Lakeland: Life in Paradise

With 38 named lakes and lots more that are unnamed, it's easy to see how Lakeland got its name. The smallest of Lakeland's named lakes is the 2.5 acre Lake Blanton while Lake Parker in downtown Lakeland is the largest, coming in at a whopping 2,272 acres. 

The population of Lakeland is about 90,000 people, making it Florida's 19th most populated city. 171,000 more people live in a 7-mile radius of the city proper. Money Magazine recently rated Lakeland as its 10th "Best Place to Live in America." 

Those planning a move from the north will be happy to hear that Lakeland averages 330 sunshiney days per year. While July is the warmest month of the year with an average high temperature of 95 degrees, gentle breezes are usually stirring by 10 a.m. making golf possible even in the warmest months, especially for those who live here year-round and whose bodies seem to adjust to the warmer temperatures. 

There is lots of wild life to see in Lakeland as well. You'll enjoy egrets, ibises, sand hill cranes, blue herons, pink spoonbills and, on occasion, wood storks. Exotic alligators live among us as well as turtles, deer, raccoons, bunnies and squirrels. 

And, yes, there are even tigers living on Lakeland real estate. The Detroit Tigers baseball team, that is. They take their spring training in Tigertown at the 8,500 seat Joker Marchant stadium on Lakeland Hills Blvd. These big cats have been here every spring since 1934, except for the war years of 1943-45. 

Lakelanders enjoy over 40 golf courses, the world's largest one-site collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright at Florida Southern College, and an easy commute to Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Dinosaur World and Universal Studios. 

Gulf beaches, including St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach, are within about an hour's drive of Lakeland while a two to three-hour drive to the east will get sun lovers to Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach or even to Cape Canaveral where the John F. Kennedy Space Center is located. 

And the world's best strawberries can be found about a half hour from Lakeland at Plant City. Stop at the annual Strawberry Festival for an out-of-this-world strawberry shortcake. Even after the festival ends, the berries continue to please at local fruit stands in the area.

Beautiful Lakeland is in the heart of much of what makes Florida an exciting place to reside. Now's the time to make the move from the cold northern states to sunny Florida. Let the Boyce Team find you the perfect home, whether you're a retiree wanting to relocate, a snowbird or a family with kids, there's something in Lakeland for everyone to enjoy year round.