Location: Lakeland
Top Things to do in Lakeland
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What to do and see in Lakeland, Florida (FL): The Best Hidden Gems Things to do
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, located along Interstate 4 east of Tampa. The westernmost city in Polk County, it is part of the Tampa Bay Area. According to the 2013 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 100,710. Lakeland is a principal city of the Lakeland–Winter Haven Metropolitan Statistical Area (coterminous with Polk County), which had an estimated population of 623,009 in July 2013 based on data from the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research. It is twinned with Richmond Hill, Ontario; Imabari, Ehime, Japan; Bălți, Moldova; Portmore, Jamaica; and Chongming County, Shanghai, China through the Lakeland chapter of Sister Cities International.
Restaurants in Lakeland
1. Safari Wilderness
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 860 reviews
Tours daily BY RESERVATION ONLY. Have you ever dreamed of going on an authentic safari? At Safari Wilderness, you will enjoy fresh air year-round as enormous birds soar overhead. Our knowledgeable and experienced guides will tour you through 260 acres, interacting with huge herds of wetland exotic species, Watusi cattle, and Haflinger horses in custom safari vehicles, fitted with shade canopies and stadium seating. Or book a camelback or horseback game viewing safari tour. A llama trek is also available. Indulge your senses in a ring-tailed lemur feeding. Safari Wilderness is a Florida agritourism project. Located 6 mi. north of I-4 between Orlando and Tampa in an expansive and pristine wilderness area.
Reviewed By kathyfromSeminole - Seminole, United States
Thank you for showing us a great time. Amanda, our tour guide was friendly and a wealth of information about the property, the wildlife and their care — which was evident as we got up close and personal to the different herds. Amanda made sure we got great photo opportunities as we were able to feed a great variety of animals. The personal time with the lemurs and coatis was really fun as they climbed all over us looking for their next treat. Well worth the admission price! We will be back with friends and family. One of the best tours in Florida and privately owned and operated. Admission price helps to take care of the animals. Will come again in a heartbeat.
2. Circle B Bar Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 972 reviews
Reviewed By zippyincolumbus
We visited Circle B Bar Reserve on a Sunday right as the busy March tourist season is getting underway. We arrived at 9 am which was good timing- we got a great spot in lot by visitor center (which was closed- maybe because it was Sunday?). By 11:30 the parking lot and trails were very full. It was also a cold morning, so it was good timing for seeing gators, since they don’t like cold or wind much. It was getting warmer out by the time we arrived. We did miss the bobcats though- sounds like you may need to come early to see them. We had a great time and saw all kinds of wildlife- gators (close up and out in the water) bald eagles, osprey (one eating a fish in a tree), ducks, turtles, sand cranes, red shouldered hawks, and way more birds than I can name. The gators do sometimes lay by the path and cross or block the path, so you do want to be on your toes and don’t do anything dumb. Leave them alone and be kind and they will do the same. This was our first visit and we were lucky enough to run into a local who was more than willing to tell us and even show us most of the ropes. We did alligator alley and the marsh trail. Absolutely loved our time! If you love nature or are just looking for an interesting place to walk, don’t miss this FREE stop. We had two 40 somethings who walked 5 miles and two 60 somethings who walked 2.5 miles- we both saw a lot of wildlife!
3. Escapology
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 738 reviews
Escape Rooms are a fun, immersive, & entertaining indoor activity that’s great for families, friends, co-workers, couples, and corporate team building! Each of our escape rooms challenge your team to collaborate, communicate, & problem solve within a certain time limit, while still maintaining that sense of fun! Located in Downtown Lakeland next door to Gent’s Classic Cuts, guests will be challenged in this new attraction by working together to find clues, solve puzzles, and decode locks that will free them from the escape room within the hour. All of our Escape Games are Private and can book a room with a minimum of 2 guests up to 8 guests per escape game. We have four different themed games to choose from: Antidote, Arizona Shootout, Budapest Express, & Th3 Cod3! DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO ESCAPE? BOOK AN ESCAPE ROOM TODAY!
Reviewed By micheleparmer - Bartow, United States
This Escape Room was definitely the Antidote we were looking for from this crazy locked up world we are living in right now! Great Fun! Definitely takes your mind off of all the stress!
4. Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 498 reviews
Daily tours available highlighting this truly unique collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture at Florida Southern College.
Reviewed By Roamingbears - St. Petersburg, United States
Unexpectedly fabulous campus hidden in Central Florida with numerous gems of FLW architecture including one building built a few years ago using his plans. Great tour (we got multiple discounts by reserving tour space online and by being old people) conducted by a knowledgeable docent. Disappointed that the main chapel was closed for renovations to be completed at the end of June but it is open to the public without a tour so we can catch that next time in Lakeland. We chose the basic tour which covers lots of ground, literally, so be prepared!
5. Hollis Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 650 reviews
Botanical garden
Reviewed By mariaaba - Kenwood, United States
Park located adjacent to the lake, very pleasant. Koi pond, butterflies, soothing music..great place to stroll.
6. Silvermoon Drive-in
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
Reviewed By AnneS589 - Palm Harbor, United States
Felt like a kid again. Set up lawn chairs, had movie popcorn, and candy! Sounds was great even outside the car. Beautiful night with stars and train in the background. Movie and bathrooms and snack bar in fantastic shape for 70 years! Loved it. Even got a shirt for $10!
7. Lake Morton
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By SMGleb - Wilmington, United States
We stumbled across this lovely spot after leaving a bank drive through. and spotted the amazing. numbers of water birds. We made plans to come back about a week later and found that they have both white and black swans! In mid-March, the black swans have had their babies and the mommas and cygnets were safely ensconced in a fenced area where you could observe them. On the other side of the lake were several nests of white swans - appropriately roped off from the public getting too close. There are beautiful white geese, different types of ducks, and white pelicans. as well as many other types of birds. It is well worth a stop if you need to be in Lakeland for any reason, and is right off of South Florida Ave so very convenient to get to. There are machines placed around the lake where you can buy a handful of food to share with the birds - so consequently many of them will head towards you until they realize you aren't going to feed them! (They ask that you not bring bread to feed them.)
