Harry P. Leu Gardens, a 50-acre historic estate and botanical garden in downtown Orlando, is a kaleidoscope of colors throughout the year. Stroll the walkways that wind through butterfly, herb and rose gardens, past dozens of species of azalea, bamboo and banana plants, showcasing a prized Camellia collection that has more than 2,000 plants and is considered one of the best in the U.S. The gardens also include a number of whimsical sculptures, a native wetlands garden and nearly 400 species of palms.
Parking at Leu Gardens
Ample free parking is available.
Best and worst time to go to Leu Gardens
Although the park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., visit in early morning to avoid Florida's afternoon heat and thunderstorms, especially from spring to early fall. The gardens have free admission on the first Monday of each month, with added bonuses on those days including a sidewalk cafe on the patio and a popsicle stand in the gardens. The gardens are closed only on Christmas Day, although the Leu House Museum is typically closed each July for restorations.
Admission to Leu Gardens
Park admission is $10-$12, with students in grades K-12 admitted for a nominal fee and children 4 and under free. Discounted rates are available for larger groups.
Must see/do at Leu Gardens
Don't miss the guided tours of the Leu House Museum, a restored 19th-century home overlooking Lake Rowena that shows what life was like in Central Florida at the turn of the century. The tours, which start on the hour and half hour beginning at 10 a.m., last about 25 minutes and are complimentary with admission. The last tour starts at 3:30 p.m. On your walk through the gardens, make sure to visit the Citrus Grove, which showcases Central Florida's roots with more than 50 types of citrus trees. Numerous other varieties of tropical and subtropical fruit trees dot the gardens, including avocado, guava, mango, papaya, pear, pineapple and star fruit.
Other places to visit near Leu Gardens
For a romantic dining experience after your visit to the gardens, try Santiago's Bodega, a laid-back tapas-style restaurant and bar with soups, salads, desserts and more than 30 small plates, or the Funky Monkey Wine Company on North Mills Avenue, where you can enjoy an extensive wine list, sushi and American cuisine with an Asian flair. Both are within 1.5 miles of Leu Gardens.
Insider tip for visitors to Leu Gardens
For a romantic night out, surprise your significant other with Date Night at Leu Gardens. Held on the first Friday of each month from February to December, the event includes discounted admission to the garden at 6 p.m., followed by a free movie for which you can bring a lawn chair or blanket. Popcorn and other food items are available for purchase, or pack your own picnic basket with wine, cheese and fruit.
Author's bio: Kevin Adams is a freelance writer who has lived in Orlando for more than a decade and has had travel articles appear on USAToday.com and in Golfweek magazine.
The Greater Palm Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce is a group of businesspeople who have come together to promote the community and its member businesses. This helps businesses within its purview flourish. Ostensibly, this benefit should trickle down to the community.
This Chamber also promotes community events like the annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival on the Chamber website.
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is home to many concerts, plays, musicals, stand-up comedians and performing artists. Sarasota Bay provides a beautiful backdrop to the Van Wezel. The box office is located on the east side of the building and the entrance is on the north. The Van Wezel opened in 1970 with a performance of Fiddler on the Roof.
Jacksonville International Airport is a civilian/military airport serving Jacksonville, Florida. JAX Airport is situated approximately 13 miles to the north of Jacksonville’s city center. The airport transports about 5.5 million passengers annually. JAX opened in 1968 to replace the aging and obsolete Imeson Field.
Located just north of I-295 and to the west of I-95, JAX Airport has a variety of parking options including economy, short-term, long-term, garage and valet. Jacksonville International Airport consists of a one terminal, which houses two concourses (A, C) with 20 gates, all connected via walkway. There are 7 airlines that fly in and out of JAX serving several international and domestic locations.
At Jacksonville International Airport there is an array of quick service and full service dining options, ranging from Starbucks Coffee to Chili’s Too. Whether it is books and magazines on your list or clothing and accessories JAX has you covered with options ranging from Newsstand to Brooks Brothers. In terms of services there are a Delta Sky Club, currency exchanges, ATMs, a Comfort Zone Spa, shoeshine and even a pet boarding facility.
Getting to and from JAX International Airport has never been easier with public transit covering buses, taxis, limousines, vans, car rentals and shuttles available. If staying over at Jacksonville International Airport there are 22 nearby hotel and motel options within two miles including the Jacksonville Airport Hotel, the Best Western Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriott–Airport.
Sunken Gardens, which began its meandering history more than one hundred years ago, is a botanical garden that houses some of the oldest and most exotic plants and flowers in St. Petersburg. Located near route 275, Sunken Gardens offers horticulture classes, and is a great location for weddings, garden tours, special events and field trips. Sunken Gardens' waterfalls are beautiful and the walking paths will take you away from the daily grind.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport opened in May of 2010, making it the first airport in the United States to be opened after the September 11 attacks. It was built to replace Panama City-Bay County International Airport in Panama City. ECP Airport was built due to increased popularity of the area as a vacation destination. Despite the airport’s title it doesn’t currently have international flights and there are no plans for this to change in the future. Currently, the airport transports just under one million passengers annually.
ECP is located just north of Panama City Beach not far from West Bay. The terminal is considerably larger than its predecessor’s, with seven gates spanning 105,000 square feet. Both Southwest and Delta Airlines use ECP for various domestic destinations, Atlanta, Baltimore and Houston being the most traveled to cities. ECP Airport has a variety of parking options including economy, hourly, short-term and long-term. Currently, a covered parking structure is in the construction phase. There are two airlines that fly in and out of ECP serving many domestic locations.
There are two restaurants to choose from the Dive In Restaurant and Surf’s Up Bar & Grill. Additionally, there are several gift shops throughout the terminal if passengers need to pick up a quick gift. In terms of services available to travelers include computer workstations, fax service, Wi-Fi and ATMs.
Getting to and from ECP International Airport has never been easier with options including taxis, limousines, shuttles and seven car rental agencies to choose from. A majority of hotel accommodations are on the beach about 11 miles from the airport.
If you've finished eating at a downtown restaurant and are hungry for free information, visit the award-winning New Port Richey Public Library
Located right next to City Hall, the library offers free membership and contains a large collection of books, DVDs, CDs and periodicals, study rooms and meeting rooms. It hosts activities, clubs and classes.
The library won the first Library of the Year Award, presented by the Florida Library Association, in 2006. It is currently nominated for the Best Small Library in America Award, which is presented by the Library Journal, and is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
