Discover Lakeland

Explore Lakeland through a range of themes: Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, art and aviation, local history, and trails and gardens. As you plan your trip, you can organize these highlights around your interests. The places and activities offer different experiences—from guided tours and museum collections to trails through parkland.

Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College

The Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center serves as an interpretive center introducing the Frank Lloyd Wright Campus at Florida Southern College. The college’s Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. It is also home to the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in one place. Guided tours of Wright’s work depart daily from the Geico Gift Shop on campus; reservations are strongly recommended. If you’d like to learn about the architecture in the context of the campus, the tour offers a practical introduction to this aspect of Lakeland.

Art, aviation, and local history

The Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art’s permanent collection includes contemporary and modern art, as well as pre-Columbian, Asian, European, and American decorative arts. The museum is wheelchair accessible, and admission is free every day. On the first Saturday of each month, it offers workshops for families at 10:30 a.m.

At the Florida Air Museum, exhibits range from unique aircraft designs and classics to ultralights, vintage cars, and historic military aircraft. A rotating selection of aviation artifacts is on display year-round. Educational programs also run year-round and are open to all ages; they include holiday camps, tours, workshops, and lectures. Alongside the collections, the program offers a range of learning formats.

At Bonnet Springs Park, the Watson Clinic Gallery traces the development of Lakeland and the surrounding areas through Central Florida’s railroad and citrus heritage. Its focus thus extends from local history to regional themes. The Downtown Public Art Trail uses a mobile Story Map to explore downtown between Lake Mirror and Lake Beaulah.

Parks, gardens, and trails

Admission to the 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park is free. Visitors can walk, run, ride a bike, or get around in a wheelchair. At Lake Parker Park, four distinct, color-coded trail systems use markers to help visitors find their way. The Water Path is 0.84 miles long and passes through a hardwood swamp forest. There is also a nine-hole disc golf course at the park’s northern edge. The Water Path’s length and landscape make it a specific option if you’re considering a park trail instead of a round of disc golf.

Hollis Garden is a 1.2-acre formal botanical display garden in historic Lake Mirror Park. The garden is closed on Mondays. Its hours vary seasonally, so it’s best to check them before your visit. Lakeland also offers cycling opportunities on the Lake-to-Lake Bikeway System.

Florida Children’s Museum

The Florida Children’s Museum has six exhibits across 47,800 square feet. The Harrell Family Charities Front Yard area features Blinky, a fenced, 100-foot-long climbable alligator. The museum also has a sensory-friendly area with wheelchair access. These different features offer practical points to consider when weighing museum visits and outdoor activities for your stay in Lakeland.

Explore more destinations: Haines City, Cypress Gardens, Fort Meade, Bartow, Mulberry, Polk City, Lake Wales, Winter Haven

For the broader travel overview: Polk.