A wheely great way to get outdoors 🚲

🚲 It’s a wheely great time to go biking

Signage marking the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway and bike lane

See these bicycling swan signs? You’re on the right path. | Photo by LALtoday

Sometimes the stationary bike just doesn’t cut it. When you want to get out on the open road, grab your bicycle and hit the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway and Greenway Connector. This 26-mile trail offers a path from north to south Lakeland, wrapping around nine lakes in total.

Start your journey at Lake Parker, passing under palm trees on a wide path on the west side of the lake. Two pathway options lead you towards downtown Lakeland: Go west to ride by Lake Wire, or head east to ride around Lake Bonny and the lights of Lake Mirror.

Lake-Mirror---BeFly-Bike-Tours---biking-Lake-Mirror-2.jpg — Lake Mirror is one of the many lakes residents + visitors can take a ride around.

Downtown West paths take you to Lake Beulah and Lake Hunter — just keep an eye out for alligators. Pedaling east, you can ride around Lake Morton and wave to the (friendlier) swans.

Head south through Florida Southern College’s campus to pedal around Lake Hollingsworth and take in the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. The last stop on the path is Lake John, which borders the Cleveland Heights Golf Course.

Signage pointing to the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway path and Lake Wire — Follow the signs to see if you can hit all nine lakes in one trip.

We’d be very impressed if you completed the whole trail in one go. For the rest of us, there are plenty of bike parking locations along the route. Check this map to chart your course, including lakeside stops or snack breaks.

To get involved with local bicycling or meet other cyclists, check out Bicycling in Lakeland, a volunteer group focused on safe biking and group rides. The group is meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at Swan Brewing to discuss its future plans and hear community input.

Are you a regular on the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway? Share your best tips and we may include them in a future newsletter. For even more miles under your belt, check out these eight Polk County bike trails.

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, Jan. 26

T-R-I-V-I-A | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | The Joinery, 640 E. Main St., Lakeland | Free | Show what you know and enjoy an extra long happy hour.
Circus Mutt w/ Smokin’ Chanchos | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 7-10 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Live music duo Circus Mutt will provide the soundtrack to your night with fresh food from Smokin’ Chanchos.

Friday, Jan. 27

Public Skate 2023 | Friday, Jan. 27 | Times vary | Lakeland Ice Arena, 3395 W. Memorial Blvd., Lakeland | $15 | Get ready to lace up your skates at Lakeland’s only indoor ice arena — times vary by availability.
Lakeland Pigfest | Friday, Jan. 27 | 5-10 p.m. | SUN ‘n FUN, 4075 James C. Ray Dr., Lakeland | $5 | Taste barbecue from 150+ competing teams — exchange your cash at the entrance for Pig Bucks to try dishes.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Coffee with the Artist: Chryssie Tavrides | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | Free | Attend this coffee reception to meet artist Chryssie Tavrides and discuss her exhibition “An Artist’s Journey: The Lifeworks of Chryssie Bilder Tavrides.”
Goat Yoga on the Farm! | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 1-2 p.m. | The Cloven Hoof Farm, 6170 Robbins Rd., Lakeland | $5-$20 | We’re not kidding around — try this beginner-friendly, 45-minute goat yoga class.

Sunday, Jan. 29

The Wiley Collective w/ Our Noire Kitchen | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 2-5 p.m. | Swan Brewing, 115 W. Pine St., Lakeland | Free | Kick off your week with music from a group of local artists and chef-inspired bites from Our Noire Kitchen.

Monday, Jan. 30

After School Art | Monday, Jan. 30 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland | $5 | Parents and children can work together on an art activity — space is limited.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Molly’s Musicians Showcase | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 9 p.m. | Molly McHugh’s Irish Pub, 111 S. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland | Free | Support local musicians at this free open mic night.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

67º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain

Development

Meet Fox Branch Ranch, a subdivision of 641 single-family homes planned for the Kathleen area. Current plans call for two to three homes per acre in the 401-acre neighborhood. Because this Community Development District was previously approved by county commissioners in 2006, developers will need lower-level approvals for plans. 🏗 (The Ledger)

