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Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County, Florida. The city was an agricultural center, but in the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a largely residential and manufacturing city. Winter Haven is home to Legoland and the "Chain of Lakes".

Understand

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Winter Haven skyline

History

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Settled in the 1880s, Winter Haven became a transport hub for the citrus industry in the early 20th century. The city was incorporated in 1911.

Eastern Polk county has long been among the top citrus-producing regions in the country. Since there are a few dozen lakes in and around the city, the Chain of Lakes project to link many of them by canals was begun in 1915. Most of the current canals were built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, although the original wood seawalls have rotted and been replaced by metal ones.

The city was also home to Spring Training baseball, home to the Philadelphia Phillies (1928–1937), Boston Red Sox (1966–1992) and the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) (1993–2008).

In 1936, Cypress Gardens opened as the first commercial theme park in Florida. Cypress Gardens was famed for its water ski shows, Southern atmosphere, and lush gardens traversed by canals. Cypress Gardens struggled financially and closed in 2003. Several successive owners added roller coasters and a water park, but it closed again in 2009 and was transformed into Legoland Florida, which opened in October 2011. The original botanical gardens (owned and protected by the county) and the water ski show (a pirate-based one) have been incorporated into the new park and Southern belles—made of Legos, of course—have kept the memories of the original Cypress Gardens alive.

Winter Haven remains a small suburban city, but Legoland, the Chain of Lakes, and the many other nearby attractions make it a nice destination.

Climate

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Winter Haven
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
See Winter Haven's 7 day forecast
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
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Winter Haven was named for its temperate climate. The climate is much the same as the rest of Central Florida (except coasts). Winters are mild, with highs in the 70s (°F, 21-25°C) and lows in the 50s (°F, 10-15°C). Lows in the 30s (°F, 0-5°C) are common after cold fronts and there are usually a handful of lows below freezing each winter, although that requires clear skies, so it usually warms very rapidly after sunrise (30°F/-1°C at 6AM, 55°F/13°C by noon is typical). Cold fronts occasionally pass by as squall lines, so tornadoes in December or January are not unusual. Snow is rare; the last measurable snowfall was in 1977, although sleet/wintry mix fell in an unusually cold January 2010. Summers are hot and humid, with highs around 95°F (35°C) and lows in the mid-70s (°F, 23-25°C). During the summer, onshore winds from both coasts travel inland, heat up, rise and build into thunderstorms, usually along a rough line. Lying in the center of the state, the line of storms (the "seabreezes") often collide and become severe, with tornadoes (small EF0-1s...not like powerful Plains ones), 50+ mph winds, and hail possible. Strong storms are usually preceded by cooler winds caused by the rain-cooled air (cold air sinks) rapidly flowing away from the storm. The temperature after a strong thunderstorm passes can drop from 95°F to 75°F (35°C to 24°C) and since the storms can be fairly small, you can drive 5 miles and the temperature will drop from 95°F to 75°F (35°C to 24°C).

Get in

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By plane

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Winter Haven Municipal Airport (GIF  IATA) is on the far northwest corner of town (near Auburndale) and only handles general aviation. Brown's Seaplane Base (FAA LID: F57; ☏ +1 863 956-2243) is a privately operated, public-use airport on the west side of W.H. Municipal Airport and connected to it by a taxiway. It handles mostly seaplane traffic on Lake Jessie and is primarily a flight instruction school.

The nearest major airport is Orlando International Airport, which is approximately 45 minutes away. Orlando has hundreds of daily domestic and international flights. Tampa International Airport is further away (about 1 hour 15 minutes), but has a simple layout and is a very convenient airport to get in/out of quickly.

Downtown

By train

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Winter Haven is a stop along the daily Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes. If you plan to arrive by train, you should have friends/family at the station to pick you up or have the phone number for a taxi to call when you arrive. The station (code: WTH) is a poorly-maintained covered platform with a small office and is in a fairly unpleasant area beside a warehouse. The trains arrive during the middle of the day, but it's not a great place to wait for hours. It is at 1800 7th Street SW. Office phone is ☏ +1 863 683-6368.

