Hometown Favorites | Eat, Drink, & Explore | Winter Haven, Lakeland, Auburndale

Polk County has been home to both BJ and I for several generations, and we raised our kids here. While the area has grown so much and is no longer the orange groves and cow pastures we remember, there is still a lot to love about this area.

Since this area is a crossroads for many, whether living or traveling Florida, we put together a list of some of our local favorites–small businesses we know and love and want to support, since many have become friends over the years! You’ll want to pin/save/bookmark this list to find when you travel through.

They are organized by town to make it easier to plan your visit, with links and other notes to keep in mind. There are so many other places to see while you are here, so let this be a starting point for you, and welcome to our Hometown!

WINTER HAVEN

Downtown Winter Haven hosts markets in the park several times a month, so that can definitely add some more adventures to your day in town! There is also a multi-use path through town and a playground not too far for the kids to play.

Richard’s Fine Coffee is our favorite coffee shop, and someplace we stop in several times a week while home. They have breakfast and lunch, as well as sweet treats to enjoy all day, either indoors or outdoors on the patio. They are in the same building as the Public Library and Friends of the Library Used Book Store, if you are looking for a book! The new proprietors, Koreen and Jimmy, have brought in some new ideas while still keeping the things that we long-term customers hold dear.

Gourmet Goodies is our favorite local bakery run by our friends Carissa and Bob, with all of his delicious ideas on the menu. whether it is for a quick sweet treat, a date night for wine and nibbles, or cakes for one of life’s celebratory events. They have tables outside, a couple inside, and are right across from the park if you’d rather stroll or enjoy the fountain while you nibble.

Tacos My Friend This taco truck has been one of our favorites for street tacos for years and is quite popular with the locals for delicious food and reasonable prices. It is located in the pawn shop parking lot, but has covered picnic tables to sit and enjoy.

Grove Roots Brewing Company This was the first brewery in the downtown area, and was opened by a community family we’ve known for years. Their location gave new life to an old citrus packing house, hence their name. They have beers and wines, but also offer non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, with a schedule of revolving food trucks and live music. There’s indoor and outdoor areas, as well as event space, and it is family and well-behaved pet friendly. It can get crowded on popular nights, so toss those lawn chairs in the back of the truck, just in case!

Andy’s Igloo If you are looking for a burger, sandwich, homestyle meal, or just ice cream, this is the place to stop! My kids are 5th generation to eat here, and Mama always recognizes us and stops to chat when we come in. While ice cream is open 7 days a week, dining room and take out is not available on Sundays. This place is cash or check–no cards, so be sure to stop at the ATM (they have one in the restaurant, but it does charge a fee).

Museum of Winter Haven History This FREE museum is open October – May, usually on Saturdays, so be sure to check hours before planning your stop. It showcases the area’s rich history of water skiing, citrus and so much more. You can walk around or let one of the volunteers share stories and guide you through the local history. If you are driving a large/tow vehicle, we do suggest street parking! You’ll know you are in the right place when you find the big pink building on Lake Howard.

AUBURNDALE

Downtown Auburndale is a great little town with a great history, and walking around the downtown area to see the historic buildings will give you a lot to explore and learn about, and many places to stop and eat or drink (I have a few of our favorites linked below). Next to the railroad tracks in downtown is a great park with a playground to play at, where the kids and grown ups love to watch the trains and wave at conductors, and there is a small lake a short walk away. The hiking areas are on the outskirts of town, between Auburndale and Lakeland, but I included them in this section.

HAVEN ROASTERS This coffee shop is a second location that just opened (the first one is in downtown Winter Haven, not far from Grove Roots, but I wanted to mention the Auburndale location, in case that is the town you explore!) They are not only a coffee shop with drinks and snacks, but they are a roaster with both whole bean and ground coffee options made right on site. They are right across from the park, so a great stop before or after a stroll or playing.

SWEET MAGNOLIAS TEA BISTRO is a great little tea room open midday for tea and scones or delicious meals served on beautiful China (some of which were my grandmothers that we donated when we shifted into full time RV life). Not only is it in an historic area, but the building is historic and has such a great charm that the proprietor (and a friend from high school!), Tabitha, has kept alive. With indoor and outdoor seating options, you can relax and enjoy a bite…they may even still have the fancy dress up hats tucked away, if you want to get into the spirit!

PIZZA CONNECTION We’ve been grabbing family night pizza or bites after high school events at this community staple for decades. They are recently renovated after a fire, so the building is new, including a bar, but the same square cut pizza we have always loved is still there. They also offer gluten-free pizza and I can confirm it is yummy! If you are visiting on a weekend, be prepared for a wait, whether dining in or takeaway–maybe call in that take out order!

