Are you a fan of a Pub Sub or a BOGO or have you ever enjoyed a Publix cake for your birthday?…read morePublix is ingrained in the everyday fabric of a Floridian's life. How did this beloved and iconic Florida supermarket come to be? I stumbled upon its origin story while exploring Winter Haven. Across from South Central Park in Winter Haven is the very first Publix opened by company founder George Jenkins on September 6, 1930. After working as a food clerk in Tampa, George opened his own store which he named after the Publix Theaters movie chain. He opened a second store in 1935. This store operated until 1940 when he opened his store two blocks east of here. I love the 1920's architecture of downtown Winter Haven and building. Historic marker number PCHC-022 was added to the front of the building in 2017 by the Polk County Historical Commission and Publix Super Markets, Two of George Jenkins grandsons had the honor of unveiling this marker. The building is empty for now but a sign on the window indicates that it will become a Foxtail Coffee.

My first visit to Plant City was just about 20 years ago, I was working in the northeast and doing…read morebusiness with a company located here, my first impression wasn't the best being it was mid summer. It was 95 degrees and at least that same percentage of humidity and the vendor I was visiting had no air conditioning in his shop, needless to say it was a very short visit, but I did have the chance to kick around the town a little and got a little history of the area. Originally, Plant City was a large cotton center, but after changing its primary crop to strawberries it gained recognition as the winter strawberry capital of the world and now that I live in Florida I can say without a doubt they grow some of the most succulent strawberries that will ever touch your lips. Plant City's original name was Ichepucksassa (also known as Idasukshed) after the Indian village that once occupied the territory. Its name caused so much confusion besides being difficult to pronounce that the city was renamed Cork, ( LOL) after the postmaster's Irish hometown. It was finally given the name Plant City in commemoration of Henry B. Plant and his railroad, which significantly boosted the commerce in this primarily agricultural community by incorporating it with the South Florida Railroad. I thought it was because of all the plants they grew here, oh well so much for assumptions. I'd say most people recognize the city's name because Plant City was also the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds who played at Plant City Stadium from 1988 to 1997. In case you're wondering Pete Rose never played pre-season baseball here but he did manage here for two years before "agreeing to" and "accepting" a permanent ban from baseball for betting on games he participated in with no appeal, what was he thinking? It appears that "Charlie Hustle" got shang·haied by his legal counsel in to believing the truth will set you free. Well I respect the honesty of the man but can never agree that the punishment fit the crime. So it's okay to be convicted of drugs possession, domestic violent, rape, murder and child abuse and continue to participate, make millions of dollars and even be inducted into the Hall of Fame but don't bet on yourself to win because that's unforgivable. Pete Rose is alright by me as is Plant City....

Pleasantly surprised! I visited the downtown area. Not sure why but I always thought Lakeland was…read morevery country and nothing around. Not the case! This little downtown area was so cute and bustling! Great non chain restaurants and stores. We also visited the circle b bar reserve and wow!!! By far the best nature bike yet! Beautiful scenery, lakes, trees, wildlife, and more. It was definitely memorable and was a good reminder to not put it past small cities to find hidden gems!

My first time in lakeland. The part of lake I was In...... Really nice the people were friendly…read more The was a farmer's street market going on. I stopped in a few shops the people are nice. I would definitely go back and spend a day exploring around there

I love discovering interesting public art pieces across the state but this is the first time I have…read morefound one dedicated to the unsung heroes of Florida, the linemen. You can find this art piece between Lake Mirror and the Lakeland Electric headquarters. Besides the subject matter another cool feature of this piece was that it was designed by three Lakeland High School students who won a competition sponsored by Platform Art, a Lakeland-based nonprofit group that links regional artists with public art projects. Six high schools and one middle school entered the contest. The idea for the sculpture was germinated after Hurricane Irma wrecked devastation through Polk County in 2017. Linemen from several power companies worked day and night in hazardous conditions to restore power to thousands of homes. First on the scene after a weather disaster, they often go unrecognized for their important service. The linemen are certainly deserving of this recognition and it is nice to see them get their due.

