Staying local for a Florida Spring Break? Looking for things to do during Spring Break? We guarantee you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly fun on our list of over 100 events & activities in Lakeland, Polk County & even a few day trip ideas! Most events and activities listed below are FREE – those that have a cost are under $10/person OR would depend on items purchased.
Spring Break in Lakeland, Florida and Polk County, Florida is March 9 – 17, 2024.
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Spring Break Camps
✦ If you’re looking for camps for Spring Break, activities to keep your kids busy, or you need childcare while you’re working, we’ve got a list of Spring Break Camps in Lakeland + Polk County including The Florida Children’s Museum, Polk Museum of Art, Bricks 4 Kidz, Snapology, What’s Cooking Lakeland, and more.
Seasonal Activities during Spring Break
✦ Go Strawberry Picking near you in Plant City or another farm in Central Florida.
✦ Spring Training is a fun activity for spring break – Detroit Tigers Spring Training is right here in Lakeland. If you Feel like making a day of it? There are 14 other Major League teams that have Spring Training in Florida, all less than 3 hours from Lakeland, with some just 45 minutes away.
Free Things to Do for Spring Break
✦ Explore Bonnet Springs Park! Perfect for a picnic, throwing a football, a walk through the butterfly house, plus they have a full week of activities planned for Spring Break.
✦ Explore the outdoors and find an outdoor hiking trail near you in Polk County including local favorites spots like Circle B, Holloway Park, Colt Creek State Park, and Lakeland Highlands Scrub.
✦ Go on a bike ride.
✦ Walk around Lake Hollingsworth. Not sure if your kids can handle 3 miles? We’ve got a full list of paved walking paths and scenic trails that are a great place to get some exercise, go for a run, rollerblade, or just take a leisurely stroll to enjoy being outdoors.
✦ Let your kids get their energy out at a local playground! The Rotary Playground at Hernando’s Landing on Lake Parker has a huge pirate ship as the main play structure! Other themed playgrounds include John McGee Park – Car Themed Playground, Common Ground (Fire Truck / Fire Station) and Woodlake Park (Train). See our master list of playgrounds in the Lakeland area for more details.
✦ Play a game of football, soccer or throw a Frisbee in an open field – we’ve got a list of places where you can play outdoors.
✦ Looking for a place to have a picnic? The weather is beautiful this time of year, we can help with a list of 10 Places to Enjoy a Picnic in Lakeland.
✦ Go on a Mural Scavenger Hunt – we’ve got a list and map of 19+ amazing murals in Lakeland. Whether you are looking for a selfie wall, an Instagram background, or just enjoy seeing these works of public art, the entire family will have fun trying to pick your favorite mural in Lakeland.
✦ Drive east or west and spend the day at the beach!
✦ Look for alligators, eagles, and other amazing wildlife at Circle B Bar Reserve – named one of the “Top 51 Places in the US to See Wildlife” by USA Today! Entry is FREE.
✦ Stroll through Hollis Garden and learn about the variety of flowers and plants there. Opens at 10am, closed Mondays.
✦ Dig for sharks teeth and fossils at the Mulberry Phosphate Museum. Make sure you bring a small shovel or other item to dig through the rock pile, and something to sit on – you won’t want to kneel.
✦ The Winter Haven Splash Pad and Lakeland Splash Pad are open year round.
✦ Both you and your dog can enjoy fresh air at one of 7 local dog parks.
✦ Try out geocaching an outdoor treasure hunt where you use GPS coordinates to find hidden containers.
✦ Find a Little Free Library around town where you can take a book and/or leave a book – for FREE! Clean out your bookshelves and leave a few at each location, and hopefully you’ll find something to take with you. Use the map at littlefreelibrary.org to find one near you.
✦ Visit the the Lakeland Farmer’s Market in Downtown Lakeland and pick out fresh fruit, bread, and shop with other local vendors. {Free to browse}
✦ Explore the Polk Museum of Art. Admission is free, reservations are required right now. Open Tuesday – Saturday.
✦ Learn more about local history at the Polk County History Center.
