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Sculptor Albin Polasek moved here to retire, but in fact he kept producing his figurative works until his death in 1965. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum and its sculpture gardens contain works spanning Polasek’s entire career.

Think of this place as a halfway house for some of the most impressive examples of Florida’s birdlife. It was cre-ated by the Florida Audubon Society to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wounded raptors (birds of prey). Those that wouldn’t survive being released into the wild are kept here, living a pampered existence in a lovely lakeside location, while helping to educate visitors about wildlife issues and conservation. Guests aren’t allowed to observe the rehabilitation process, but permanent residents on view usually include vultures, bald eagles, screech owls, hawks, ospreys, and more.

The imposing, windowless walls of this museum rather ironically contain an outstanding collection of beautiful glass windows and objects by the American artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. Other highlights include American ceramics and representative collections of late-19th- and early-20th-century paintings, graphics, and decorative arts.

The stretch of Church Street that lies between Orange Avenue and I-4 is thick with enough specialty shops, restaurants, and bars to keep visitors engaged for hours. The anchor is Church Street Station, although the closure of several of its restaurants and shows has lessened the appeal of the complex. Despite this slowdown, the bar strip on the eastern side of Church Street near Orange Avenue remains very popular, especially with its three-level complex that has different bars on each floor. On weekend evenings, the street is blocked to traffic, which makes it easy to zigzag between watering holes such as the Ybor Martini Bar and Mulvaney’s, although hipper bars are found around the corner on Orange Avenue.

For more than 50 years, the venerable Colonial Lanes has offered patrons the sociable and quintessential blue-collar pastime of bowling. This 32-lane facility is a friendly and noisy place to knock over a few pins, so rent some shoes, pick out a ball, and let the computer keep score – but bear in mind that league bowling takes over the place between 6pm and 9pm every night, so avoid those times, unless you’re happy to watch. After the game, the place to go is the Colonial Lanes Bar & Restaurant, parts of which resemble a giant sunken living room (with bartenders standing on a lower floor than customers). Drinks are cheap, and the concept of rounding off prices never caught on here, so don’t be surprised if your tab is a quirky $4.38.

William H. Waterhouse was a carpenter who came to Central Florida in the early 1880s and built this lovely home overlooking Lake Lily. Pristinely restored and maintained by the Maitland Historical Society, the home, Waterhouse’s carpentry shop, and the property’s remarkable collection of hand-crafted furniture offer a glimpse into the DIY days of Maitland’s past. Woodworking buffs will be wowed by Waterhouse’s extensive use of heart of pine, a wood rarely seen today. Tours lasting about 40 minutes are offered. The Waterhouse facilities nicely complement the Maitland Historical & Telephone Museums, both located just a few blocks away and also run by the Maitland Historical Society.

A pedestrian-only path encircles Lake Eola, offering a pleasing view of downtown’s skyline. Those willing to exert their leg muscles can rent swan-shaped paddle boats (see Swan Boats In Lake Eola). Real swans drift along in the lake’s shallow water and will venture onto dry land if offered a handful of the food that can be bought for small change. Plays and concerts are performed at the Walt Disney Amphitheater, a bandshell with surprisingly decent acoustics. Disney’s presence is more ostentatiously displayed with the rather incongruous Millennium clock located on the lake’s southern side.

Fountain, Lake Eola Park

Lake Eola Fountain, Lake Eola Park