Get ready, Bostonians — the Lakelanders are coming. | Photo by @oschapov
If you’re planning to be one of the first to travel from LAL to Boston this fall, allow us to prepare you for takeoff with this guide chock full of must-do’s, must-eat’s, and must-stay’s.
✈️ Fast facts
Flying into: Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in Manchester, NH — approximately 1 hour from Boston. Flight time: 2 hours 57 minutes Est. cost: $39+ Est. population of Boston: 650,706 Avg. high in October: 64º
🗺️ Things to do
City Editor Amelia here. While I proudly call Lakeland home now, I grew up just about 90 minutes north of Boston across the border in New Hampshire, and let me tell you, there are loadsof things to see + explore in this neck of the woods.
If you never miss a history question during trivia at Swan Brewing, you’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot when visiting Boston. Maximize your time by walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile path that connects 16 different historical sites like Paul Revere’s House and the Bunker Hill Monument. For a truly unique sightseeing experience, don’t miss out on a Boston Duck Tour.
If you’re planning to travel in the fall, I highly recommend taking a drive up and across the border to the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains to get prime viewing of the foliage. No matter how many times I’ve driven it, it takes my breath away every single time.
Computer Skills Senior Scholars Class | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 1-3 p.m. | Rath Senior ConNEXTions Center | $60 | Older adults will enhance their computer knowledge through hands-on instruction.
An Evening with Erin A. Craig | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 5-7 p.m. | Books-A-Million | Free+ | Meet this New York Times bestselling author and get a signed copy of her new book, “The Thirteenth Child.”
Salsa y Bachata Class Plus Dancing at the Park | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | $10 | Mix up your dancing skills with a lesson on bachata, then head to Munn Park for an outdoor social.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Dragonflies and Damselflies | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 10-11 a.m. | Mackay Gardens and Lakeside Preserve, Lake Alfred | Free | Get resources to build a pond to attract these insects and help your garden’s ecosystem.
Clay Class: Hoot-iful Owl Coil Pots | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Picassoz Art Cafe | $40 | This rescheduled pottery class is sure to be a hoot.
Disney Villains Trivia | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ | Free entry | Be prepared for a wicked night of trivia — will you + your team be the fairest of them all?
Friday, Oct. 4
Vintage Market Days of Metro Tampa | Friday, Oct. 4-Sunday, Oct. 6 | Times vary | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City | $5+ | Head to the Grimes Building and Astin Pavilion for this upscale, vintage-inspired fall market.
Swan City Improv Comedy Show | Friday, Oct. 4 | Times vary | Rec Room | $10+ | Laugh along with this improvised comedy team’s family friendly and 21+ shows.
Saturday, Oct. 5
Harvest Days | Saturday, Oct. 5-Sunday, Oct. 6 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Keel Farms, Plant City | Free entry | Celebrate fall with hay rides, a corn maze, camel rides, a pumpkin patch, and seasonal drinks — parking is $10.
Disney on Ice Presents “Frozen” & “Encanto” | Saturday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | RP Funding Center | $25+ | “Let it go” as skating performers bring two of Disney’s biggest hits to life on the ice.
Waring Road will close tomorrow evening, Oct. 3, from Drane Field Road to Currymoore Drive as workers begin construction for the area’s new roundabout. Detours will be in place for both directions — plan your route accordingly.
Biz
Did you know that Lakeland is home to a 26,000-sqft medical marijuana testing facility? Modern Canna, located off of Old Road 37, is one of just nine state-licensed testing facilities + is responsible for ensuring that cannabis for medical use is free of things like pesticides and fungicides. (The Ledger)
Number
54,964. That’s how many square feet a new Publix Super Market location on NW Jersey Road in Winter Haven is planned to be. If approved, the store would be around 10,000 sqft larger than its location in Auburndale, just a half-mile away on Havendale Boulevard. (The Ledger)
Holiday
Sundown tonight marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Temple Emanuel will host services + celebrations today through Friday, Oct. 4. Shana Tova. (That’s Hebrew for “have a good year.”)
Edu
PCPS will host college application workshops each Saturday in October to assist students and their families. Attend the Lakeland workshop this Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Regal Lakeland, down the road from Lakeland High School.
Tech
Two new hurricane hunter aircraft are set to join NOAA’s Lakeland fleet by 2030. The C-130J Hercules aircraft will replace the existing WP-3D Orion models that have been used since the 1970s, bringing enhanced features to help teams investigate hurricanes. (Fox 13 News)
Eat
Save the date for a special pop-up at Catapult on Friday, Oct. 18. From 5 to 9 p.m., Pinoy Cravings and MK Boba Tea will be dishing out traditional and fusion fare to celebrate Filipino American Heritage Month.
Seasonal
There’s still time to rock around the Christmas tree — or rather, the Christmas float. The deadline for float applications for the Lakeland Christmas Parade has been extended to Wednesday, Oct. 30. Need inspiration for a landmark-themed creation? We’ve got you covered.
Answered
We can berry-ly get anything past you. Earlier this week, we tested your history knowledge by asking whether it was true or false that strawberry production in the Kathleen area inspired an award-winning novel. The correct answer was true, guessed by 93% of respondents. Learn more Kathleen fast facts.
Health
Stop missing out on the conversations that matter — try these stealthy, barely noticeable next-gen hearing aids. No wonder 400,000+ customers love them.*
Wellness
Upgrade your morning cup of joe when you switch to VitaCup’s Genius Coffee. It’s infused with vitamins and minerals that support all-day energy + focus. Try it in coffee pods.*
Find Mister Fish near the Lakeland Public Library on Lake Morton. | Photo by LALtoday
It’s o-fish-ally National Seafood Month, meaning it’s the perfect time to swim on over to some place new for a fresh, fried, or frozen catch. Seas the day at one of these Swan City seafood spots.
🦀 Crab Daddy’s Surf & Turf Lakelanders Daryl + Bridget King recently opened a brick-and-mortar serving up seafood fare after operating as a food truck since 2019.
🦀 Zukku Sushi This stall in The Joinery has transformed from ATO to Zukku, offering up the same sushi burritos + bowls you know and love, with the addition of sushi rolls.
🦀 Tropic Star Seafood This wholesaler recently opened a retail market offering 100+ seafood products, from fresh to frozen.
Pantene’s Keratin Leave-In Conditioner — it can repair split ends + protect against future damage, helping you achieve strong, silky-smooth hair. Psst, it’s less than $20.
If you’re looking for ways to help those in need following Hurricane Helene, Fox 13 News shared that Manatee County is seeking 600+ total volunteers today and Thursday to assist in recovery efforts. Those interested can sign up to conduct community needs surveys — training + lunch will be provided.
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