THINGS TO DO
Below you will find some of our favorite places in Lakeland & Tampa. We hope all of our out of town family and friends (and the locals) will have the time to enjoy some of these places as much as we do!
THINGS TO DRINK
Buddy Brew Coffee
If you happen to deplane in Airside F (TPA), you'll walk by Buddy Brew's airport location before taking the tram to pick up your bags! If not, the original Buddy Brew location is located in between the airport and downtown Tampa on Kennedy Boulevard and has an awesome selection of coffee & food.
IG: @buddybrewcoffee
Foundation Coffee Co.
Located in the Seminole Heights neighborhood of Tampa, Foundation Coffee is just 10 minutes from Tampa International Airport and on your way over to Lakeland. Be sure to head to the back and sit outside on the patio!
IG: @foundationcoffeeco
Black & Brew
A great place in downtown Lakeland to grab coffee or tea! They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you go on Saturday, make sure to try the tomato & red pepper bisque soup (yes - even though this is a recommended coffee stop).
IG: @blackandbrew
Concord Coffee
Located about 3 1/2 miles from both hotels & 2 miles from Haus 820, Concord Coffee is our favorite Lakeland coffee spot!
IG: @concordcoffee
THINGS TO EAT
Oxford Exchange
Our go-to brunch spot! Fun fact: I actually asked Kara to prom at the Oxford Exchange the first time we ever ate there. When Kara and I were dating long-distance and she would come to Tampa, we always made it a point to go to the Oxford Exchange (and still go there pretty regularly).
Brooks' favorite - any of the pancakes (they change seasonally)
Kara's favorite - the Super Simple Sandwich or the Kale Scramble
IG: @oxfordexchange
Palace Pizza
Fake brick and vine-clad walls invite you to enjoy some great homemade pizza and pasta! Number 4 out of 364 restaurants in Lakeland according to TripAdvisor, but number 1 in our hearts.
To answer your question: Yes - Kara and I did eat all four of these pieces of pizza and three garlic knots in one sitting.
Hole in One Donuts
Get the breakfast special: a breakfast sandwich, donut, and medium drink (coffee or fountain drink) for $3.99. Trust us. You won't regret it.
THINGS TO SEE
Tampa Postcard mural
Within the mural's "Tampa" letters are some of the city's most notable landmarks, including the University of Tampa, Ybor City's yellow streetcars, and the Gasparilla pirate ship invasion (think Mardi Gras... but smaller... and with pirates). A great Tampa photo op!
Florida Southern College
Fun fact: Kara and I love walking around college campuses (not sure why... it's just one of our "things"), and Florida Southern is one of the best. Located on Lake Hollingsworth, the college is home to the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.
Lake Mirror
Located just half a mile from Haus 820 (and right off of Main Street in downtown Lakeland), Lake Mirror is a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy the outdoors.
Hollis Garden
Make sure to take a stroll through Hollis Garden, located on the south side of Lake Mirror! The gardens are open from 10am-6pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-4pm Friday & Saturday.