Lakeland, Florida Attractions

Detroit Tigers Spring Training

• Baseball fans flock to Lakeland in February and March for the Detroit Tigers spring training in "Tiger Town." The Tigers first started spring training in Lakeland in 1934, which is the longest lasting arrangement between a spring training host city and a Major League team, according to the Detroit Tigers. Games are held at the 7,100-seat Joker Marchant Stadium, named for the former parks and recreation director for the city.

  Tiger Town
  2125 North Lake Drive
  Lakeland, FL 33805
  (866) 668-4437
  detroit.tigers.mlb.com/spring_training/ballpark.jsp?c_id=det

Explorations V Children's Museum

• Families come to the city's Explorations V Children's Museum. The hands-on museum offers a range of exhibits that keep kids active. Children can work as a television news anchor, weatherman or camerawoman at the news stations. Or, children can learn about medicine and nature at the "Body Shop & Fun Park." Other exhibits include areas where kids can pretend to be an actor, artist, banker, singer and teacher.

  Explorations V Children's Museum
  109 North Kentucky Ave
  Lakeland, FL 33801-5044
  (863) 687-3869
  explorationsv.com/default.htm

Florida Air Museum

• The Florida Air Museum is designated as the state's "Official Aviation Museum and Education Center." The museum displays more than 50 aircraft and honors flying pioneers. In 1986, the museum acquired more than 180 boxes and crates of Howard Hughes aviation memorabilia, according to the museum. Exhibits include Hughes' career as a movie director and producer, the four aircraft he built, his 1938 around-the-world flight and his business dealings, which includes his time as an aircraft designer and test pilot. The Florida Air Museum also has the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame and exhibits that honor the Tuskeegee Airmen, Charles Lindbergh and women in aviation.

  Florida Air Museum
  4175 Medulla Road
  Lakeland, FL 33811
  (863) 644-2431
  sun-n-fun.org/Museum.aspx

Polk Museum of Art

• The Polk Museum of Art bills itself as "More Than An Art Museum." Activities include the Mayfaire by-the-Lake outdoor art festival, a performance series that has music concerts, celebrations for such holidays as Kwanzaa and Halloween and seminars and workshops. The Polk Museum of Art also has plenty of artwork on display. It has eight galleries featuring a variety of art genres and artists, as well as a sculpture garden.

  Polk Museum of Art
  800 East Palmetto Street
  Lakeland, FL 33801-5529
  polkmuseumofart.org/content