Parks and Recreation

A rotating gif of people running at the Rotary Twilight 5k in Lakeland, Florida.
Travel and Outdoors
Run for a cause at the Rotary Twilight 5k
Sponsored by
A path through Hollis Garden with trees on either side
Culture
Explore the City of Lakeland’s Urban Forest
Branch out to learn about Lakeland’s flowering and fruit trees with a GPS-enabled tour of the 56,000 trees in the city’s Urban Forest.
April 24, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Cleveland Heights Boulevard
Real Estate
Neighborhood Guide: Cleveland Heights
From a flurry of new shops to Lakeland’s public golf course, there are plenty of spots to explore in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood.
January 10, 2025
 · 
Staff
A girl sits outside of a bookstore at a patio table while reading a book.
Culture
Best places to read a book around Lakeland
If reading is your activity of choice, try one of these Swan City spots the next time you crack open your favorite novel.
January 7, 2025
 · 
Amelia Grooms
A light-up Santa and his reindeer overlook downtown Lakeland
City
What to know in Lakeland during the 2024 holiday season
From city office closures to the final days for enjoying holiday attractions, here’s what you can expect during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
December 19, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
marble arcade
City
What’s that Lakeland landmark named after?
We’ve all wondered about the names behind some of our local parks and places of interest. Pull back the curtain on the history behind their monikers.
November 1, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Glow in the dark axes and targets at Ax Caliber
Culture
Six ways to spend an hour in Lakeland
Get active, learn something, or treat yourself — here’s how you can make the most of just one hour around Lakeland.
October 29, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A large tree covered in jack-o-lanterns and lit with red lighting.
Experience
Fall fun in and around Lakeland
Check out fall and Halloween-themed events happening in and around Lakeland in this seasonal guide.
September 20, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An aerial shot of Southeastern University's football field and stands. SEU is painted in the center of the field, and the Fire logo is in the endzones.
Sports
Go, fight, win: A rookie’s guide to supporting Lakeland sports teams
Supporting a student athlete in your family or just taking yourself out to the ballgame? We’ll tell you what to wear and who to cheer for.
August 21, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An aerial 3D map view of downtown Lakeland and Lake Mirror
City
6 maps of Lakeland you didn’t know existed
Find your way around town and learn something new with the City of Lakeland’s handy GeoHub.
August 15, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Lightning in dark cloudy sky over trees and streetlights on a rainy day in Lakeland, FL
Travel and Outdoors
The best way to spend a rainy day in Lakeland
Florida Thunderstorm Season runs from May 25 to Oct. 10 in West Central Florida. You don’t have to stay inside when rainy days come — keep exploring Lakeland with these indoor activities.
August 5, 2024
 · 
Connor Jacobson
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More from LALtoday
An ornate, carved stone exterior entrance to Lakeland City Hall seen from underneath a tree branch
City
Here’s how to join Lakeland boards and committees
Create the city you want to live in by applying to serve in these volunteer roles.
January 7, 2026
 · 
Kaylee Holland
A nighttime view of a street in San Juan, Puerto Rico, featuring dozens of colorful umbrellas suspended between historic buildings.
2026 travel trends in Lakeland
Airbnb released its travel trends predictions for the year — here’s how you can take part, starting in Lakeland.
January 6, 2026
 · 
Brianna Williams
Screen Shot 2020-12-23 at 11.21.13 AM
History
The history of snow in the Sunshine State
Has anyone seen Frosty? He was around here somewhere...
January 5, 2026
 · 
Staff
Women work out in an outdoors yoga class.
New to Lakeland
Get your sweat on at these gyms around Lakeland
From lifting weights and personal training to dance fitness and spin classes — we’ve rounded up 25+ gyms and fitness offerings around Swan City.
January 5, 2026
 · 
Staff
A graphic including reader comments and donations to 6AM City newsletters
Business
What our readers love about LALtoday
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
January 2, 2026
 · 
Staff
A large yellow alligator playground with white traffic cones for teeth.
Culture
A guide to Lakeland’s best giftable experiences
Some gifts don’t fit under the tree — make a lasting impact by giving your loved ones a giftable experience instead of a physical present.
December 18, 2025
 · 
Rilee Delgado
A collage features a dumpling, a flower-lined boardwalk, an orange cocktail, and architectural building models.
Culture
2025 in review: Our favorite things we tried in Lakeland
What were the top things you ate, drank, and did in 2025? We’re sharing editor and reader picks for you to try in the new year.
December 17, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An old fashioned airplane in bright blue sits outside the airport.
City
Look back on LALtoday’s top stories of 2025
From airport news to real estate, these are the top stories our readers loved most this year.
December 15, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Ducks and birds on grass in foreground with Lake Mirror and Lakeland skyline
New to Lakeland
What’s new and coming soon to Lakeland
As Lakeland continues to grow, we’re keeping an eye on upcoming developments and recently opened businesses.
December 11, 2025
 · 
Staff
A contemporary five-story mixed-use building with ground-floor retail space on a downtown street corner, amidst other mid-rise buildings.
Real Estate
Live steps from your favorite spots in this downtown Lakeland condo
Your favorite hangouts can be just a hop, skip, and a jump away from this rare condo listing in downtown Lakeland.
December 11, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson