Florida is home to so many amazing cities and Lakeland is no exception! There is something for everyone to enjoy in Lakeland, from natural wonders to man-made beauty.

We could list a million things we love about Lakeland, but we managed to narrow it down to six of our favorites: 

The Lakes, Of Course!

It may be an obvious one, but we have to start with the city’s namesake… the lakes! There’s nothing quite like spending a day out on the water and Lakeland has many lovely lakes to choose from.

You can find hiking trails, dog parks, bike paths and so much more. Some of Lakeland’s lakes that are well worth a visit include Lake Mirror, Lake Hollingsworth and Lake Parker.

The Story of Lakeland’s Swans

One of our favorite fun facts about Lakeland is the origin of the swans that populate the city’s lakes. After Lakeland’s swans were lost to illness and predators in 1954, a local resident went to an unlikely source for help.

Mrs. Pickhardt was a Lakeland resident staying in England in 1957. She asked the Queen of England to help bring swans back to Lakeland.

Queen Elizabeth donated a pair of swans to Lakeland where they restarted the local swan population. Their offspring are still in Lakeland today!

Stunning Architecture from Frank Lloyd Wright

Lakeland is home to the largest on-site collection of architecture from one of the most celebrated architects in American history, Frank Lloyd Wright. The U.S. Department of the Interior even appointed the Florida Southern College Historic District as a National Historic Monument in 2012.

Florida Southern College in Lakeland has architecture designed by Wright. And the college’s Sharp Family Tourism and Education Center also has photos, drawings and furniture from Wright.

There are walking tours, self-guided tours and in-depth tours available at Florida Southern College if you want to explore Wright’s work for yourself.

Fun Activities for All Ages

No matter your age, Lakeland has something special to offer you. There are so many fun things to do here that the hardest part is deciding what to choose!

If you love nature, Hollis Garden is home to more than 10,000 gorgeous flowers and plants. If you love animals, Safari Wilderness Ranch offers safari tours through hundreds of acres where you can see animals in their natural habitats.

Lakeland has wonderful museums like the Polk Museum of Art. There are so many delicious restaurants and plenty of creative food trucks to satisfy your hunger. And there are often fun local events going on each weekend, so keep an eye out for things you might be interested in!

Phenomenal Antiques District

Downtown Lakeland is home to an antiques district that is second to none! There are antiques stores, dealers and galleries to entice a serious collector or a casual visitor.

Even if you don’t want to shop, it is well worth spending a day in downtown Lakeland enjoying the sites. You never know what treasures you may see!

Lakeland is Now Home to Suncoast Credit Union

If it isn’t obvious, we really love Lakeland! Our members love Lakeland as well, which is why we’ve gotten so many requests to open a branch there. Happily, we did just that!

Our Lakeland Service Center is located in Lakeland Park Center, near US 98 North and I-4. It’s our first location in Polk County and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome new members into the Suncoast family!

Visit our Lakeland location at 919 Lakeland Park Center Drive, Unit 360. We look forward to helping you save more for life!