An alternative may be to use the Lakeland station, about 20 mi to the west.

By bus

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  • Greyhound, 555 Ave E NW. Tickets aren't sold at this stop (buy them online or at another station). 

By car

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Winter Haven is easily accessible from U.S. 27, U.S. 92, & U.S. 17.

From Orlando: Take Interstate 4 west to U.S. 27. Take U.S. 27 south for 20 miles and turn right onto State Road 540 (Cypress Gardens Blvd). From U.S. 27, it is roughly 5 miles to Cypress Gardens, and 8 miles to the center of Winter Haven.

From Tampa: Take Interstate 4 east to the Polk Parkway (Toll State Road 570). Exit onto State Road 540 (Winter Lake Rd) and follow the exit straight through the traffic light. After about 10 miles, make a left onto U.S. 17. It is about 3-4 mi from here to the center of Winter Haven. The toll for cars on the Polk Parkway between I-4 and S.R. 540 is $2 cash or $1.50 with a SunPass transponder.

Get around

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Map
Map of Winter Haven

Most of Winter Haven proper uses a grid system consisting of lettered "avenues" running north-south & numbered streets running east-west. The center of this system is the intersection of Central Avenue and 1st Street on the east side of the small downtown area. With respect to this intersection, the city's streets are named Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), & Southwest (SW). The direction is very important for addresses! There can be 4 different locations with the address "100 Ave. A". With higher numbered streets/addresses, the distance between these locations can be several miles. The system is simple, but can be very confusing.

By bus

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Winter Haven is served by two bus services. Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT) has many routes throughout the town. Citrus connection, serves Lakeland and several intercity routes between major towns in Polk County. Routes and information about both can be found here. All routes radiate from the downtown bus terminal. Adult fare is $1.50/ride with no free transfers. A day pass for adults costs $3 and is good for 24 hours. Discounts are available for students & seniors.

By car

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As with most suburban towns in the U.S., the car is by far the easiest way to get around the city. Be careful of the city's grid system (see above).

Rental cars are available from:

By taxi

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See

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Legoland Florida entrance.
  • 1 Legoland Florida, 1 Legoland Way (Located off Cypress Gardens Blvd. just east of Winter Haven), toll-free: +1-855-753-8888. Hours vary throughout the year. The second Legoland park in the US in addition to Legoland in California. The park primarily caters to children and families and features rides, sculptures/scenes, and shows based on the popular Lego building blocks. The site was home to Florida's first theme park—Cypress Gardens—until 2008 and several elements of the former park remain, including the botanical gardens and it's canals, the water ski show which made Cypress Gardens famous, and the Island in the Sky platform which rises 150 ft to give you a 360-degree view of the park and Central Florida. From Orlando take I-4 east to U.S. 27 (exit 55), head south for about 20 mi, turn right (west) on Cypress Gardens Blvd (S.R. 540) and Legoland will be on the left at the 5th traffic light. If you're staying in Orlando, Legoland operates a shuttle from the Orlando Premium Outlets parking lot ($10/return) leaving at 9AM and returning at the time the park closes. $65 (ages 13-59), $55 (ages 3-12, 60+). Legoland Florida (Q646122) on Wikidata Legoland Florida on Wikipedia 
    • Peppa Pig Theme Park is located on Legoland Florida property, and pays homage to the popular British television show for children. Among the attractions are a roller coaster, balloon ride, funfair, and water park.
  • 2 Street Audubon Center/Lake Region Audubon Society (From Cypress Gardens Rd, turn onto Lameraux Rd and drive through the neighborhood and the entrance is on the left.), ☏ +1 863 324-7304. Great birding location along with nature walk trails. Periodic events held for families. 

