Page 66 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2025

UNIQUE
OVERNIGHT
STAYS
At Westgate River Ranch,
spend nights curling up in
these one-of-a-kind
accommodations: teepee with
a vintage claw-foot tub, a
cozy Conestoga wagon, and a
stand-alone saddle club rail
car. Or, choose an air-
conditioned glamping cabin
or luxury tent.
By Design
Architectural gold mines aren’t typically found
on college campuses, but it’s on the grounds of
Florida Southern College in Lakeland where I
find Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest single-site col-
lection of work in the world. The 13 structures,
including his largest water feature and the
iconic Annie Pfeiffer chapel, sit on beautiful
Lake Hollingsworth.
Exploring the sprawling 32-hectare labyrinth of
buildings and covered walkways, his designs seem
as futuristic today as they must have been when
built in the 1930s and ’40s. Wright’s aim was to
create a “truly American campus” and as I bypass
students heading to the well-preserved lecture
halls, it’s clear his vision came to life.
Bells and Whistles
Under a blazing sun, birds whirling overhead, I enter
Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales and soon spot an
Art Deco tower. It’s the Singing Tower, its bronze-cast
façade soaring 63 metres, appearing to rise straight
from the earth. The lyrical notes from these carillon
bells grow louder, as if the music is the soundtrack
of this serene space. Built atop Iron Mountain, it is
one of the highest points in peninsular Florida. A
National Historic Landmark, Bok Tower Gardens is
often called America’s Taj Mahal, spanning 250 acres
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DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2025
of curated gardens. Strolling through meandering
trails that reveal reflection pools and expansive
vistas, it feels like a theme park for the meditative—
and better than any app I’ve downloaded.
Back at the Ranch
Cowboys in Central Florida? Yessir. At Westgate
River Ranch in eastern Polk County, I’m drawn into
the Wild West. Here, cowboy boots replace open-
toe sandals. It’s a nod to Florida’s first cowboys, the
“Florida Crackers,” who hailed from these parts
before they headed west. To embrace the rancher
spirit, I take a trapshooting lesson, learning to
load, aim and fire. I pull my baseball cap down
against the sun and notice clay pigeons are as
tough to hit as real birds. I chalk it up to improper
footwear. Surveying the 688-hectare property, it’s
clear why it remains the largest dude ranch east of
the Mississippi.
As I scan the endless horizon, I’m reminded of
those titans—Wright, Pope and Bok—and how they
would surely be thrilled knowing their legacies
endure in Central Florida’s sweet spot.
DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
To start your trip planning to Central
Florida, visitcentralflorida.org
PHOTOS: SAFARI WILDERNESS | GRACE TOBY