Maitland: Art, History and Parks

In Maitland, art, urban history and park experiences come together. The Waterhouse Residence Museum conveys what life was like for a middle-class family in the early years of the city of Maitland during the period of American history known as the Gilded Age. Important for planning your trip: The museum is currently closed for renovations. Its building was constructed in 1884 as a family home by William H. Waterhouse, a pioneer settler and building contractor.

Art and Historical Insights

A distinctive cultural venue is the Maitland Art Center. It is the only National Historic Landmark in the greater Orlando area and was founded in the 1930s by the visionary artist J. André Smith as a retreat for artists. Those wishing to focus their trip to Maitland on culture will find a different perspective on the area's history here than at the Waterhouse Residence Museum.

The Telephone Museum also broadens the picture of the city with a focus on technology and communications history. Its collection includes archives of the Winter Park Telephone Company from 1913 to 1979. One ticket includes admission to the Maitland Art Center, the Maitland History Museum and the Telephone Museum. This makes it possible to visit several cultural stops under a shared ticket offer without planning the currently closed Waterhouse Residence Museum as a place to visit at this time.

Park, Market and Exercise

For a quieter day or one focused more on the outdoors, Lake Lily Park provides a clear point of reference: It covers 10 acres. The Maitland Farmer's Market is scheduled there on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Performing Arts Matter provides live music at the market. Anyone wishing to combine a market visit with musical entertainment can include this date in their plans.

Another way to experience Maitland actively is through the monthly hiking courses in Maitland Community Park, held in cooperation with Wekiwa Springs State Park. The different formats therefore appeal to various travel interests: art and museums are available alongside a park visit, a market date or an organized hiking day.

The Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Maitland, your preferred daily routine should be the deciding factor. If you primarily want to discover art and history, you can make the museum offerings the focus of your stay. For an outing with a market and music, Sunday planning at Lake Lily Park is a good option. Those who prefer exercise can also take the monthly hiking courses in Maitland Community Park into account.

For families with different interests, it may be useful to decide before booking whether culture, time in the parks or shared outdoor activities should take up the most space. The current closure detail concerning the Waterhouse Residence Museum should be part of this consideration: It remains an important part of Maitland's history, but is currently not available as an open attraction because of renovation work.

Other Places to Compare

If you would like to compare other destinations after reading this, you can find Lake Butler, Lake Hart, Apopka, Tangelo Park, Ocoee, Bay Lake, Doctor Phillips and Winter Garden here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Orange.