Do

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  • Watersports and Winter Haven just go together. Within the city limits lie a couple dozen lakes with public access. Sixteen of these are connected by canals to form the Chain of Lakes. The Chain of Lakes is known for excellent fishing and regularly hosts local and national fishing tournaments. Water skiing, water tubing, and zipping around on jet skis (sea doos) are popular pastimes and parking at boat ramps is scarce on sunny weekends. Fishing permits are required to fish in any lake, river, or stream. They can be purchased at local WalMarts, marinas, bait and tackle shops, or through the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (☏ +1-888-FISH-FLO (3474-356)). The county publishes a guide to all the county's lakes (including public access sites) available at the Polk Outpost 27. Boat Ramps—concrete ramps and adjacent parking—in Winter Haven are at: Lake Blue North (off Lake Blue Dr), Lake Cannon (off Lake Cannon Dr), Lake Hartridge Park (20th St off S.R. 544), Lake Howard (off Lake Howard Dr), Lake Jessie (off Lake Jessie Dr), Lake Roy (off S Lake Roy Dr), Lake Sears (100 Lake Sears Dr), Lake Shipp-Sertoma Park (1651 Lake Shipp Dr), Lake Ship-W.G. Roe Park (2403 7th Street SW), and at Lake Summitt (off Lake Summitt Dr).
Juvenile American white ibis
  • Golfing is popular throughout the state and Winter Haven is no exception.
    • Cypresswood Golf & Country Club, 1099 Clubhouse Rd, ☏ +1 863 324-6174. Semi-private 18-hole course. Lessons available, but no rentals. 
    • Lake Bess Country Club, 218 Golf Aire Blvd, ☏ +1 863 326-9171. Public 9-hole course. Rentals and lessons available. 
    • Willowbrook Golf Course, 4200 S.R. 544 E, ☏ +1 863 291-5899. Public 18-hole course. Rentals & lessons available. 
  • Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Trail. A multi-use trail running from downtown to U.S. 17/92, near Lake Alfred. The trail is great for walking, jogging, biking, or rollerskating. The trail begins at the Chain of Lakes Downtown Trailhead Park (611 3rd Street NW), which has plenty of parking, on the northwest corner of Ave E NW and 3rd Street NW, near the bus terminal and city hall. 
  • Take to the skies in a scenic World War II-era biplane ride over the areas lakes, complete with helmet, goggles, leather jacket, & scarf. Preston Aviation[dead link] (☏ +1 863 956-2526) at the Winter Haven Municipal Airport.
  • Theatre Winter Haven, ☏ +1 863 294-7469) is among the most acclaimed little theaters in the state. Various productions are held throughout the year and the Ridge Art Association, hosts a free art gallery prior to Theatre Winter Haven performances. The theater is on the corner of Cypress Gardens Blvd. & US 17 (3rd Street W).
  • Action Paintball (Mark'em All Paintball), 1715 7th St SW, ☏ +1 863 299-4042. Paintball complex with equipment rentals available. 

Events

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For more information and a complete list of public events, see the city's website or call ☏ +1 863 291-5656.

  • Pickin in the Park is a music concert for local musicians held the first Friday of each month, except June–August, in Central Park from 6:30-8PM.
  • Car Cruisin' is the monthly car show featuring everything from antiques to hot rods held the first Saturday of every month, except December, in Central Park from 4-9PM.
  • Bike Night is a motorcycle festival/showcase held the 3rd Saturday of each month in downtown from 4-9PM.
  • Cypress Gardens Ski Show is a bi-monthly event on Lake Silver that carries on the traditions of Cypress Gardens. The free event occurs every other Saturday of the month, as well as in conjunction with the city's Independence Day celebration and other times. See the website for dates and times.
  • St.Sophia's Greek Festival Greek festival held annually on a Friday-Sunday weekend in February by St.Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church (☏ +1 863 299-4532) off Winter Lake Road (S.R. 540). Includes food, live music, dancing, & shopping.
  • Smoke on the Water Annual barbeque cook-off held in late February. Call ☏ +1 863 287-3075 for latest dates/details.
  • Central Park Art Festival Annual art festival in Central Park with judged entries, local entertainment, vendors, children's' activities.
  • Admiral Eycleshimer's Boat Races Cardboard boat races and activities to celebrate the Chain of Lakes. Held in May.
  • Red, Brick, & Boom A 4th of July fireworks spectacular held at Legoland. With special 3D glasses, "ordinary" fireworks become a spectacle of millions of exploding bricks.
  • Brick-or-Treat A Legoland Halloween celebration held every Saturday & Sunday in October. A "kid-friendly" alternative to Halloween events like Hall-o-scream & Halloween Horror Nights held at the big theme parks in Orlando/Tampa.
  • Carols in the Park Arts and crafts festival held in early December.
  • Holiday Lighted Boat Parade Boats decked out in all their shining glory taken on a parade route through the Chain of Lakes. Mid-December.
  • Kid's New Year's Eve Legoland's New Year's Eve event. A giant Lego brick drops at 7PM to kick-off a fireworks display and dance party. Legoland also has a fireworks display on each of the five nights leading up to New Year's Eve.

