Lakeland is located almost halfway between Tampa and Orlando. Families will appreciate the convenience of Lakeland if they plan to visit Orlando’s theme parks or Florida’s sparkling gulf coast beaches. Active vacationers will stay busy fishing, bird watching, and boating on the many lakes throughout the area. There are many nature parks to seek out wildlife and hiking trails for every skill level. Lakeland allows travelers to appreciate world-class museums, major league sports, exotic wildlife, and tantalizing restaurants in the area. Lakeland is a family-friendly destination with abundant activities to satisfy every traveler.
Get up close and personal with nature’s wonders in Lakeland.
Popular pastimes in Lakeland include fishing, boating, and bird watching. Top Lakeland attractions include the Circle B Bar Reserve teeming with wildlife such as alligators, ospreys, eagles, and otters. Lake Mirror features a paved sidewalk for an easy walking tour. Bird lovers enjoy the royal swans at Lake Morton. Enjoy downtown Lakeland’s bike share program. If you are searching for a festival, Lakeland has cultural- and holiday-themed festivals all year long. Dine at the area’s variety of restaurants or shop for local produce at the Farmer’s Market every Saturday or the Dixieland Twilight Market every Wednesday evening.
Lakeland has something for everyone.
Whether your interests are sports or architecture, there are Lakeland area activities for your whole family. Catch the Detroit Tigers warming-up during spring training at Publix Field. Tour the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world at Florida Southern College. Airplane enthusiasts will love the Florida Air Museum where you can climb in a jet plane. Lakeland is within one hour of Orlando theme parks, so take a day trip or stay in Lakeland and enjoy the Family Fun Center. Stay connected with free WiFi at Munn Park or disconnect at the Silver Moon Drive-In Theater.
Enjoy Lakeland’s subtropical climate.
Lakeland is located in a subtropical zone where summers are humid and often accompanied by afternoon thunderstorms. Spring starts the rainy season and this is the perfect time to visit the Lakeland Family Fun Center or visit one of the many Lakeland museums. The temperatures begin to cool in the fall and it’s a great season to be active and outdoors. Lakeland is idyllic for those fleeing cold, blustery, northern winters. You can bask at the beach in the dry Lakeland climate during the winter months which are perfectly complemented by mostly sunny skies.
Lakeland is truly a land of lakes.
The dominant feature in Lakeland is the city’s lakes – roughly 10 percent of the area is covered by water. You can’t travel far without coming across one of Lakeland’s nature parks. You will find that many residents use the lakes’ names rather than street names as reference points for giving directions. Popular lake attractions, and residents, include a number of descendants of a pair of royal swans which were donated by Queen Elizabeth. Wherever you are in Lakeland, you are bound to be located near one of the 38 named lakes or other unnamed waterways which provided Lakeland with its name.