Page 30 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter 2024/2025

Come on out to
CENTRAL FLORIDA.
The Weather’s Fine!
BY SUSAN B. BARNES
waiting for—cooler temperatures all day long
This is the time of year that Floridians have been
and into the night provide the perfect setting
for ample outdoor fun. From park explorations
to safari adventures to pirate escapades, in Central
Florida there are plenty of ways to spend days enjoying
its great outdoors.
Bonnet Springs Park
Just off I-4, the highway that runs through Central
Florida, you’ll discover the 69-hectare urban oasis,
Bonnet Springs Park. The park is situated on a former
railway yard, once the state’s largest train repair yard,
which has been transformed into a natural space easily
walkable from the town of Lakeland’s urban core.
One of the first spots to stop during a visit to Bonnet
Springs Park is the Hollis Family Welcome Center. Inside,
exhibits pay tribute to Central Florida’s railroad legacy
and citrus heritage, as well as other regional history.
The GiveWell Community Foundation Nature Center and
Edwards Boathouse do a fantastic job depicting the trans-
formation of the railyard to parkland, and are certainly
worth a visit.
Back outside spend time in the AgAmerica Heritage
Gardens, a linear garden of native plants and grasses
filled with natural shade and sweet scents. Little ones
will make a beeline for an old oak grove where a large
tree house full of gadgets and views is the big draw.
Called “the Kiwanis Cares for Kids Treehouse,” the kid-
friendly play area overlooks the park.
Safari Wilderness
In Lakeland, around Florida’s second largest wilderness
area (after the Everglades), it’s zebras and camels and
ostriches, oh my! Take a guided nature tour for epic
wildlife viewing at Safari Wilderness Ranch. Hop onto a
customized safari truck—or stay inside your own car—
and drive through 105 hectares of wilderness, hearing
stories about Florida’s natural history, including
wildlife conservation efforts. Extend your Florida safari
with a stay in one of the 10 safari glamping tents found
on the grounds. Overnight guests can add to their safari
experiences with exclusive sundowner safaris, bird-
watching safaris and mountain biking.
Pirate River Quest
Ahoy! Check out LEGOLAND
Florida’s Pirate River Quest.
The new family-friendly,
swashbuckling quest seats
adventurers in a boat to
search for Captain Red-
beard’s lost treasure. Stories
of the rowdy pirate crew will
keep everyone entertained
while floating on waterways
and spotting monkeys,
flamingos and maybe even a
kraken along the way.
Fun for the entire family, the new LEGOLAND attrac-
tion complements all of the other park rides. Extend
the “ahoy mateys” fun with an overnight stay at
LEGOLAND’s Pirate Island Hotel in Winter Haven. The
family-fun hotel offers nightly entertainment, in-room
treasure hunts, separate sleeping spaces, complimen-
tary breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more information on Central Florida,
visit visitcentralflorida.org
30
DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2024/2025
PHOTOS: VISIT CENTRAL FLORIDA