Buy

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A fountain with green colored water in downtown

There are no large shopping malls in Winter Haven. The nearest indoor shopping mall is Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, off U.S. 27 2 mi south of Cypress Gardens Blvd.

The largest shopping center in town is Winter Haven Citi Centre between U.S. 17 (3rd St. SW) and 1st Street S and Avenues G & K SW. It features Belk & Macy's for clothing, Lowe's (home improvement), Staples (electronics & office supplies), Carraba's (Italian restaurant), Longhorn (steakhouse), Crispers (salads & sandwiches), Pier 1 Imports (house accessories & gifts), and a dozen or so small stores.

There are many small shops along Central Avenue in Downtown. A free parking garage is located on Ave A NW between 2nd & 3rd Streets NW. It was completed in 2012 with a picturesque facade designed to blend in with the surroundings.

There is a large outdoor shopping center around the intersection of U.S. 17 and Cypress Gardens Blvd., called The Landings. It has a few restaurants.

Antiques

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As with the rest of Florida, there are no shortage of antique shops and Winter Haven will not disappoint.

Books

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  • Friends of the Library, 325 Ave. A NW, ☏ +1 863 292-0540. M-Sa 9AM-4PM. In the same building as the public library. Charity bookstore to support the library with donated books and volunteer staff. About 2/3 of the books are non-fiction and there are 2-3 sections half off rotated weekly. Almost every book is under $5 with lots of $2-3 books. Moderate selection but with such great prices, it's definitely worth a look when in town. 

Fresh produce

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The weekly Farmer's Market is held every Thursday 8AM-3PM at the Trailhead Park (611 3rd Street NW). All varieties of fruits and vegetables, especially ones in season.

  • Sunshine Flea Market, 24200 U.S. Hwy 27, ☏ +1 863 679-1015. Located on the west side of US 27 about a mile south of the Cypress Gardens Blvd intersection and just a short distance out of town. Typical flea market with a fresh produce section, although some of the vendors purchase from wholesalers and aren't selling the local-grown stuff you'll find at the Farmer's Market. 

Gifts

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Eat

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This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget< $ 8
Mid-range$ 9-15
Splurge$ 16+

Budget

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  • Andrea's Family Restaurant, 1498 Havendale Blvd, ☏ +1 863 299-4564. Casual Greek and American fare. Daily specials. 
  • Andy's/Andy's Igloo, 703 3rd Street SW (U.S. 17) (On SW corner of the intersection of U.S. 17 (3rd Street) and Ave. G SW. Look for the 1950s-era sign.), ☏ +1 863 293-0019. Classic diner with a great variety of food (burgers, chicken, seafood) at very reasonable prices. An entrée and drink costs about $6-8. Also on tap are over a dozen varieties of ice cream, sundaes, malts, milkshakes run around $1-3. On the NE corner of the building is a walk-up window for ice cream treats (in addition to ordering at a table inside). Cash only. No debit/credit cards accepted. Entrées $5-8; Ice cream/milkshakes/sundaes $1-3.50. 
  • My Natures Delight Cafe, 3085 Cypress Gardens Blvd, ☏ +1 863 324-1778. Organic raw vegan cafe. 
  • Crab Craze, 842 6th Street NW (U.S. 17), ☏ +1 863 268-4771. Don't forget the butter.. 
  • Richard's Fine Coffee, 330 Ave A NW, ☏ +1 863 291-3082. Coffeehouse in same building as library. Typical coffee offerings, cookies, biscotti, muffins, and some light salads and wraps. Free wi-fi, comfy couches, and outdoor tables/chairs. Library allows drinks with lids so you can grab a cappuccino and take it in the library. Open after library closes. 
  • Schack's Bar B-Que, 3000 Cypress Gardens Blvd, ☏ +1 863 324-1537. Delicious smoked Southern BBQ fare. 
  • 1st Street Diner, 106 Ave I SE (corner of 1st St & Ave I SE), ☏ +1 863-875-7057. Fresh plates served and daily specials. 