CIRCLE B BAR RESERVE We’ve been hiking and picture-taking at this area since it was a roadside parking and walk-through trail. It has now grown into an area popular for short or long hikes, or even bike rides, bird-watching, gator viewing (granddaddy is seen crossing the trail regularly), as well as photography and field trips and family outings to the nature center. There are bald eagles overhead pretty often, and while we see raccoons regularly, the bobcat can be allusive, but is spotted often. It is NOT pet friendly, due to the wildlife, though, so leave the pup at home. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the day here learning about the wildlife and wetlands that make this area so beautiful. It an be a pretty popular place every day, but it is worth it.

MARSHALL HAMPTON RESERVE/PANTHER POINT If you are looking for a hike through central Florida wetlands that is a bit less popular, this is a great option. There is a port-a-potty at the trailhead, but no other amenities, and it is open for hiking, biking or horseback riding. While it has been modified with the new bypass going in and some of the wildlife is not as visible, you’ll still find sunning gators and hunting birds to watch. There are a couple of different trail options, including a longer trail for Panther Point. Local rumors have it that it will eventually loop with Circle B, but for now, you can do a long hike from one to the other as an out-and-back or just grab a ride between them. It’s not far from Hwy 540 or the Polk Parkway, and only about 10 minutes from Circle B, if you wanted to do both in one day.

LAKELAND

Lakeland has grown so much, and there are many areas to explore, but downtown Lakeland has much to offer. Munn Park is a great place to sit and people watch on the square, visit lots of shops, and it’s not far from the weekly farmer’s market. While there is much to do, these are a few of our favorites in the area, or a short drive from it. This is also not far from Circle B Bar Reserve or Marshall Hampton Reserve, since those are located between Lakeland and Auburndale.

MITCHELL’S COFFEE HOUSE has been our go-to coffee shop when we are in Lakeland for decades. Mitchell is still working up there as of this writing, too. It’s a short walk from the park, but still near a bunch of shops, and offers lots of coffee options, bites and a great place to enjoy a friend, a book, or people watch.

BLACK & BREW is a a great shop with a versatile menu–both coffee and beers, as well as bites and meals, depending on the time of day you visit. They also have 3 locations to choose from. Downtown is just off Munn Park. South Florida Avenue is a drive from town, but near other shopping. Lake Morton location is near a lake that is a great place to watch the swans, especially during the spring round up!

MISTER FISH This is one of our favorite seafood places, and walk up stops! Since it’s only a block off of Lake Morton, we will stop by for some fish and corn nuggets, or a burger and fries, hopefully say hi to Michelle, the proprietor, if she isn’t too busy, then find a bench by the lake and enjoy our meal. The swans, ducks and geese will do their best to earn a portion, but resist feeding them since they have become a bit of a nuisance from people that do. You can always opt to sit by the library next door and across from the lake to eat, then go and explore the lakeshore and it’s wildlife.

J.BURNS PIZZA While the bubble organ of my childhood is long gone (and the Winter Haven location), the square cut pizza is the same deliciousness I remember. They now have 3 locations in Lakeland, and you can dine in, or takeaway–but I do recommend calling it in on the weekend since they get pretty busy! With a gluten-free pizza option, they are comparable to Pizza Connection in Auburndale, and many locals debate which is better. I enjoy them both, and both have square cut and personal size options. I will say that Jburns pizzas are a little more well-done than Pizza Connection, if that helps you decide based on your own pizza preference!

THE JOINERY Located a few minutes from downtown, the Joinery is a great stop for the group that has different meal wish lists, or the person that wants a bit of everything! There are several different options to choose from, including burgers, sushi, ramen bowls and pizza, as well as ice cream. You are more likely to have trouble deciding what to get than finding anything to eat. We’ve been here for date nights, meet ups with friends and stopping in while running errands. It’s right across from Lake Mirror, so you can enjoy a stroll around the lake and check out Hollis Gardens on the other side of the lake!

BONNET SPRINGS PARK & FLORIDA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM This park is a new addition to the area in the last several years, but we always enjoy a visit here. There are many trails and boardwalks to explore, a nature center to see displays and talk to experts, a cafe for a bite to eat, a playground and the children’s museum that used to be located downtown is now at this location, providing hands on learning for the kids! On weekends, there is a shuttle that drives around if you want to shortcut to an area, or you can walk the many paved trails. They even have an event center for hosting and we’ve seen many weddings there. Many people also use this beautiful spot for family photos, us included! It is a short drive from downtown Lakeland, so you can spend some time here, then head into town for a eats or drinks, or vice versa!

When you go to these places, be sure to post on social media and tag us @BarnesOnMove so we can see and hear about your experience, too!

Or, let us know when you will be visiting the area, if we are nearby maybe we can meet up or say hi!

We’d also love to hear what you loved and what you’d add–especially from our local friends!

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