful place for us to live, and we hope that we have many more years here at Thurston House in beautiful Maitland, Central Florida.

We have seen our guests, marry, divorce, die, move away, move back, visit family, celebrate life events, stay for business, retire, etc. It has been very interesting to be a part of their lives. Some guests have been staying with us for over 10 years now! We are blessed.

House before renovations - January 1990

We have seen Thurston House start out as an empty and unloved house, to be completely renovated becoming the “Gem of Maitland”. Even the guest rooms started out one way, but have been fine tuned much during that time. Rooms have different size beds now, and colors have changed – green to gold, pink to ruby red and yellow to tan. We have evolved too, starting with phone reservations and brochures to now offering online reservations and printable brochure on our website. You can even find us on Twitter, FaceBook and Trip Advisor too!

Keep tuned for Fall & Winter Specials!

Maitland Art Center Open House!!!

Join the Maitland Art Center for their Summer Open House, Saturday June 5, 10am-3pm. Learn all about the center – visit art classes, meet instructors, talk to students, see live art demonstrations and learn about the history of this fabulous facility.

This State of Florida Historic Site is also on the National Historic Register. The center is dedicated to promoting knowledge and education in American art and artists. Built in 1937 by Jules Andre Smith, the center is one of the few surviving examples of “fantasty” architecture in the Southeast. Stroll it’s grounds with 23 structures, beautiful gardens and several courtyards. All buildings feature Mayan/Aztec motifs.

This fascinating place is just a short walk or drive from Thurston House bed & breakfast. Rooms are still open for the weekend of the open house so hurry and book your room now!

Thurston House Times – Winter begins!

Yes, today is the first day of Winter in Central Florida. No, there is no snow here, but temperatures have been in the chilly range. The sky is crystal clear though! This is the weather we need for our oranges & tangerines to become ripe, and for the camellia’s to really start popping open. A few camellia’s have opened so far, but by the end of the week they’ll be beautiful all over the yard!

tangerine tree

Come step away from your busy times and relax here at Thurston House bed & breakfast. Rooms are still open through the end of the year…book now!

One of the first!

Thurston House Times – Dressed to Kill!

The Enzian Theater and the Eden Bar have just announced their New Years Eve plans. Their party, starting at 9pm, has a James Bond theme.

Enzian New Years Party

Secret Agents, Bond Girls and Villains – celebrate the New Year with a bang at Enzian and Eden Bar. Come “Dressed to Kill” as your favorite James Bond character and party into the New Year with drink specials (shaken or stirred) and a DJ spinning until 2AM. The countdown to 2010 culminates with a spectacular fireworks show at midnight. Costume contest begins 10:45PM with the most impressive character winning a VIP Table package and an Enzian Dinner for Two gift certificate.

General Admission – $5 includes one complimentary Peroni
V.I.P 2-Top Table – $50 includes 1 Bottle of Champagne
V.I.P 4-Top Table – $100 includes 2 Bottles of Champagne

Party begins 9PM
Costume Contest 10:45PM
FREE Fireworks Show Midnight

This great theater and bar is only minutes from Thurston House, an easy walk too. Book your room, head to the Enzian, and sleep in late on the 1st. Great way to start a new year!

Thurston House Times – Another gift idea!

Doesn’t your special someone deserve a unique gift? How about a manatee? That’s right, the Save the Manatee Club based here in Maitland offers an adoption program. The recipient will receive adoption papers, a photo and other information about this wonderful creature. What fun to give and receive! Come to Thurston House bed & breakfast when it is cold out and head a short distance to Blue Springs Park. There they count hundreds of manatees coming in to the warm waters.

manatee swimming in spring

Thurston House Times – Gift Idea!

What to do, what to get…. Always a big challenge this time of year. How about a very unique gift from Maitland’s own Audubon of Florida Center for the Birds of Prey? You can chose what type of bird to adopt, from eagles to owls. There is a photo and information sent about the adopted bird, as well as an official certificate. When in town they can even visit “their” bird! The center is right around the corner from Thurston House bed & breakfast.

This is a perfect gift solution for anyone who really doesn’t need anything, but would appreciate this donation to a good cause. Think about it!

Thurston House owl couple

Thurston House Times – Special Things!

At the holidays it is always special to come upon something that you have long time wonderful memories of. I am fortunate to have a few Christmas ornaments from long ago when I was growing up on Montana Drive in Holden, MA. Christmas time was a big deal at our house and in the entire neighborhood. People all had their houses decorated inside and out. A good many of our neighbors were of Swedish decent, so we learned a lot about those traditions too. My Mom learned how to make a mean Pepperkokar, and got so hers’ were even thinner than the Swedish neighbors cookies…something every baker aspired towards. Well, those times are long past and most of the adults in the neighborhood then have since passed away. The memories and stories still linger in all of our hearts, especially as I put out my few precious items…some shown here. Thurston House bed & breakfast is especially wonderful this month…come see!

special ornaments from my childhood