Mid-range

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House in the Interlaken Historic Residential District, a U.S. historic district
  • Tanners Lakeside Restaurant & Bar, 1006 S Lake Howard Dr, ☏ +1 863-662-5948. 
  • Harry's Old Place, 3751 Cypress Gardens Rd, ☏ +1 863 324-0301. Lunch Tu-F 11:30AM-1:30PM; dinner Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F 5PM-10PM, Sa 4PM-10PM, Su (Dec-May only) 4PM-8PM, closed between meals. A wide variety of fresh seafood served in a rustic restaurant overlooking Lake Ned. Steaks & chicken also available, but most of the menu consists of seafood. Parking is tight, the lot is usually full, and you may have to park precariously on the side of a busy road, but the food is worth it. Seniors are often seen lined up into the parking lot before dinner opening for the Early Bird Specials. No reservations accepted. Menu available on the website (here). $10-15. 
  • Tsukiyomi Sushi Bar & Grill, 317 W Central Ave, ☏ +1 863 293-2395. 
  • Buffet City, 810 Cypress Gardens Blvd. (on Cypress Gardens Blvd., a few doors west of Publix), ☏ +1 863 292-9898. Hours not posted online, but is open 7 days a week. Chinese and other Asian food. Has a lot of seafood, chicken, pork, beef. Most food very fresh. Sushi quality is so-so. $11 to $30, depending on order. (updated Mar 2015)
  • 1 Saigon Garden Vietnamese Cuisine, 5937 Cypress Gardens Blvd Suite 100 (Next door to Tijuana Flats restaurant), ☏ +1 863 875-6975. 11AM to 9PM every day. Vietnamese food. Excellent quality, good service, very clean. $7.95 to $12.95 for entrees. (updated Apr 2016)

Splurge

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  • Harborside, 2435 Seventh St SW, ☏ +1 863 293-7070. Daily 4-10PM. Seafood Review Dinners $15-25. 
  • Sakura Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, 787 3rd St. SW, ☏ +1 863-299-3388. Serves lunch and dinner every day. Serves high quality Japanese food. Has sushi available. 
  • Manny's Chophouse, 1100 3rd Street SW (Corner of U.S. 17 & Ave K SE.), ☏ +1 863 293-0069. M-Th 4-10PM, F Sa 4-10:30PM, Su noon-9:30PM. Great steakhouse, with plenty of tasty seafood, chicken, and sandwiches also on offer. Early bird specials M-Th 4-6PM, consisting of a dozen entrees about $5 less than their usual price ($9-11). This place can get quite crowded around 5-7PM, with no parking and a long wait to be seated. Call ahead seating is available. Menu can be found on website. Entrees around $10-17. 

Drink

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Sleep

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In-town

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Southeast/Legoland area

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Models of New York buildings made of Lego bricks, Legoland

The Best Western is the closest hotel to Legoland and the only one within reasonable walking distance. Lake Roy Inn & Economy Suites are located a couple miles down Cypress Gardens Blvd. and a continuous sidewalk runs along the road, making these possible walking-distance choices. All hotels in this area are near bus stops along the route servicing Legoland.

  • Lake Roy Beach Inn & Suites, 1823 Cypress Gardens Blvd, ☏ +1 863 324-6320, fax: +1 863 324-2750. Kitchen/efficiencies. Complimentary breakfast. Pool. Pets allowed. Free wi-fi internet connection. Includes a small, sandy beach on Lake Roy, but right against Cypress Gardens Blvd (a very busy thoroughfare in W.H.). $97 (Mar 2022). 

