Lakeland, located about 45 minutes east of Tampa and an hour southwest of Orlando, is a Central Florida destination offering family-friendly fun, stunning architecture, tourable farms and botanical gardens, and plenty of hiking and outdoor adventures in its parks and preserves.
18 Best Things to Do in Lakeland, FL (2026) - Authentic Florida
From botanical gardens and wildlife preserves to locally churned ice cream and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, Lakeland is the unsuspecting Florida town that has a little something for everyone.
Lakeland, city, Polk county, central Florida, U.S., about 30 miles (50 km) northeast of Tampa and some 10 miles (16 km) west of Winter Haven. It was founded in 1883 by Kentucky businessman Abraham Munn, who purchased a large plot of land near the newly built railroad.
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community, offering day, evening, weekend and online classes.
We read about Lakeland Antique Mall via Instagram when planning our recent trip to Orlando. We had an "off" day from theme parks, so we decided to give it a visit.
Get the latest breaking news, sports, entertainment and obituaries in Lakeland, FL from Lakeland Ledger.
Explore the top things to do in Lakeland, from beautiful parks to unique dining experiences and stunning architecture.
Things to see when you visit Lakeland, FL including Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, Safari Wilderness and Detroit Tigers Spring Training.