Maitland

If you’re looking for a place with small-town vibes near the big city, look no further than Maitland, Florida. Straddling the Orange and Seminole County divider line just north of Orlando, this suburban gem is a favorite for growing families and young professionals thanks to its ideal mix of gated communities, lakeside mansions, and mid-size houses, plus new townhomes and condos.

With a landscape formerly dotted with rolling citrus groves, Maitland is now one of Central Florida’s most affluent and sought-after communities despite its modest size. Conveniently positioned along the I-4 corridor, it’s just a 10-minute drive north from the businesses and nightlife of Downtown Orlando and south to the retail and restaurants of Altamonte Springs. Florida’s new commuter train, SunRail, also stops in the area, making it easy to hitch a ride all the way up to Debary.

Many of Maitland’s lovely residential neighborhoods are positioned around celebrated K-12 schools and well-maintained public parks shaded by ancient tree canopies and offering well-rounded outdoor recreation for all ages. You’ll find tennis, boating, racquetball, basketball courts, jogging trails, playgrounds and more at Maitland Community Park and Minnehaha Park. Lake Lily Park is especially scenic, with its cobblestone walking path, children’s playground, picnic tables, Sunday farmers’ market, and adjacent museums preserved in the cottages that once presided over the grounds.

Just a short walk away, the Art & History Museums of Maitland welcome residents and visitors to admire its latest exhibits and colorful Mayan Revival architecture: a popular backdrop for many weddings and photoshoots. Its collection of artist studios and flower-studded gardens are notably on the National Register of Historic Places and the site for a year-round calendar of art and yoga classes, musical performances and, docent-led tours.

Maitland is a place that honors its history, with many homes and buildings still maintaining their original facades and charming old-fashioned traits. Residents frequent the family-owned and operated Hollieanna Groves farm-store located off Highway 17-92, which has been selling seasonal citrus since 1954. The neighboring town of Eatonville was one of the first self-governing all-black municipalities in the United States. Today, it still proudly displays its old water tower and many original buildings, including the home of author Zora Neale Hurston, whose memory and life’s work is honored with a festival every year. Around the corner, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey has made a sanctuary for injured wildlife out of a 1920s home.

In contrast, the recently developed Maitland City Center is the new focal point of the area, including a collection of apartments whose ground floor is lined with restaurants, retail, coffee shops, and a local brewery. Its Independence Lane and the adjacent park are now host to monthly, family-oriented block parties and movie nights on the lawn. As a whole, Maitland is also becoming attractive for new and trendy restaurant concepts, food halls and boutiques. The city’s popular Enzian Theater, an independent movie house with an outdoor restaurant and bar, is the site of the annual Florida Film Festival.

To this day, Maitland remains a great place to live regardless of your age and stage of life, with high home values that are only expected to improve as the community continues to develop.

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