Spotlight On: Winter Haven
Located in the heart of Central Florida, Winter Haven is a lively community with so much to see and do! Enjoy family fun at a playful resort, shop for one-of-a-kind antiques, relax with dinner and a show, and more!
FUN FOR THE FAMILY!
Planning a family vacation isn’t always easy, but in Winter Haven, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Begin your family-fun adventure with a stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel and Resort. Located right next to the LEGOLAND Theme Park, each colorful LEGO-themed room includes a separate kid’s sleeping area and a daily scavenger hunt with prizes. Amenities at the hotel include nightly kid’s entertainment, free creative workshops, a disco elevator, a miniature golf course with LEGO obstacles, and a heated resort-style pool. After a thrilling day at the LEGOLAND Theme Park, enjoy a three-course family style feast at the Shipwreck Restaurant or dine on traditional American food at the Skyline Bar, which includes a full bar for adults and a LEGO-themed play area for kids. Wind your evening down with s’mores on the hotel boardwalk, a gorgeous view of the sunset over Lake Eloise, or a pontoon boat ride.
legoland.com/florida/places-to-stay/legoland-hotel/
Take your family on an African safari without leaving Florida! The Safari Wilderness Ranch is a short drive from Winter Haven in Lakeland, and you can get up close and personal with some exotic wetland species. This farm is home to a herd of scimitar-horned oryx, zebras, fainting goats, ostriches, llamas, camels, and more. You don’t have to just admire these amazing animals from afar, you can pet, feed, and even ride them. Feed curious lemurs and budgies, or explore the safari park from the back of a camel. Guided bus, ATV, and kayak tours of the ranch are also available. With advanced reservations required, there are no crowds or lines to see these awesome animals. There are also no scripted presentations, and you get to enjoy a natural adventure while an experienced and knowledgeable guide leads you through a variety of animal habitats and answers all of your questions.
safariwilderness.com/
Interested in aviation? Visit the world’s largest collection of vintage aircraft at the Fantasy of Flight Museum. View carefully restored aircraft from the days of early flight, World War I, World War II, and beyond. Founder Kermit Weeks first opened the museum in 1995 as a way to share his love of aviation by opening his aircraft collection to the public. A tour guide takes you through the museum and teaches you about the history of these antique planes. Don’t forget to pick up some souvenirs of your visit at the gift shop, where you’ll find books authored by Weeks, collectibles, and other aviation related items.
fantasyofflight.com/collection/
DISCOVER AN HISTORIC LANDMARK, ART, & ARCHITECTURE!
Take a trip to the communities surrounding Winter Haven, where a romantic afternoon picnic in a tranquil garden, a colorful collection of art, and stunning architecture await you!
Relax in a place of historic beauty and serenity by visiting the Bok Tower in nearby Lake Wales. This 205-foot art deco and neo-Gothic Singing Tower carillon plays 30-minute concerts twice a day with its sixty bells. Visitors to this historic singing tower can also enjoy the beautiful Olmsted Garden and take a stroll along the serene reflection pool. Seasonal blooms, Giant Victoria Water Lilies, and a stunning Japanese stone peace lantern adorn the grounds of the garden. Plan a romantic picnic near the tower, or grab a bite to eat from the Blue Palmetto Café, which features delicious salads, soups, sandwiches, and wraps, as well as specialty desserts, beer, and wine. The Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden teaches conservation and includes a variety of kid’s activities including colorful art, cooling water features, vibrant plant life, a boardwalk, a small stage and music area, and a variety of things to climb on, build, dig, and create.
boktowergardens.org/
Explore the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College which features a tour of the Usonian Faculty House designed by the prestigious architect in 1939. The Education Center includes an exhibit of photographs, furniture, and drawings depicting Wright’s relationship with the college as well as visiting exhibits on loan from various other Wright locations. In 2012, the Florida Southern College Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark for being the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. Purchase a map to tour the grounds at your own pace, and be sure to take your picture with the life-size Frank Lloyd Wright statue. Complete your visit with a stop at the gift shop, where you can purchase art supplies, tote bags, wooden puzzles, home décor, and one-of-a-kind jewelry.
flsouthern.edu/frank-lloyd-wright/home.aspx
While you’re visiting Florida Southern College, take some time to visit the Polk Museum of Art. Named as one of the top 10 art museums in Florida, this museum features an extensive collection of contemporary, modern, Pre-Columbian, Asian, European, and American Decorative arts. Twenty exhibitions rotate through its nine galleries every year, and the museum is home to rare 19th-century Japanese woodblock prints and ceramic plates made by Pablo Picasso. In addition to the main galleries, the museum has an outdoor sculpture garden and free workshops and educational programs. The museum’s gift shop offers an array of art, books, ceramics, children’s items, jewelry, and more.
polkmuseumofart.org/
EXPLORE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, STREET ART, AND SHOPPING!
