Beautiful Bok Tower

With all the rain lately, we decided to get out of the house and enjoy something a bit different.  Bok Tower really hit the spot.  Located in a rather remote area of Lake Wales in Central Polk County, it was a picturesque place to relax and unwind.  The cost is $14 per person, although children a a bit cheaper.  We were able to use our AAA discount to knock off about $2 per person.

The welcome center is located right next to the park lot, and has a gift shop and cafe.  We did not eat at the cafe, but we brought our own picnic lunch instead.  They have plenty of tables set up outside around the cafe, and there is no eating in the actual gardens.  The welcome center has a neat little movie to watch and has several exhibits about the natural wildlife that lives in the area and the tower.

We went on a Sunday, so there was no concert, but they do play recordings of the concerts from the tower everyday and we were able to witness that.  It was extremely neat.  The kids thought the tower was pretty cool, but I think they were rather bored, because you can not enter the tower, all you can really do is walk around and admire the gardens.  They do have a really cool "Window" that allows visitors to sit inside an enclosed shed and look out at the wildlife that inhabits a pond, and the boys did enjoy that.

All in all, my husband and I really liked it, but it is definitely not for the older kids.  Babies might find it relaxing to walk around and nap, but the lack of action might be a bit too dull for most children.  This would make a great "date spot" though, if you can get away from the kids!
http://boktowergardens.reachlocal.net/

Tampa Bay MOSI

This one does not fall under the under $50 for four people.  We went and saw the limited engagement of the Sea Monster Exhibit.  It cost us close to $88 for parking and admission to the museum and  sea monster exhibit. The museum is really cool.

The Sea Monster exhibit is a must if a member of your family loves sea creatures.  The animals are done much like the controversial Bodies exhibit that came through about 7 years ago.  The bodies of several of the animals are positioned and dissected so that you can the different layers of the body.  My kids thought it was pretty cool, but it may be a little scary for the younger set (4 and under).

The rest of the museum is pretty neat!  it opens up with two large sauropods guarding the stairway.  Up the stairs , and you enter in the permanent exhibits of the museum; Disasterville, Your Body, and the Bay News 9 Experience.  Disasterville has visitors experience natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. The bodies exhibit is relatively safe for kids.  It has exhibits on everything from the beginning of life (stages of the fetus), to the stages of death.  They had and interesting exhibit on aging and cancer.  It was aimed for the older crowd, so my kids really didn't get it.

The last place we hit was "Kids in Charge" or the children's museum.  My boys loved it.  They had something for everyone.  My oldest loved the journey to the moon exhibit that simulated a space flight to a moon colony.  The youngest got a kick out of the Publix exhibit where kids picked "oranges" took them to the processing barn and then moved them to the super market.

It was a fun trip.  I'm definitely going to be keeping my eyes and ears peeled for a discount day!

Circle Bar B Reserve

Ready for a hike?  Then head on over to the Circle Bar B Reserve in Lakeland.  This county run reserve is located on Winter Lake Rd. near the intersection of US 98 and the Polk Parkway.  The park has several different trails, and each are marked with their difficulty and their length.  We opted for the Shady Oak, Alligator Alley, and Heron Hideout. 

Shady Oak Trail

The trails were very well taken care of and we were able to view plenty of wildlife on them. 

A crane that we saw on the Alligator Alley trail.

I would not suggest the Alligator Alley and Heron Hideout trail for those with a stroller or unsteady walkers.  The trail was rather bumpy with exposed tree roots.  I would also suggest bringing sunscreen and bug spray.  We used deep woods Off and did not have any issues, but I did notice several others on the trail smacking bugs.   The trails we picked were rather shady, but there were spots where the trail was not covered and lets face it, the Florida sun is brutal. 

Alligator in the lake that we spotted on the Alligator Alley trail

There were plenty of place in the parking lot to picnic, with several covered areas with tables and a grill.  There is also a discovery center onsite that teaches kids and adults about the local wildlife and environment.  The kids really enjoyed the tree house and fox den that they could crawl in.  There was also a video running that discussed ways to help conserve our natural resources.  

The park allows for horseback riding, bikes, and of course hiking.  There is no playground, but the indoors discovery center makes up for it.  They offer several different events through out the year, so be sure to check it out if you are ever in the area.  I know we will be back soon to try some of the other trails.  

For more information, check out their website: Circle Bar B Reserve

A turtle sunning itself on Alligator Alley trail.

