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📣 All the single Lakelanders
Maybe you’ll meet your soul mate on the streets of Swan City. | Photo by @brayleekayphotography
We’ve created the ultimate guide to meeting someone new in Lakeland, along with pickup lines you can use, free of charge.
Become a regular
Find a favorite local haunt and, well, haunt it. Befriend a barista at a coffee shop, talk to the guests at your third place, or share a happy hour beverage with the cutie next to you at the bar.
Pickup line: “I’m shooting my shot — want to hang out again?”
It worked for follower @natalie_maye_, who said, “I met my boyfriend at Woodlake Park. We were both there playing pickleball and our first date was at Bonnet Springs.”
Pickup line: “I’m ready to lift the weight of this relationship — just let me stretch first.”
We love our readers — this Valentine’s Day and always.
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Your contribution will help sustain thoughtful reporting, curated guides, and creative storytelling. Plus, it keeps our content free for all and never behind a paywall.
Brush up on your downward dog, because Yoga Pointe will open its Highland City studio in mid-March. The class schedule is out, including everything from morning hot yoga express to evening stretching — Yoga Pointe also teased location-exclusive classes.
Community
I want it that way. That’s the Lakeland Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department’s stance on the rusty look of the Lake Crago Outdoor Recreation Complex. Director Bob Donahay said it’s an intentional design, and there’s nothing to worry about on your next visit. (The Ledger)
Try This
If our tips above don’t work, find some furry friendship with SPCA Florida’s Feline Field Trips. This new initiative allows you to take a cat from the shelter for a few hours, offering them enrichment + new experiences. Doggie Dates are also available.
Environment
Tilapia in Circle B Bar Reserve’s marshes were unfortunately no match for Lakeland’s winter temperatures. Freezes at the beginning of February caused thousands of fish to die. The county will allow nature to run its course. In the meantime, find another hiking trail to avoid the fish kill. (The Ledger)
Seasonal
Fish weren’t the only ones affected — strawberry growers are still trying to bounce back after losing crops. There’s a silver lining, though: Blueberry harvests should still be strong when they come into season in April. (WFLA)
Festival
Who else goes to the Florida Strawberry Festival just to eat? The first new extreme food has been announced, and it’s a doozy.
Did you know you could be saving hundreds (and building wealth) with these easy senior discounts? From savings with Amazon Prime to discounted rates with AT&T, we found 20 hacks all older adults should know about.*
Finance
Credit card debt hit record highs in 2025. The answer? This game-changing card with 0% intro APR on balance transfers through 2027 — that’s up to 21 months interest-free. Learn more and apply.*
Fact or Fiction
Leading audiologists are calling this best-selling hearing device “nothing short of a miracle.” Fact. It’s powered by cutting-edge German engineering, making conversation effortless even in noisy places — no wonder 540,000+ customers love it. Learn about a 45-day no-risk trial.*
Wellness
Stop guessing what your routine is doing to your body and know.Hume Body Pod shows you fat and muscle tracking in under 90 seconds, so your effort has direction — not just discipline. Shop while the site’s 35% off sale lasts, and get an extra 20% off with code GOAL20.*
The Buy
Womanizer’s pleasure-packed Valentine’s Day collection. Deepen intimacy through a shared experience with a sex toy that blends sleek design and clinically backed performance for a feel-good upgrade you’ll both be excited to unwrap.
Who’s excited to see our games return? (My hand is raised, too.) It sounds like LALtoday readers are big fans of the crossword, but it’s the Wordflower that keeps my vocabulary sharp. Game on.