Campgrounds & RV parks

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Connect

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Free public internet access is available at the Winter Haven Library:

  • Winter Haven Public Library, 325 Ave A NW (between Ave A & B NW and 3rd & 4th St NW), ☏ +1 863 291-5880. M W 9AM-6PM, Tu Th 10AM-7PM, F Sa 9AM-5PM. Free wireless internet access ("wi-fi") available. There are 22 computers available for public use. Each has Windows, Microsoft Office, internet access, and is connected to a printer. Guest passes for out-of-county residents to use library computers are available for $1 for 1 hour (wi-fi access is free for everyone). Computer use is limited to 1 hour, which can only be extended (by 30 min) if there is no one waiting for an available computer. A copy machine is also available. Richard's Coffee is in the same building as the library. Winter Haven Public Library (Q24261056) on Wikidata Winter Haven Public Library on Wikipedia 

There are two USPS post offices in town and one in the community of Eagle Lake:

  • Winter Haven Post Office, 111 W Central Ave (on NW corner of Central Ave & 1st St on east side of downtown.). M-F 8:30AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-2:30PM. 
  • Florence Villa Post Office, 1401 1st St N (on 1st St one block north of Police Station.). M-F 9AM-4:30PM. Run-down building in a sketchy side of town. Barely 2 mi north of the Winter Haven P.O. 
  • Eagle Lake Post Office, 665 N U.S. 17 (on W side of U.S. 17 at Gilbert St. traffic light/intersection. Northern end of Eagle Lake, where U.S. 17 splits into 2 one-way roads.), ☏ +1 863 295-5260. M-F 9AM-4:30PM. Located in the community of Eagle Lake a couple miles southwest of Winter Haven on U.S. 17. 

Cope

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Hospitals

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Urgent care clinics

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A visit to the emergency room is usually very expensive and, despite the title, often entails a long wait to be seen (unless you're having a heart attack, stroke, or similarly grave issue). Urgent care clinics are often the same insurance deductible as a regular doctor visit and offer services for urgent, but not life-threatening, issues—such as pain, broken bones, infections—when you are unable to see your primary care physician.

Emergency pet care

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Go next

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Chalet Suzanne used to be in Lake Wales but is now gone.

Historic Lake Wales is just 15 miles away (about 10 from Legoland). Florida's Natural juice company has a "Grove House" across from their plant on U.S. 27 with information about the citrus industry and free samples. Spook Hill is an optical illusion where you appear to roll uphill relative to the surrounding terrain, although its actually a slight downhill slope. Both make for fun, quick stops before or after a day spent at Legoland, while Bok Tower Gardens atop the highest point on the Florida Peninsula is a great half-day destination (especially for a picnic). For the adventurous, the city is the Skydiving Capital of Florida and east of town lies Lake Kissimmee where you can take a scenic airboat tours without driving south to the Everglades.

Lakeland is 30-45 minutes east (and along the route from Tampa) and boasts 12 Frank Lloyd Wright designed buildings which you can tour on the campus of Florida Southern College. Also in Lakeland are the Florida Air Museum and the 1920s-era Polk Theater renovated to its original vaudeville/movie theater glory.

Elsewhere in the county are the Fantasy of Flight museum, the Water Ski Hall of Fame, and the 29-mile Van Fleet State Trail for biking or walking off I-4 in Polk City. From Winter Haven, take U.S. 17 to Lake Alfred and take C.R. 557/557A to Polk City.

Most visitors are likely spending a part of their trip in Orlando, which is 45 min to 1.5 hours away depending on where in the city you're heading to. Kissimmee and Disney World are just 30 minutes away! En route, you can stop by Davidson of Dundee and Webb's Candy Factory, both along U.S. 27, to watch citrus candies, chocolates, goat milk fudge, and other sweets being made and purchase some for the road or to take home.

Routes through Winter Haven
Orlando ← Kissimmee ←  N  S  → Sebring → Miami
Tampa ← Lakeland ←  N  S  → Sebring → Miami
Orlando ← Lake Alfred ←  N  S  → Bartow → Punta Gorda
Lakeland ← Jct W E ←  W  E  → Ends at N S
END ←  W  E  → Dundee → END
END ← Auburndale ←  W  E  → Haines City → END


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