From tree lined roads to untouched lakes, few areas are blessed with as much natural beauty as Central Florida. It’s the land of the first cowboys, miles of citrus groves as far as the eye can see, and crystal blue lakes. Smack dab between Orlando and Tampa, Central Florida’s Polk County offers visitors a way to be near everything – or, if you choose, near nothing at all. This is where the real Florida magic happens
Known as Florida’s inland coast, the slogan for Winter Haven could be “water, water everywhere,” thanks to its fabled Chain of Lakes, a series of 16 lakes connected by navigable canals. But The Chain is just a taste of what you can find here, since there are 50 lakes within or bordering the city limits. With all this water, fun on the water – sailboats, pontoon boats and paddle boards – are seen everywhere. Water even defines the theme park and sport that first brought Hollywood to Central Florida, waterskiing. Today, the thriving city offers everything a family on vacation could desire, from theme parks for the kids to a vibrant downtown for the adults – and a healthy helping of Americana for everyone.
This vacation paradise got its start in 1936, when – long before Disney – Cypress Gardens opened as a botanical garden. But the theme park rose to worldwide fame thanks to Lake Eloise. Legend has it that, during World War II, soldiers stationed nearby came there clamoring for a water ski show. Not wanting to disappoint them, owner Dick Pope’s own children and friends performed. Little did they realize that the show would develop into a mainstay of the theme park – and put both Florida and water skiing on the world entertainment map.
Pope, a master showman, seized on the opportunity. Soon, Winter Haven was known as the “water sports center of the United States,” thanks to newsreels and photo shoots. On the water, the shows grew to include human pyramids, clowns, titanic ski jumps and skiers taking to the skies via paragliders. The spectacle soon caught the eye of Hollywood, captured in the hit 1953 Esther Williams ode to the sport, “Easy to Love,” featuring many Cypress Gardens stunts and performers. As the years passed, television often used the gardens as their backdrop, and world famous celebrities took to the water during the massive water ski show spectacles.
As the sport grew, so did the legend of Cypress Gardens which, in turn, drew more elite athletes as well as state, national and world championships events. Records were broken on Polk County waters thanks to the steady stream of ambitious skiers drawn to the sport’s biggest stage. Willa McGuire Cook co-created the swivel ski and rocketed to fame as the prima ballerina of the sport. Cypress Gardens skiers continued to set world records and world firsts in multiple disciplines, including the first three-, four- and five-tier human pyramids. Hundreds of firsts and records were documented.
Today, Cypress Gardens and the water ski shows are part of the LEGOLAND Florida Resort, a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows, attractions, restaurants and shops. The largest LEGOLAND park in the world, highlights include The LEGO Movie World, featuring a flight aboard Emmet’s Triple Decker Couch on the Masters of Flight ride or the frenzied world of Unikitty’s Disco Drop; the LEGOLAND Florida Water Park, designed to mix kids two favorite things – LEGOs and water – into an unforgettable experience of slides, tubes and splash pads.
Right next door, visitors can spend time with everyone’s favorite pink preschooler, Peppa Pig. At the world’s first stand-alone theme park dedicated to the cartoon United Kingdom sensation, every detail has the smallest family members in mind.
Aimed at pre-school children and perhaps their slightly older siblings, the rides, live shows, character interactions and themed play areas are all reasonably downscaled. For example, the roller coaster is considered introductory, with a 36-inch minimum height requirement for riders coupled with the ride itself only being 14 feet high.
To make your visit complete, Pirate Island Hotel, an on-site accommodation that invites brick fans to vacation like a pirate, caters to both sets of park goers. Having opened in spring 2020, LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s Pirate Island Hotel is the first LEGO Pirate themed hotel in North America, just steps from the entrance to either the theme park.
If you’d rather get out on the water in a non-pirate boat, you can explore the many lakes of the Chain on a Living Water Boat Cruises. One of the best ways to see the natural flora and fauna that call these waters home, Living Water offers 10 different types of boat tours including a Sunset Cruise, a Day Tour with Lunch, or a 2 Hour Tour. Of course, the best part of these cruises is the insight of the captains, many of whom have spent their lives on these waters. Since the tours depart from various locations in Winter Haven, it is best to book ahead.
Since you are surrounded by water, why not take in a sunset while dining at Harborside, a restaurant so close to the water you can park your boat. The menu is packed with favorites, from grouper to catfish, lobster tail to ribs, as well as pasta dishes and an extensive kids menu. Thanks to ample outside dining options, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy a peaceful meal while looking out over the Chain for a signature Florida sunset.
Winter Haven may be known as the Chain of Lakes City, but that doesn’t mean all the action is on the water. For decades, Andy’s Drive-In has been a serving visitors a taste of true Americana. From the straight-from-the-50s neon sign out front to the high-backed booths inside, you might think you are on the set of “American Graffiti” or “Happy Days.” And you aren’t far off – Andy’s has been a Winter Haven favorite for nearly 70s years. For a trip back to the days before calories were king, this is the place. Crinkle cut fries and onion rings, burgers and hot dogs are all on the menu, as are old-time American standards such as liver and onions and open-faced turkey sandwiches.
But make sure you leave room for dessert. Ice cream – scooped, not soft serve – is the treat here. To really kick-up the nostalgia, for a bit extra you can turn that chocolate shake into a malted. The menu is so diverse, even the pickiest eaters will find something.
Andy’s Igloo, connected to the main building, is a walk-up window to America’s culinary past. Here you can order your food to-go and do what the local’s do – drive to one of Winter Haven’s numerous lakes for a waterside picnic. Andy’s is located at 703 3rd St. SW in Winter Haven.
After a cruise or a day at the park, downtown Winter Haven beckons. A foodie’s dream come true, stop into Adler’s Burgers, whose original Davenport location in the northeast corner of the county was recently listed in Money magazine – thanks to all the positive Yelp Reviews – as one of the best burger locations in the nation. Family owned-and-operated, the Bourbon BBQ and Classic burgers are favorites, but make sure to leave some room to try the fried Mac ‘N’ Cheese bites.
If you feel like an adult beverage, stop by the children-and-dog-friendly Grove Roots Brewing Co., one of the best breweries in Central Florida. While the kids choose from a variety of sodas, juices and sparkling waters, the adults can pick from various citrus-inspired ales, witbeirs and stouts. Food trucks are often parked nearby, giving everyone a variety of foods to nosh on, and the establishment offers a wide variety of yard games and board games.
If it is bread you seek, Honeycomb Bread Bakers should be your destination. Producing artisan bread and pastry – and even milling their own organic flour – they feature everything from sourdough breads to brioche donuts and their amazingly popular sticky buns. Keep an eye on their website for their weekly bread schedule or to order in advance.
With all this food to pick from, you might need a post-meal jolt. Also downtown is Haven Coffee Roasters, recently awarded the prestigious Golden Bean Award for the best roast on the actual planet. A wide variety of hot and cold coffees are available, and you can even buy coffee grounds – from their own Haven blend to a Brazil Salmo dark roast to their own Grape Soda grounds – to take home. Locals try their new coffees sans sweetener or cream, since the flavors tend to rise up on your palette after a sip passes your tongue.
From theme parks to downtown parks – and plenty of waterfront – a Central Florida vacation offers the best of Florida while leaving the rest of Florida behind. Come to where the real Florida magic happens. For more Central Florida vacation ideas, go to www.VisitCentralFlorida.org.