Upcoming Events in Volusia County for Nature Lovers!

There will be a Forestry and Eco-Buggy Tour Tomorrow around Lake George between 9am-11am.  If you are interested, please contact Ms. Bonnie at Bcary@volusia.org.

If you live in Volusia County, and you love nature, Bonnie is the one to talk to!  She sends out emails every month on upcoming nature events that are offered through the county.  Most of these are free events, or they are extremely low cost.  They offer everything from kayaking, biking, horse riding, and hiking tours, classes on various aspects of nature (star gazing, bird watching, etc.), nature crafts, and even a toddler hike for the little ones.  I participated in several events while we resided in Volusia and I would highly recommend joining the newsletter.

Common Grounds Park Set To Reopen!

Common Grounds Park is set to reopen today!  The park has been undergoing a makeover for the past few weeks.  We can not wait to see all the improvements made to this wonderful park.

For more information on the park, please check out the City of Lakeland's website; http://www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec/CommonGroundInclusivePlayground.aspx

Curtis Peterson Park, Lakeland

Curtis Peterson Park is a wonderful little neighborhood park in Lakeland, FL.  This little gem is a great place to watch Little League baseball or enjoy nature.  There is a wooden path that walks around the lake and takes you up in the trees.  For dad, there is a boat ramp and plenty of great fishing spots (A Florida Fresh Water Permit is required).  This park is located on the Lake to Lake bike trail, so the second trail is perfect for biking or walking. Both trails are built to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers.

 There is a good size playground with a play area for little kids and a larger play area for the older children. My two boys enjoyed the playground after our walk while I relaxed in the shade. The playground itself is not shaded, but there are plenty of shady spots just outside the mulched area.

Close to to downtown Lakeland, so there are lots of nearby restaurants, or bring some food and enjoy the use of the onsite grills for a picnic.  There are lots of pavilions, including one large one that is completely screened in.  Because this park is on a lake, I would suggest bringing the bug spray.  There is no swimming and there are alligators in the lake.

The park is hidden behind the Lakeland YMCA on Cleveland Blvd.  For more information on the park, check out the park's website; http://www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec/PetersonPark.aspx.

Mayfaire Art Festival

Mayfaire Art Festival is one of my favorite events.  Set for Mother's Day weekend each year, this festival includes different events for everyone.  There is the Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday, a run on Saturday, block party on Saturday night (with fireworks), and food truck event.  Set around beautiful Lake Morton, the fair is a staple for the community.  Put on by the Polk Museum of Art and various local businesses, and the majority of the events are free to enjoy, so it is worth the crowds.

I personally enjoy the art.  There is something for everyone here. Artists from all over the country are displaying their pieces.  From paintings and drawings, to ceramics, and even metal work, can be found while enjoying a leisurely stroll around the lake.  Lake Morton is also known as the "Swan Lake" as there are many different breeds of swans and ducks in the Lake enjoying the spring weather.


My husband enjoys the food.  There are tons of food trucks located through out art festival and the Saturday night block party.  The food is rather expensive if you buy it at the truck, but there are plenty of wonderful restaurants within walking distance.  Or, to save some cash, there are plenty of places to drop a blanket and enjoy a picnic.

The kids get extremely excited about the kids tent located in the Lakeland Library's parking lot.  The tent offers kids the opportunity to make their own art for free.  There are plenty of volunteers to help parents and kids turn household objects in to something fun.  This year they made paper plate swans and coffee filter sun hats.  There is a bounce house area set up directly behind the kids tent, but it is rather pricey, so we skipped it.

They also enjoy the free block party.  There is live music, dancing on the lawn at nearby Lake Mirror, and fireworks.  Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and set up a spot for your family.  There is a park here, so the little ones can expel some energy before the main event.  If you would like a cold drink, either bring your own, or headed over to the Garden Bistro (you will save yourself $3 per drink).  *There is alcohol sold and consumed at the Block Party.

The 5K takes place before the Block Party kicks off, and awards are handed out before the fireworks to runners.  There is a fee for participating in the 5K, and if you are interested, please visit their website at; http://lakelandrunnersclub.org/races/mayfaire/ 

This year's Mayfaire was amazing and we already can not wait for next year!  For more information on Mayfaire check out this website; http://polkmuseumofart.org/events/mayfaire-by-the-lake/  It is regularly updated, and includes information on past and future Mayfaires.  We hope to see you there in 2014!