Tourism and Hospitality

A 70-ft mural with a colorful, technological design
Travel and Outdoors
Barbecue, beer, and brushstrokes: Explore Polk with Visit Central Florida’s passes
Be a tourist in your own hometown with three passes that give you prizes in return for check-ins.
February 24, 2026 02:17 PM
 · 
Connor Jacobson
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Culture
Holiday toy drives in Lakeland, FL
‘Tis the season of giving. Check out this list of local holiday toy drives you can donate to or apply for assistance from.
November 1, 2022
 · 
Rilee Delgado
An exterior view of the Florida Children's Museum
Culture
Florida Children’s Museum Grand Opening Weekend
Get ready for the new museum to open by reading up on its features, resources, and membership details.
October 31, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Gates closed outside Unfiltered Lakeland coffeeshop
Business
New storefronts coming to Unfiltered Lakeland
Check out these local small businesses opening storefronts at the new coffee shop and artisan marketplace.
October 27, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A view from the summit of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota
Travel and Outdoors
Great Escapes: Our guide to Rapid City, SD
Planning a getaway? Check out Rapid City, South Dakota, a destination for hikers, historians, and everything in between.
October 26, 2022
 · 
Rilee Delgado
A cat snuggled on the rug at Purrology Cat Cafe
Culture
Purrology Cat Cafe in Lakeland, FL
Grab a coffee and meet adoptable cats at Lakeland’s first cat cafe.
October 21, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A furry yellow mascot in a basketball jersey cheers with fans in the stands at a Lakeland Magic game.
Sports
Take the LALtoday sports survey
We’re interested in knowing if how you feel about local sports. This survey will help us decide how and what we cover.
October 21, 2022
 · 
Staff
A woman on a butterfly bike
Events
Bonnet Springs Park’s grand opening attractions
With the long-awaited park’s grand opening on the calendar, we’re looking at a few of the things we’re most excited about.
October 20, 2022
 · 
Rilee Delgado
A view of a lake and mountains in the Lake District in England
Travel and Outdoors
Other places named Lakeland around the world
Venture beyond Swan City to visit one of these other places named Lakeland all over the globe.
October 17, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Ducks and birds on grass in foreground with Lake Mirror and Lakeland skyline
Real Estate
Fall predictions for Lakeland real estate
Real estate experts explain what Lakeland home buyers should know and predict whether we’ll see prices continue to rise in 2022.
October 13, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
Exterior shot of J Burns' pizza shop
Food
Lakeland, FL restaurants from A to Z
Eat your way through the alphabet with this list of our readers’ favorite local restaurants starting with each letter.
October 11, 2022
 · 
Connor Jacobson
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More from LALtoday
A swan glides near lily pads on a lake in Lakeland, Florida, with city buildings and trees visible in the background.
Culture
What we “unfortunately do love” in Lakeland
From guilty pleasures to unexpected favorites, the “unfortunately do love” social media trend is taking over the internet — and we want your input.
September 18, 2025
 · 
Maria Adnado
Two pumpkin spice lattes in mugs on table with a pumpkin muffin
Food
Where to find all things pumpkin spice in Lakeland
From coffee to baked goods to cocktails, there’s a pumpkin spice or fall-flavored treat for everyone in Lakeland to enjoy this fall.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
An aerial satellite image above Lakeland. Green land and lakes surround the city, which is labeled with a blue arrow. There are blue lines heading in each direction — north, east, south, and west_ stretching out beyond the edges of the map.
Travel and Outdoors
Which cities share Lakeland’s latitude and longitude?
Directly north, east, south, and west of LAL, cities across the world await.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Patrick Sidwell
An aerial view of the Eaglebrooke Golf Course in Lakeland, FL. There is a green in the foreground and sand traps, water hazards, and trees in the background.
Experience
Tee it up at these Lakeland golf courses
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or the next Tiger Woods, these 13 golf courses in Lakeland are sure to make for a good round.
September 16, 2025
 · 
Cat George
Four runners sprint quickly on a track as a spectator watches from behind a fence. The runners are wearing athletic gear and competitor number bibs.
City
3 interesting facts from the Polk County Community Health Assessment
Polk Vision published the assessment in June 2025 after 18 months of data collection.
September 15, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A bright, sunny photo of the Subs 'n Such restaurant sign, a local business with an old-fashioned feel.
Food
Dine on history at Lakeland’s oldest restaurants
Take a bite of Lakeland’s past at these restaurants that have stood the test of time.
September 15, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A hand holding a container of ice cream in front of a Publix Super Markets sign
Tourism and Hospitality
Celebrate your birthday with Lakeland deals and freebies
It’s your party and you’ll enjoy these deals if you want to.
September 12, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
A photo of an Enhydritherium terraenovae fossil on display, a tall skeleton that looks like an otter.
Travel and Outdoors
Meet 5 prehistoric creatures who once roamed Polk County
Millions of years ago, marine animals, mammals, and reptiles called Florida home. Learn about five whose fossils have been found in the Bone Valley area of Polk County.
September 8, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson
LAL-downtown-kentucky-ave-lakeland-walfaro30-SEPT2022.jpeg
Weather
Fall weather forecast for Lakeland
Prepare for fall weather in Lakeland, Florida with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
September 8, 2025
 · 
Staff
A common area with high ceilings, wall-sized windows, and a floating art installation with airy shapes overhead.
New to Lakeland
How to find a new doctor in Lakeland
This city boasts top-ranked medical providers and specialty services. Our comprehensive guide will help you find the care you need — whether you’re new to town or just looking around.
September 4, 2025
 · 
Connor Jacobson