Introducing: LALtoday Neighborhood Guides

In order to give you the inside scoop on all of LAL’s amazing communities, we’re asking you to tell us what neighborhoods to cover.

Lake Mirror at sunset in Lakeland, FL

Which neighborhoods would you like to see covered?

Photo by @_guaro_

With a city that ranked No. 2 on U.S. News’ list of the 25 Fastest-Growing Places in the U.S., it’s no surprise ~115,000 people call it home. With a population like that, where do all of these Lakelanders eat, drink, play, and live?

We are setting out to answer that with LALtoday’s Neighborhood Guides — an ongoing series that will take you on an exploration of the communities that make Lakeland feel like home. We’ll dive into history, things to do and discover, places to park, where to live, and more to showcase some of the best qualities our unique neighborhoods have to offer.

So, what do we define as a “neighborhood”?

While we love suburbs like Christina + Delphi Hills, these guides will focus on small communities within our city (think: Dixieland and Lake Morton). These small but mighty parts of Lakeland typically feature restaurants, parks, living spaces, festivals, events, and more, and span one to a handful of blocks.

How will we choose what neighborhoods to cover?

This is where you come in. We are asking you to rave about all of your favorite neighborhood communities in Swan City — whether it’s one you call home, always stop by with out-of-town visitors, or daydream about moving to.

Are you intrigued by Cleveland Heights’ history? Do you love being able to walk from a Downtown coffee shop to a clothing store in a matter of minutes? Ever wonder why Midtown gained popularity so quickly? We want to hear all about it + share the inside scoop with our readers.

Head to the button below to point us in the direction of some of the best neighborhoods around town — from areas with rich history and unique architecture to the best places to retire or purchase your first home.

TELL US WHERE TO EXPLORE

More from LALtoday
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.
Show off your Swan City smarts in a new game where you’ll guess the location of different swans in Lakeland. Be the quickest to guess correctly for a newsletter feature.
If you’re feeling eager to clean out those closets, garages, and storage sheds, consider donating your gently used items to these community organizations making a difference in our city.
This new shop offers popular book releases, antique home goods, and the cutest shop dog who’s ready to cuddle up and read with you.
Take a bite out of the local citrus industry’s history with a self-guided tour of labels found around Polk County.
This year’s March Madness NCAA Tournament will feature experienced players from Lakeland and Winter Haven. Here’s when to catch their games.
We’re climbing out of the dugout and onto the diamond as we uncover the history of this iconic sports complex.
There are now two places downtown to shop for East of These’s clothing, accessories, shoes, and gifts.
Is this your dream home? If so, make your offers before the upcoming deadline.
We’re exploring a few of our reader recommendations for beachy road trips around Lakeland, Florida.