10 Ways To Enjoy Your North Orlando Holidays

Let’s face it, the holidays can be tough on your time and energy. What are some of the ways you can step back, relax, and really enjoy the holidays?

 

 

1. Attend the Culture and Cocktails Event at the Maitland Art Center on Friday December 14th. Art, history and good food offerings combined together to make it a wonderful night out in a beautiful place.

2. Go skating – There are two places that offer skating to the public, RDV Sports Center in Maitland and the City of Winter Park. Yes, it is cold and icy some places in Central Florida!

3. Walk around beautiful Lake Lily and enjoy the park decorations and the Christmas tree.

4. Stroll Park Avenue in Winter Park for fabulous dining and shopping.

5. Shop for holiday gifts at the Maitland Art Center gift shops. Find one of a kind items for fabulous prices!

6. Park at Lake Lily, stroll around a bit then take a short walk to one of the great dining options that are right there. From Rangetsu Contemporary Japanese dining, to So Napa’s wine inspired food offerings, to Antonio’s Cafe and Trattoria…what more could you desire?

7. Be inspired at the Morse Museum’s fabulous collection of Tiffany. The museum is all decorated inbeautiful holiday splendor.

8. Try to find the Waterhouse mouse, hidden among the Victorian decorations at the Waterhouse Residence Museum.

9. Stroll around Winter Park Village where fine dining, shopping and even a movie theater await you. Try Mitchell’s Fish Market or Truffle’s Grill, two of our guests favorite places to dine.

10. And the most important suggestion – book a night at North Orlando’s finest bed & breakfast, Thurston House in Maitland. Everywhere you look there are holiday decorations and soft music playing. Relax in your room, or on one of the porches and just enjoy the calm that is what we are most famous for. Don’t you deserve this?

The Holidays Arrive in Central Florida!

This weekend kicks of the official start to the holidays in Maitland, North Orlando Central Florida. The Season of Light is a beautiful event, starting at 5pm at Lake Lily Park. Many will be on hand to witness the tree lighting, and a surprise guest will be showing up during the evening. Could it be Santa? The Waterhouse Residence is all decked out and will be open for tours too!

Thurston House Bed & Breakfast is just a short stroll away from all the festivities. Think of us while you are reviewing your “Naughty or Nice List” too. Thurston House gift certificates make a perfect gift for those who really don’t need anything, but would appreciate a bit of innkeeper pampering. You can call us at #407-539-1911 or even easier, purchase online. For those who purchase in the next two weeks, for each $100 you buy you will receive an additional $15 gift certificate!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Thurston House!

The Holidays Are Coming to Central Florida!

They are almost upon us and what do you have planned? Come stay at Thurston House Bed & Breakfast in Maitland and enjoy the wonderful offerings in this area. From ice skating, to shopping, to Tiffany windows in the park, to fabulous dining, to museums decked out in finery, and holiday tree lightings…. We have it all in the Maitland-Winter Park area! Area shopping venues have already polished their finery and have been hanging greenery, lights and bulbs everywhere. What a wonderful gift for you!

See Maitland & Winter Park by Bicycle!

When planning your escape to beautiful Central Florida, plan something different by renting a classic bicycle from Breakaway Bicycle and roam around all our beautiful side streets. Visit all the little hidden parks, travel from museum to museum, go to the Audubon Birds of Prey Center, grab some food and stop for a picnic lunch at Lake Lily…so much to enjoy! 

The icing on the cake, is the fact that you can spend the night at North Orlando’s premier bed & breakfast, Thurston House!

Reflections on 20 years at Central Florida B&B

Who would have thought when we opened for business 20 years ago, that we would still be here and going strong? After 10 months of planning & zoning meetings, and one year of extensive renovations, Thurston House our Maitland, Florida bed & breakfast proudly opened its doors to guests on September 15, 1992. Since the first day, we have constantly been fine tuning our accommodations, and have kept up with whatever changes there have been in the hospitality industry.