Get your blood pumping, see vibrant murals, and relax with some retail therapy when you visit downtown Winter Haven!
Enjoy the great outdoors and get in some exercise in Winter Haven’s chain of lakes. Paddle boarding is a major activity here, and there are instructors available to get you out on the water with beginner courses and advanced workouts. Choose from beginner tours, private paddle board parties, Paddlefit workouts, and Yoga on the Water. If paddle boarding isn’t your thing, take a scenic bicycle tour around Lake Mirror in the heart of the city.
paddleboardwinterhaven.com/
Take a relaxing stroll through Winter Haven to discover the colorful murals painted throughout the city. Popular murals include the Haven mural with vivid water lilies and butterflies, a mural of a woman with live ferns for hair, Insta-worthy angel wings, a giant alligator, and many more exhibits painted by local and international artists. In addition to the murals, Winter Haven also features several amazing sculptures, including abstract and nature-inspired pieces.
winterhavenchamber.com/immerse.html
Don’t miss out on the shopping opportunities located in and around Winter Haven. Shop for unique apparel and jewelry at one of the cities exclusive boutiques on Central Avenue. Treat yourself to a fresh bouquet of flowers at Lasater Flowers, which features beautiful made-to-order pastel arrangements of hydrangeas, roses, carnations, and more. Winter Haven is an antique-lover’s dream with its wide variety of antique shops filled with unique finds you won’t get anywhere else. Visit nearby Lakeland to go to Low Country Vintage & Antiques, which features antique furniture, paintings, lamps, china, jewelry, and more. This spacious shop is easy to navigate and the helpful staff is available to answer any questions you may have about the pieces.
lasaterflowers.net/
facebook.com/lowcountryvintage/
ENJOY DINNER AND A SHOW!
Fine dining, craft beer, and lively entertainment fill your evenings in downtown Winter Haven!
Bring your appetite to downtown Winter Haven, featuring some of the most delicious cuisine and craft beers in Central Florida. Times Square, in the heart of historic downtown Winter Haven, features a trio of options under the same roof. The popular Arabella’s Ristorante offers fine Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, crafted from the freshest ingredients. Delight your taste buds with the Ravioli All Astice, featuring ravioli stuffed with lobster meat and roasted garlic in a light tomato cream sauce, or the Filetta al Porto, which is an Angus filet mignon topped with gorgonzola cheese in a port wine glaze. After dinner, visit the lounge at the Avenue Bar for a specialty cocktail or glass of wine. For a more casual lunch or dinner, head to Bistro Pizza, where you will find brick oven pizza made with fresh ingredients and sauces. Try the pizza of the day, or create your own from a list of toppings. Bistro Pizza also serves traditional Italian favorites like Calzone, Lasagna, and Spaghetti and Meatballs as well as a selection of fresh salads.
arabellas.us/
For the best local craft brews, visit Grove Roots Brewing Company, which features a rotating selection of seasonal and special-release beers made exclusively from local ingredients. The Tasting Room provides live music every weekend, and the Biergarten has picnic-table seating, lawn chairs, a dedicated bocce court, and other lawn games. A rotating schedule of local food trucks offer almost any cuisine you can think of, from barbeque and seafood, to traditional Persian, Latin, and Asian dishes. The brewery has a family-friendly atmosphere, and you can even bring your dog!
groveroots.com/
Winter Haven has a vibrant performing arts community, so you can enjoy a show almost every night of the year. Visit the historic Ritz Theatre, which was built in 1925 and features live music, comedy acts, and showings of some of the best films in history. For even more live entertainment, head to the Theatre Winter Haven, where a local theatre troupe performs such hits as Footloose, Hairspray, and Mary Poppins Jr. The theatre also offers live music and tribute concerts. For dance performances, the Florida Dance Theatre in Lakeland offers live shows from professional Elite Academy dancers and students of the theatre’s own training academy. These exciting shows bring the passion, athleticism, and classic modernity of dancing to life.
ritzwinterhaven.com/
theatrewinterhaven.com/
floridadancetheatre.org/
