By Emily McCain
LAKELAND, Fla. – In just under an hour’s drive from Tampa, Lakeland is a city worth a daytime visit.
The city is known for Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, an affinity for swans and an abundance of lakes. The swans in Lakeland serve as unofficial mascots. You can find them as statues, in the city logo and at almost any of the cities 38 lakes.
What most people don’t know is that the swans are local royalty.
In the 50s, the local swan population slowly disappeared. When two former residents heard about the swans disappearing, they appealed to the Queen of England. Queen Elizabeth agreed to donate two swans from the royal flock living on the river Thames. She only asked that the city pays for crating and shipping costs. $300 later, two mute, white swans were on their way to Lakeland.
Today, decedents of those swans can be found all around town. One place you can visit to see them is Lake Mirror, right in the heart of downtown. Lake Mirror is a popular place to hold events, weddings and just enjoy a nice walk. The lake is surrounded by the historic Francis Langford Promenade. The promenade is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The cobblestone promenade is named after Francis Langford, an actress, and singer from Lakeland. The walk along the promenade is about a mile. It includes the community theater, a children’s park, a garden bistro, and a lakefront botanical garden.
If you really want to interact with the swans, make the short walk from Lake Mirror to Lake Morton. This lake is where most of the swans can be found, and where most people go to feed them. Make sure you bring some change with you because around the lake you’ll come across a few swan feed dispensers. The city installed the dispensers to help manage what the swans are fed. Many people like to bring white bread to feed the swans, but it can be harmful to the birds in large amounts. If you don’t have change for the dispensers you can bring things like lettuce, spinach, and whole oats.
If you’re coming to town on a Saturday, start your day at the curbside farmers market. It stretches through downtown right alongside local restaurants and coffee shops. Mitchell’s Coffee House is just a step away from the market.
They’ve been serving gourmet coffee and pastries in town for two decades. You can even bring in your own mug and they’ll hold on to it for your next visit. If you’re looking for a more eclectic atmosphere then stop by 801 E Main.
Named for its physical address, this open-air café was once a gas station. The marketplace features three distinct brands inside. You can start by visiting The Poor Porker food truck, where you can get coffee and beignets. You can sit outside to eat, or head inside toward the Bar Calexico. The bar serves local beer and specialty drinks and acts as a live music venue. While inside you can stop in at Bearcat and Big Six trading post.
For more drinks, you can head down to Cob and Pen. The gastropub’s name comes from the local royals. A male swan is called a cub, and a female is called a pen. The pub offers 16 rotating drafts and over two hundred bottled beers.
The pub offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Housed in a historic Tudor home, it offers high ceilings, bay windows and a large outdoor space for lawn games.
Before leaving, make sure you stop by Florida Southern College. The college is the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. You can tour it yourself or sign up for one of the daily tours offered by the college.
This was created by Emily McCain for Jeanette Abrahamsen’s Advanced Reporting class in 2018.
