The Ultimate Guide to Lakeland + Polk County

FUN THINGS TO DO IN LAKELAND + POLK COUNTY

The Ultimate Guide to Things to Do with Kids in Lakeland + Polk County – Over 100 ideas for things to do with kids. Indoor fun, outdoor fun, free fun, seasonal activities, classes and lessons, youth sports, bike, hike.

Guide to Outdoor Fun in Lakeland + Polk County – Whether you prefer hiking, water sports, biking, mini-golf, animal adventures, playgrounds, pools and splash pads, or just somewhere to get outside, this list has outdoor activities for all ages.

Guide to Indoor Fun in Lakeland + Polk County – Indoor family fun and indoor playgrounds are in high-demand year-round in Florida. When the temperatures are high, we love being in the air conditioning for indoor activities.

Free Things to Do in Lakeland + Polk County – Lakeland and Polk County are full of FREE events and family activities. Making memories and finding family fun doesn’t have to be expensive.

Lakeland + Polk County Event Calendar – Check our Family-Friendly Event Calendar for a full list of upcoming events in Lakeland and Polk County.

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Birthday Party + Event Planning Guide – Plan a huge birthday bash or find something fun to do as a family in our Birthday Party and Special Event Guide. Details on Birthday Party Venues, Banquet Halls, Park + Playground Rentals, Restaurants with Private Rooms, Birthday Freebies, and more.

Kids Classes + Lessons Guide – Classes, clubs and extracurricular activities you can sign your kids up for after school and on weekends, including dance, art, drama, and more.

Swim Lessons Guide – Find places to take private lessons, group lessons, adult swim lessons, and ISR in our swim lessons guide.

Youth Sports Guide – From baseball to wrestling, along with basketball, cheerleading, football, gymnastics, soccer, and everything else in between, we’ve put together a list of all the organizations offering kids sports programs in Lakeland.

Sensory Friendly + Special Needs Activities Guide – Find organizations in our community providing activities in a sensory friendly and/or special needs friendly environment.

Preschooler + Toddler Activity Guide – We’ve compiled a list of activities and classes in the Lakeland area specially designed for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

SEASONAL GUIDES

Spring Activities Guide – Since we don’t really have a true winter, “Spring” in Florida runs from January – May. Our list of things to do in Spring includes Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, and a calendar full of spring events.

Summer Fun Guide – Once the kids out of school for summer break, we can help you find things to do to keep them entertained. Summer Camps, reading programs, free bowling and skating, free summer movies. and more.

Summer Camp Guide – Use our HUGE list of 100+ Summer Camps to find the best places for kids to spend their summer having fun. Sort by city, camp theme, age group, and more.

Fall + Halloween Activities – Beginning in mid-September, the pumpkins arrive at the pumpkin patch, the corn mazes open, and the kids get excited just thinking about Halloween candy. We can help you find things to do to celebrate Fall and Halloween.

November + Thanksgiving – The month of November gets its own feature on our website. It includes restaurants open on Thanksgiving, things to do in November, volunteer opportunities, and things that open early like Christmas markets.

Christmas + Holiday Guide – We’ve got the ultimate guide to family-friendly holiday fun in Lakeland, Polk County, and Central Florida. Our communities are bursting with holiday cheer this time of year, and we can help you and your family make memories as you experience the sights and sounds of the Christmas and holiday season.

EDUCATION + CHILDCARE

Education Guide – Our master list of all education topics including public schools, private schools, homeschooling, tutoring + test prep, school calendars, colleges, and more.

Public School Guide – Trying to make sense of magnet schools, choice schools, charter schools, academies, and other public school options in Polk County? Our Public School Choice Guide can help break it down for you.

Private School Guide – Learn more about private schools in Lakeland + Polk County.

Homeschool Guide – Interested in homeschooling but not sure where to start? Or looking to connect with local homeschool groups? Our Homeschool Guide can help you find extracurricular activities and other homeschool resources.

Childcare Guide for Lakeland + Polk County – Find preschools, daycare, VPK centers, after school care, school holiday camps, and more.

Guide to After School Care – Find after-school programs where your kids will be engaged, have fun, and receive homework help during the afternoon hours. All of the after-school programs on our list provide school pick up.

Back to School Guide – When it is time to go back to school in July and August, our Back to School Guide can help you find tax free shopping deals, the upcoming school calendar, back to school bash events, and more.

EAT + DRINK

Food + Restaurant Guide – Find places to eat in Lakeland + Polk County including ice cream shops, coffee shops, donut shops, food banks, outdoor dining, farmers markets, and more.

Kids Eat Free Guide – Find out where you can get a free kids meal any night of the week.

U-Pick Guides – U-Pick Strawberries (January – March), U-Pick Blueberry Farms (March – May), U-Pick Florida Peaches (April – May)

COMMUNITY

Community Resources Guide for Lakeland + Polk County – Find places to volunteer and donate, community assistance, learn more about foster caregiving, and more.

HEALTH + FITNESS

Health + Wellness Guide – Pediatricians, doctors, urgent care centers, hospitals, mental health, and other about health care options in our community.

Dental Care Guide – Take care of your teeth and find a family dentist, pediatric dentist, or orthodontist.

Fitness + Nutrition Guide – Find gyms, personal trainers, free exercise options, nutritionists, workout videos for kids, and places to exercise outdoors in Lakeland and Polk County.

Pregnancy + New Mom Guide – Find OB/GYN doctors, midwives, hospitals, high-risk providers, and other resources for pregnancy and childbirth, plus information for brand new moms in Lakeland and Polk County.

PARENTING + LIFE

Motherhood + Parenting Guide – Articles on motherhood, social groups, 1-on-1 time with kids, and other thoughts on being a mom.

Kids Haircuts – Find the best places for baby’s first haircut or barber shops that are great with young kids.

Travel + Day Trips Guide – Tips travel with kids, day trip ideas, places to go in Central Florida, and more.

Pets + Fur Babies – Find everything you need to take care of your animals including vets, groomers, dog boarding, adoption centers, pet stores, dog parks, and more.

Shopping Guide – Children’s clothes, bookstores, shoes, dancewear, bike shops, flea markets, consignment shops, and other places to shop for specific items in Lakeland + Polk County.

Professional Services – Our list of professional services in Lakeland and Polk County includes Family Photographers, Professional Home Organizers, Spas and Salons, and many more categories for you to explore.

Social Groups – Find a local MOPS Group, Bible Study, Playgroup, or other places to socialize with other parents.