Things to Do Outdoors in Lakeland + Polk County
In addition to all the free outdoor activities listed above, we have the ULTIMATE Guide to Outdoor Fun that is your best resource for finding outdoor activities to do with your family! Use the link above for a full list, here are some of the highlights:
✦ Visit Bok Tower – one of the most beautiful places in Polk County. Kids can explore Hammock Hollow Children’s Garden, then take a stroll to see the variety of flowers and vegetation and be sure to get a photo in front of the Singing Tower.
✦ The water might still be chilly but you can rent a canoe or go on a kayak tour on a lake, river, or head to the cost.
✦ Play mini golf! Family Fun Center in Lakeland has an 18 hole outdoor miniature golf course with a lake and waterfall. Golfers of ALL ages will enjoy competing on each of the par 2 holes along the way.
✦ Go on a Drive-Thru Safari at Safari Wilderness in Lakeland.
✦ Go to a drive-in movie. Silvermoon Drive-In is a Lakeland favorite.
✦ Just a short drive from Lakeland, you can see Old Florida on an airboat tour.
✦ Head to River Ranch for the Saturday Night Rodeo, pony rides, petting zoo, archery range, rock climbing, zip lines, mini golf, horseback riding and MORE!
✦ Have a day of fun at LEGOLAND Florida Resort – ride the roller coasters and then visit the water park – a great place to play since it is always warm during Florida spring break!
✦ Check out Peppa Pig Theme Park – perfect for the little ones
✦ Put on your flippy floppys to visit Gandy Pool and go swimming! Check the website for upcoming open swim hours and prices.
✦ “Rowdy” Gaines Olympic Pool in Winter Haven is heated and open year round – check the website for hours and prices.
Indoor Fun for Spring Break
We have the ULTIMATE Guide to Indoor Fun in Lakeland that is your best resource for finding indoor activities to to do with your family! Use the link above for a full list, here are some of the highlights:
✦ Head to Family Fun Center for Miniature Golf, Funtasia soft play, Redemption Games, Arcade Games, Vault Assault Lazer Maze, and much more! Family friendly and fun for all ages. Don’t miss their Lazer Tag arena!
✦ Find an indoor playground where your kids can run, climb, slide, and burn off some of that endless energy!
✦ Bounce the day away at a Ninja-Warrior style kids indoor trampoline park in Lakeland.
✦ If you want active indoor fun, check out a local roller skating rink or indoor ice skating rink.
✦ Whether you prefer retro arcade games, pinball machines, ticket redemption, or love playing games just for fun, these family entertainment center’s and arcades in Lakeland and Winter Haven provide fun for the whole family.
✦ Looking for something the whole family can do? Kids, teenagers, and adults will enjoy a heart-thumping game of lazer tag as you run, dart, and try to find the best hiding place while you defend your team’s base.
✦ If your family loves a challenge, head to one of Lakeland’s indoor Escape Rooms .
✦ Test your aim with a trip to the indoor archery range.
✦ We have a variety of movie theater experiences here in Lakeland and Polk County including IMAX, 3-D, D-Box motion seats, comfy reclining chairs, food and drinks during your movie, and more. Check Groupon for a deal at CMX.
✦ Bowling is a favorite in my house! Bowl a few games at these 5 local bowling alleys. Check Groupon for a great deal at AMF Bowling.
✦ Paint your own pottery, assemble a mosaic, or make jewelry. These arts and crafts studios allow you to create your own masterpiece.
✦ Head to Smith’s American Tavern {formerly The Back Nine} to eat and play on the simulators {soccer, hockey, football, baskeball, zombie dodgeball and more}. Reserved by the hour, and up to 8 people can play each simulator. Plus kids eat free on Monday, trivia on Thursday, and more! Check the website for a full schedule and to reserve a time for family fun.
✦ These unique indoor “eatertainment” venues are so much fun, especially for teens and older kids! Ax throwing, golf simulators – you can play and eat, all at the same venue.
Go on an Animal Adventure
✦ Take a day trip to interact with animals.