20 years ago there was no home computer or internet. We were one of the first B&B’s to have a website and our own domain name.  We now have complimentary wireless Internet throughout the inn. It is always great to see guests being able to catchup electronically, while enjoying our beautiful wraparound porch. 

We started with a variety of  furniture, amenities and linens, and have since upgraded all to the best we can possibly afford to offer. Breakfast started out as a more basic meal, and now we are known for our fabulously creative offerings. Every type of special needs diet has been accommodated, from Atkins to Vegan to Celiac and more. Our cookbook “Cooking Thurston House Style” is recently hot off the presses and available for purchase too.

Guests have come from all over the world, including 24 countries, every state, 4 territories and even from Maitland itself! We enjoy many repeat guests who have become our friends too. Here’s to another 20 years for our fabulous North Orlando bed & breakfast!

Central Florida Bed & Breakfast Debuts Cookbook!

Thurston House, North Orlando’s finest bed & breakfast, has finally self published a cookbook – Cooking Thurston House Style. Guests have been asking for this for quite some time! Innkeeper Carole shared some of her all time favorite recipes, along with a few photos and some helpful hints. The book is available at Thurston House in Maitland, selling for $25. Book a room now, and ask that the innkeeper add this to your bill too. ENJOY!

Back To School at Rollin’s College!

It’s that time of year that students start heading back to this area to settle in for the new school year. Rollin’s College is just minutes from Thurston House and over our 20 years in business we have had our share of parents and incoming students stay here. Just now we have a mother & daughter from Switzerland. This is the 2nd daughter to be attending there. She and her sister are on tennis scholarships.

We feel a great connection to Rollin’s because besides being less than a 10 minute drive away from us, the college opened in 1885. That is the same year that Thurston House was built! For students this area is a wonderful mix of upscale city and small town feeling. Park Avenue, right next to the campus, is home to wonderful restaurants, galleries, stores and museums. What a wonderful experience for them!

Parent’s Weekend comes fast and this year it is November 2-4. Two rooms are still open but they always go quickly. Book now!

 

Central Florida Amazing Bed & Breakfast Special Deal!

Not often does a special this good come along. Thurston House in North Orlando, Maitland is offering a 30% discount for reservations booked by 6/20. Everyone loves a deal, and when it has to do with a two night stay at a lovely bed & breakfast, all the better! Book by the end of day June 20th for a two night stay and receive a 30% dicounted price! This deal is only available for August 16-26, and October 1-31. Rooms must be prepaid in full, and there is no cancellation allowed. Enjoy the best of Central Florida with many special places to see, areas for shopping and great dining options. This great deal may only come once in a lifetime so BOOK NOW! When you book online, the innkeeper will make the neccesary adjustments then send an updated reservation confirmation to you. Or…you can just call and take care of it.

The August dates will show you Sizzling Central Florida Summer at its best! The October dates will introduce you to foliage, Florida style. The Golden Rain trees will show off their fall colors just for you. There are also two arts festivals the month of October – The Maitland Rotary Art Under the Stars 10/5-7 and the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival 10/13-14.    

With such a great deal you’ll have plenty of money left for enjoying all that Central Florida offers to you! HURRY!

Autumn at Central Florida B&B!

Golden Rain Tree at Maitland B&B

When you mention Fall, those from up north picture colorful maple leaves over vast hilly areas. We in the North Orlando Maitland Winter Park area also experience Fall, but in a different manner. The days are cooler and less humid, the yards are greener and the beautiful Golden Rain Tree shows off it’s spectacular colors. They start with their green leaves, then beautiful little yellow flowers in clusters, then last are pink pods everywhere!

Butterfly on penta plant

The birds and other wildlife seem to notice the change too. Just the past week I have noticed so many more birds flying around, along with many beautiful butterflies trying out our landscape. It is glorious here! Aren’t you due for a visit to our North Orlando bed & breakfast soon?

For a really special deal, check out our latest Living Social Escape deal that just went live today. It’s available for only a limited time so hurry!