Page 69 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

Enjoy the Authenticity of Central Florida
VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA
BY SUSAN B. BARNES
Leave the mouse and wizards in the rearview mirror when you set your sights on Central Florida. Just a short drive from the area’s beaches and the hustle and bustle of Orlando is a piece of real, authentic Florida with its quieter, more intimate home and smalltown vibes. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot happening in Central Florida—far from it! From stunning architecture to a singing tower and even a theme park made of building blocks and another all about a pig, there’s plenty to see and do in this part of the Sunshine State.
MIDCENTURY-MODERN
Far from some of America’s classic hubs of mid-century modern architecture (think Chicago, the Arizona desert and the expanse of Wisconsin that are rites of passage by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright), there’s Lakeland, Florida. It’s home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture for one client, Florida Southern College. The rare collection also holds the distinction of being Wright’s only executed design for a college campus. Thirteen of Wright’s 18 designs for the college campus came to fruition, one posthumously.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012, parts of the Florida Southern College Historic District are accessible only through tours, including the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, Danforth Chapel, Roux Library, Lucius
PRIVATE RIVER QUEST AT LEGOLAND FLORIDA THEME PARK • VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA
FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE • VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA
Pond Ordway Building, Polk County Science Building and the Usonian House.
A SINGING TOWER
Stroll the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales and you may think your ears are playing tricks on you. In the midst of other visitors’ quiet conversations and chirping birds, you may just hear the peal of bells. If you do, your ears aren’t deceiving you at all—the Singing Tower Carillon, a 60 bell orchestra, is ringing. There are afternoon concerts at 1 and 3 PM and shorter selections are played on the hour and half-hour throughout the day. The 205-foot Singing Tower Carillon provides a peaceful musical backdrop for wandering acres of gardens and paths designed by famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. The cultivated garden is on the National Historic Landmark registry plus on the Great Florida Birding Trail.
LEGOS AND PIRATES AND PIGS—OH MY!
The littlest travelers will find loads of fun in Central Florida at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
and Peppa Pig Theme Park. Find your family’s thrills at LEGOLAND’s 50 rides, shows and attractions, including Pirate River Quest. Cool off from the hot Florida sun on the 14 water slides in the water park, then rest and recharge at one of the resort’s three themed hotels.
Right next door, the world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park features six fun and interactive rides and play areas; an indoor cinema to duck out of the sun; and a colorful splash pad for “muddy puddles” of fun, Peppa Pig-style.
DIVERSION
Westgate River Ranch Resort is the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi. About an hour south of Orlando, the Old West inspired resort boasts cowboy-themed accommodations ranging from tent camping and a lodge, to the luxurious side of life like two-bedroom cabins, glamping tents, teepees and Conestoga wagons.
Visit Central Florida visitcentralflorida.com Bok Tower Gardens boktowergardens.org Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College flsouthern.edu/frank-lloyd-wright-home LEGOLAND Florida Resort legoland.com/florida Peppa Pig Theme Park peppapigthemepark.com/florida Westgate River Ranch Resort westgateresorts.com/hotels/florida/river-ranch/ westgate-river-ranch-resort
FEATURED LINKS
2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA 67