✦ If you love wild animals and want an adventure, find a zoo near you, a crocodile encounter, or take a drive thru safari.
✦ If you want to pet animals and learn more about a local farm, check out these petting zoos and farms in Central Florida.
✦ Prefer to be indoors? These local aquariums are a great place to see wildlife and sea creatures while you stay cool.
Sweet Treats & Good Eats
✦ Pick a place to enjoy a sweet treat or frozen treat from our list of The Best Ice Cream, Cookies, Yogurt & Cupcakes in Lakeland
✦ Go out to eat as a family – check out our list of places where KIDS EAT FREE!
✦ Head to Charlie’s Donuts, Hole in One Donuts, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, or another favorite place for donuts near you for a sugar filled spring break breakfast treat!
✦ Craving strawberry goodness? Head to Fancy Farms or Parkesdale Farm Market for strawberry shortcake, strawberry milkshakes, and an assortment of other strawberry creations.
Day Trips in Central Florida
Looking for a full day of fun? We are lucky enough to live in the middle of one of the top vacation destinations in the country, and you can experience all the same spring break fun as the millions of people traveling to Florida this week, and yet sleep in your own bed! We’ve put together just a few places worthy of a day trip.
✦ Head to Busch Gardens or Sea World
✦ Go to the beach
✦ Head to I-Drive 360 for the Wheel at ICON Park, Madam Tussaud’s and SEALIFE Aquarium.
✦ Have an animal lover in the family? In Tampa you’ll find Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, Old Mickey’s Farm, Giraffe Ranch, and more. Head towards Orlando to check out the Central Florida Zoo, or Gatorland.
✦ Feel the need for speed at I-Drive NASCAR Indoor Kart Racing
✦ Play all day at Fun Spot Orlando
✦ Prefer animals of the underwater variety? We’re surrounded by incredible aquariums – The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Mote Marine in Sarasota.
✦ Parents of little pirates rejoice – you can set sail on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise out of Clearwater Beach.
✦ Sunken Gardens has a Groupon deal for just $8 per person.
✦ Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has thousands of interactive space exhibits and a full-sized shuttle on display, Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Staycation Deals
If you’re staying local but looking for a deal on Tampa & Orlando Attractions, check out these discount passes.
✦ GO ORLANDO CARD – Get Unlimited admission to Central Florida attractions for one low price with the Go Orlando Card. Save up to 55% off vs. purchasing tickets individually. Pay nothing at the gate. Use your pass to get into as many included attractions as you want for 2 OR 3 calendar days over a two-week period. (Does not have to be 2 or 3 days in a row!!) Attractions on the list stretch from Clearwater to Cocoa Beach.
Attractions include – LEGOLAND Florida, Kennedy Space Center, ZooTampa, WonderWorks, SEALIFE Aquarium Orlando, Madam Tussaud’s, Titanic The Exhibition, Florida Aquarium, Boggy Creek Airboat Tours, and more. {check website for the most up to date list}
✦ ORLANDO EXPLORER PASS – Visit 2 or 3 top Orlando attractions with the Orlando Explorer Pass and save up to 35% off admission versus purchasing individual attraction tickets at the gate. Your pass is valid for 30 days from your first attraction visit. Choose from over 15 options including:
- The Wheel at ICON Orlando
- SEA LIFE Aquarium Orlando
- Madame Tussauds Orlando
- Gatorland: The Alligator Capital of the World
- Boggy Creek Airboat Tour
- WonderWorks All-Access Pass
- Fun Spot America Theme Park – 4 Ride Sampler
- Congo River Adventure Golf
- And more!
Events Calendar: Things to Do During Spring Break
FEATURED SPRING BREAK EVENTS:
SPRING BREAK EVENT SCHEDULE:
Spring Activities Guide
Check out our full Spring Activities Guide for more things to do in Lakeland, Polk County, and Central Florida from January – May. BBQ Festivals, Valentine’s Day, 5k races, seasonal events, annual favorites, SUN ‘n FUN, Easter Egg Hunts, Mother’s Day, and more.