Located between Tampa and Orlando, Lakeland is Central Florida’s largest city. In addition to its convenient location, Lakeland is a destination in its own right. Set aside time to explore this friendly city’s historic neighborhoods, museums and bustling downtown.
Polk Museum of Art houses one of Florida’s most acclaimed art collections. Whether you enjoy modern, Asian, European or pre-Columbian art, find something to pique your interest here.
Explore several historic neighborhoods in Lakeland’s downtown area. The Antiques District, full of fascinating curios in old buildings, is a shopper’s dream. Munn Park offers a variety of shops, bars and restaurants. It also features a large Civil War monument.
Florida Southern College, in the center of Lakeland, has the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. Walk through his 18 completed buildings on campus, including the light-filled Annie Pfeiffer Chapel and the circular Thad Buckner Building.
Stroll down the historic promenade at Lake Mirror Park. This scenic area in the heart of downtown includes an amphitheater that hosts outdoor concerts and plays.
Live on the wild side at Safari Wilderness Ranch. From your safari tour, see hundreds of animals from Asia, Africa and the Americas roaming freely in this protected parkland. You can even travel the park by horse-drawn carriage or camelback.
Sun n’ Fun Fly-In is a fantastic Lakeland tradition. Every spring, pilots from all over North America fly their planes into the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Bring the whole family to see aircraft of all shapes and sizes. Visit the on-site museum, which provides tours and educational programs throughout the year.
Tampa and Orlando airports are less than an hour’s drive from Lakeland. Add these popular areas to your Florida vacation.
With average winter temperatures that will leave you comfortable outside in a T-shirt and shorts, Lakeland is a popular destination for winter vacationers. Although it gets quite hot in the summer, the city offers its visitors a cool time in its museums, restaurants and shops.
