Callanwolde Fine Arts Center is located in the 1920 Gothic-Tudor style home of the Charles Howard Candler family. It offers classes for adults and children, covering topics on literary art, visual art and performing arts. Historic tours are offered. The venue is a very beautiful place to hold a wedding as well.
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.
Nashville's Most Elegant Wedding Venue
Belle Meade Plantation provides the backdrop of a historic farm setting framed in beautiful flowering gardens and an 1853 mansion, all with the convenience of our location, sitting right in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. Our venue offers a lavish indoor barn space and an intimate outdoor garden area for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and other events. Belle Meade Plantation accommodates up to 300 guests.
Pittock Mansion is a look back at Portland's history. The family home of the influential Pittock family, one of the city's founding families, the home and grounds are now open to the public. The historical home, which was a private residence well into the last century, is set amidst some of Portland's most popular hiking trails and picnic grounds. The former home includes rooms that have been restored into their original time period as well as exhibition rooms with rotating exhibits that tell stories of Portland's past.
Best and worst time to go to Pittock Mansion
The area surrounding the Pittock Mansion is filled with hiking trails and weekend warriors on bike rides. Avoid visiting on weekends if possible and aim for a quiet afternoon during the week so that you can explore both the home and the grounds at your leisure. Rainy days are best because the home tour is indoors and there will be far few hikers and bikers to hit on your way up to the mansion.
Must see/do at Pittock Mansion
Although it can be tempting to skip the admission fee and tour the grounds, go ahead and pay the fee and explore the mansion's many rooms. From kitchens to bedrooms, each room has been recreated to look and feel like it would have been when it the home was built in 1914. If available, take a guided tour to get more details about the mansion's historical relevance in Portland as well as the family. Guided tours are random, according to volunteer availability and the number of visitors to the mansion.
Admission to Pittock Mansion
Admission to Pittock Mansion is free for members and then varies in price according to age.
Parking and public transportation to Pittock Mansion
Free parking is available outside of the mansion, part of the Pittock Acres Park. The Pittock Mansion is also accessible via Tri-Met bus, but there is an uphill hike of half a mile from the bus stop on West Burnside to the mansion itself.
Food at Pittock Mansion
Due to the small size, there are no dining options at Pittock Mansion. However, the beautiful grounds and stunning views have made Pittock Mansion a favorite place for picnics.
Insider tips for visitors to Pittock Mansion
If you plan a trip to Pittock Mansion, also take time to explore the surrounding hiking trails and have a picnic. There is also a gatekeeper's cottage, which is only open when there is a volunteer, so if it is open during your visit, be sure to check it out. Before you go, search local coupon sites for discounts on admission prices.
Author's bio: Carly Zinderman is a freelance writer from Los Angeles that loves to travel. She has written for many websites on topics including travel, food and drink.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial is located near King Street and Callahan Drive. George Washington Masonic National Memorial was established in 1920. This is more than just a memorial and a museum. George Washington Masonic National Memorial is also a research center, library, community center, performing arts center and also a concert hall. Admission is free for the first two floors.