This is the old 1914 Plant High School building. It's pretty cool and part of a lovely historic…read moredistrict with gorgeous homes. The rail museum and mall along McCall Park downtown are also fun to walk.

Nicholas and Ashley Barnett are part of Publix founder George Jenkins family through his daughter…read moreCarol Jenkins Barnett who was Nicholas mother. Publix was founded in 1945 when George Jenkins purchased 19 of the All American chain of food stores and converted them into the first Publix Super Markets. In 1951, Publix moved its headquarters from Winter Haven to Lakeland where it built its first distribution warehouse. Today many members of the Jenkins/Barnett family have given back philanthropically all over Lakeland. One donation from the family is this beautiful Japanese inspired Peace Pagoda in Bonnet Springs Park which opened in 2022. You can find the pagoda next to the Ruthven Family Playground with the owl slide. The Peace Pagoda is located in the northern section of the park and it overlooks a natural spring that winds through the park into Lake Bonnet. The large pagoda is named in honor of donors Nicholas and Ashley Barnett. It is perfect for those seeking shade or a lovely picture backdrop. There is even a rock garden next to the pagodas deck. This is just one of a number of delightful surprises you will find throughout Bonnet Springs Park.

As a fan of architecture and history I had to stop and check out this gem while I was traveling…read morethrough Aburndale, Florida. Once owned by Ephraim Mikell Baynard, this historic home brimming with charm. The first settlers arrived in Aburndale in the 1870's and 1880's to take advantage of natural resources and prime cattle grazing land. The town experienced more growth when Henry Plant's South Florida Railroad laid track in the area in the area in the early 1880's connecting Polk County with a larger regional economic market. In 1884 the town received a train depot and post office and the community of Auburndale continued to grow. Ephraim Mikell Baynard was born in South Carolina in 1861. In 1888 he settled in Auburndale, on the south side of Lake Stella. Baynard proved to be a savvy business man and he owned a general store and worked as a developer, cattle rancher, citrus and tomato farmer, and owner of a turpentine factory. In 1889 Baynard married Nettie Lee Brooks after she came to the area to escape an outbreak of yellow fever in Key West. The couple had two daughters Ruth and Elizabeth. In 1894 he built a stately, L shaped, two-story, wooden Folk Victorian home designed by Alfred Chipman Thorpe. The home was located just north of downtown Auburndale business district. The house has a dining room and two parlors downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs. A highlight of the home is a spindlework porch that wraps around the front of the house. Baynard's family lived in the home until 1913 as the fledgling town of Auburndale sprouted up around them. By 1951 the house had been chopped into five apartments, each with its own bathroom and kitchen and it teetered on demolition as city officials wanted the site for a parking lot. A group of students from Auburndale High School, led by guidance counselor Bonnie Burhans, stepped in to save the home. Over the next 5 years hundreds of students worked to restore the home uncovering heart pine flooring, oak fireplace mantles, handcrafted door and window frames, and century-old glass. The City of Auburndale now owns the home and it was turned into museum in 1997. The house has period furnishings including some owned by the Baynard family. After the Baynard house was restored it set off a wave pf preservation that also saw the restoration of the City Hall and the train depot with other buildings following. The Baynard House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 2001. Ephraim Mikell Baynard was designated a Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State in the Great Floridians 2000 Program.

The W. Henry Lewis House is a wooden two story house built in 1901 in a Queen Anne style . The town…read moreof Fort Meade was incorporated in January of 1885. W. Henry Lewis (1860-1940) arrived to the area in 1883 and from 1890 to 1891 he served as town alderman. He was a successful cattleman and in later years he also farmed citrus. He also held interests in several Polk County banks and helped to organize and served as president of the First State Bank of Fort Meade The Queen Anne style of the home was developed by English architect Richard Norman Shaw for English manor houses and the style was popular in the 1860's. The style is characterized by a large house with steeply pitched roofs and gables. After Mr. Lewis's death, the was purchased by his daughter Virginia and her husband Carlton Marsh. Virginia lived here until her death in 1998. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 19, 2012. The house is a private residence so you can only view it from the outside.