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Travel and Outdoors

Weeping willow from Elvis' home in Graceland found in Hollis Garden in Lakeland, FL
Travel and Outdoors
Take the walk of fame through Lakeland’s celebrity trees
See willows, oaks, and more grown from those owned by big names right here in one of Lakeland’s public gardens.
May 26, 2023 12:00 PM
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
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-October 10 in West Central Florida. You don’t have to stay inside when rainy days come. Keep exploring Lakeland with these indoor activities.
May 25, 2023
 · 
Connor Keith
american airline planes parked at the airport with the sun setting behind
Sponsored
6 tips to make flying through MCO a breeze this summer
Don’t fly this summer without jotting down these tips.
Sponsored by
A concrete pier juts out into the ocean at sunset
Travel and Outdoors
Beachy road trip destinations within three hours of Lakeland, Florida
We’re exploring a few of our reader recommendations for beachy road trips around Lakeland, Florida.
May 16, 2023
 · 
Rilee Delgado
The jet engine of a plane on an airfield.
Travel and Outdoors
Plan your next trip with nonstop flights from Orlando International Airport
Pack your bags for a trip to one of these popular nonstop destinations. Plus, keep an eye out for new routes.
May 10, 2023
 · 
Anne Tate
"Red Bear" metal sculpture on Lemon Street in Downtown Lakeland
Tourism and Hospitality
Stroll through Lakeland’s newest sculptures
These 11 sculptures will be on display through the end of 2023.
May 10, 2023
 · 
Connor Keith
Feet out of car window driving on road trip
Tourism and Hospitality
Local trips and travel tips for venturing beyond Lakeland, FL
We’ve got everything from the road map to the shopping list — where will you go first?
May 8, 2023
 · 
Rilee Delgado
A Google Street View photo of the retro Southgate sign and stores at the Southgate Shopping Center
Travel and Outdoors
Quiz: How well do you know Lakeland’s streets?
Take our 5-minute quiz to test your local street smarts.
May 1, 2023
 · 
Ben McBee
277904830_1619543441735949_5838536427167278259_n
Culture
Where to see May flowers in Lakeland, FL
May 1, 2023
 · 
Katelyn Lewis
scene of Cask & Larder restaurant at Orlando International Airport
Sponsored
Flying out of MCO? Here’s your food + drink cheat sheet.
You’re going to want to bookmark this list.
Sponsored by
Tall trees sprout out of the dry Florida landscape.
Culture
Hiking guide for Lakeland, Florida
Check out these 13 hiking trails catered to all skill levels in and around Lakeland, Florida for outdoor adventures.
April 20, 2023
 · 
Trevor Peters
Atamasco lily
Travel and Outdoors
Become an expert on native flowers
Keep local love growing this spring with local plants.
April 18, 2023
 · 
Dayten Rose
Brown entrance sign surrounded by trees reading "Mammoth Cave National Park" in white letters.
Travel and Outdoors
How to plan an event in a national park
From getting a permit to catering, we’ve got the details on how to plan a wedding, family reunion, or special occasion in a national park.
March 31, 2023
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
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.
March 28, 2023
 · 
Connor Keith
Electric vehicle charging station in Lakeland, FL
Travel and Outdoors
Charge up at these electric vehicle charging stations
Never run out of juice again with these nine charging stations around Lakeland.
March 22, 2023
 · 
Connor Keith
An exterior view of the Lakeland Amtrak train station
Travel and Outdoors
Pro tips for riding an Amtrak train from Lakeland
Get our best tips to navigating the Amtrak station, finding routes, and buying tickets.
March 8, 2023
 · 
Connor Keith
A two way, narrow bike lane with bicycle symbols and arrows indicating directions.
Travel and Outdoors
How much of your day can you spend on a bike in Lakeland?
We take a look at our bicycling infrastructure and how we can make the area more bikeable.
February 27, 2023
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
tsa-precheck-custom-section.jpg
Travel and Outdoors
Enroll in TSA PreCheck ahead of spring travel
Apply online and visit a local enrollment center ahead of spring and summer travel.
February 23, 2023
 · 
Emily Shea
A heap of tomatoes and vegetation in a dark brown wooden bin outside.
Travel and Outdoors
The beginner’s guide to composting in Lakeland
We’re answering questions like “What is composting?” and “How do I compost in an apartment?”
February 17, 2023
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
Shops in downtown Mount Dora with plants and painted walls
Travel and Outdoors
The ultimate road trip to Mount Dora, FL
Hit the road and head to Mount Dora — we’re sharing all the details about what to do and eat, plus where to stay.
February 2, 2023
 · 
Emily Shea
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News
$635 million for I-4 lanes in Polk
From possible new interstate lanes to local road repavings, check out this quick breakdown of recent traffic news in Lakeland, FL.
February 1, 2023
 · 
Rilee Delgado
St. Augustine - Great Escapes 2
Great Escapes
Great Escapes: Our Guide to St. Augustine, FL
Get away to explore America’s oldest city and fall in love with its Spanish roots.
December 13, 2022
 · 
Victoria Bardega
The MCO glass exterior with a plane overhead
Travel and Outdoors
What to know about Orlando International Airport
To help make your entire process at MCO as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 140+ nonstop flights.
December 9, 2022
 · 
Rilee Delgado
A side-by-side image featuring a daytime skyline photo of downtown Lakeland and a nighttime skyline photo of downtown Tampa
Travel and Outdoors
A Lakelander’s guide to Tampa Bay
Here’s how we would plan a weekend getaway to TBAY.
December 8, 2022
 · 
Brad Haft
RV campsite with tropical trees, tiki hut, and outdoor living area
Travel and Outdoors
Unique camping destinations around Lakeland, FL
Celebrate National Camping Day with a stay at one of these camping sites off the beaten path.
November 14, 2022
 · 
Connor Keith
Exterior view of The Joinery decorated with fake skeletons climbing the walls
Culture
Our best Halloween stories
Get into the Halloween spirit with these frightful tales from around Central Florida.
October 27, 2022
 · 
Connor Keith
A view from the summit of Black Elk Peak in South Dakota
Great Escapes
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 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 Keith
Outdoor SunTrax automated car testing site in the Lakeland, FL innovation district
News
The autonomous vehicle test track in Polk County, FL
Phase Two of the SunTrax vehicle testing site is currently underway, with plans to open in 2023.
October 11, 2022
 · 
Staff
Northern lights in Iceland
Sponsored
10 dreamy winter destinations out of Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Sponsored by
A flaky pastry filled with bright red guava filling and a layer of cream cheese
Travel and Outdoors
Hit the Road: a foodie foray to Tampa Bay
The final installation of our Hit the Road series is a foodie foray to Tampa, FL.
August 29, 2022
 · 
Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto
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