Community

Talbot House Ministries is opening a new 72-unit affordable housing apartment complex within the next month. Plateau Village will offer 36 units for residents experiencing homelessness. Click here for more information on Talbot House’s affordable housing programs. (Fox 13 News)

Edu

Is college on the horizon for your student? Applications are now open for scholarships from the Polk Education Foundation. Review the list of scholarships available countywide and for each Polk County Public School, and apply by Tuesday, Feb. 7. 🎓

Featured

Lakeland’s own Bonnet Springs Park was featured on Fox 13 News with Charley Belcher. Watch for a tour from park CEO Josh Henderson, and visit today until dusk to experience it for yourself. Pro tip: Check out the eight things we wouldn’t miss on your next visit. (Fox 13 News)

Feel Good

After experiencing homelessness for over 30 years, 62-year-old Lloyd Gainey received a fully furnished camper of his own from local nonprofit Worth and Purpose. Lloyd’s camper is set up at Gospel Village, where it will remain while a permanent home is built for him. 🏠 (WFTS)

Learn

Learn how to grow your business at the Leads Generation Workshop at Catapult on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Register now to hear from speakers from Brandtastic and Maximize Digital Media about search engine optimization (SEO) and Google Ads. This event is open to the public, not just Catapult members.

Cause

Keep your toes toasty in a pair of socks from Lakeland Linder International Airport. Sales of the socks go towards two $2,500 Aerospace Administration Scholarships for students at LAL’s Central Florida Aerospace Academy. Pick up your pair from the Airport Administration Office (3900 Don Emerson Dr., Ste. 210). 🧦

Plan Ahead

We’re going on the record to say that you don’t want to miss the Lakeland Record Fair. Jesse Carl Vinyl will set up at Rec Room (202 N. Massachusetts Ave.) on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. selling vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, and art with a live DJ on-site. 💿

Try This

Need more local book clubs to join? Sign up for Get Lit with Orange Blossom Poems to read “East Coast Girls” by Kerry Kletter. Club members will discuss the book on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Pressed (213 E. Bay St.), complete a poetry prompt, and receive a bookmark.

Eat

Good soup. Seasonal soups are now available at Black & Brew’s Southside location in addition to its downtown cafe. Pro tip: Try a bowl of Sweet Potato Chili before a new seasonal soup is released. 🥣
Looking to create new eating habits this year? Learn how at the A New Year and A New You: Wine Dinner on the Lighter Side demonstration-style cooking class on Saturday, Jan. 28. Publix Aprons Chefs will make healthy dishes like Apple Carpaccio Salad + Fish en Papillote. Bonus: Wine included. 🐟 *

Biz

Need a change of scenery in 2023? Catapult has multiple workspace membership options. Perks include a well-designed workspace, invites to collaborative community events, access to conference rooms, unlimited coffee + snacks, and more.*

Shop

You know we love Publix GreenWise Market, and one of the best perks they offer (besides delicious organic food) is the Rewards program — check out all the benefits shoppers can enjoy on their website.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

It’s time to pig out 🐷

The Lakeland Pigfest is back for its 26th year

You can exchange cash for Pig Bucks to try the dishes. | Photo by @pigfestlakeland

Clear your calendar for the 26th annual Lakeland Pigfest on Friday, Jan. 27 from 5-10 p.m. and again on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus (4075 James C. Ray Dr.).

Parking is free, and admission is $5 for those 13 and older. Taste barbecue from 150+ competing teams and catch live music from The Free Whiskey Band, Almost There, Matt Walker Trio, and The Rusty Wright Band.

The first iteration of the festival took off on March 21, 1997. Over the past 26 years, this hometown event has raised nearly $500,000 for nearby charities and was dubbed “one of the best Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) BBQ events in the country.”

Attending this weekend? Be sure to tag us in your photos so we can see what fun you’re having.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Connor.

Editor’s pick: Want to feel the breeze in your hair on the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway, but don’t have a bike? Check out Bents Cyclery (1058 S. Florida Ave.) to buy a new set of wheels or LeRoy’s Bikeworks (6935 S. Carter Rd., Ste. 2) to rent a bike on a beautiful day.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? See the winners of the 4th Annual Lakeland Entrepreneur Awards, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Rilee Delgado, Connor Keith, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Kailey Burke | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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