Winter Haven
Discover Winter Haven
Winter Haven is the second largest city in Polk County, Florida. The city was an agricultural center, but in the 1990s and 2000s, it has become a largely residential and manufacturing city. Winter Haven is home to Legoland and the "Chain of Lakes". Settled in the 1880s, Winter Haven became a transport hub for the citrus industry in the early 20th century. The city was incorporated in 1911.
What to Experience in Winter Haven
Taste of Winter Haven...
The Best Western is the closest hotel to Legoland and the only one within reasonable walking distance. Lake Roy Inn & Economy Suites are located a couple miles down Cypress Gardens Blvd. and a continuous sidewalk runs along the road, making these possible walking-distance choices. All hotels in this area are near bus stops along the route servicing Legoland. Free public internet access is available at the Winter Haven Library: There are two USPS post offices in town and one in the community of Eagle Lake: A visit to the emergency room is usually very expensive and, despite the title, often entails a long wait to be seen (unless you're having a heart attack, stroke, or similarly grave issue). Urgent care clinics are often the same insurance deductible as a regular doctor visit and offer services for urgent, but not life-threatening, issues—such as pain, broken bones, infections—when you are unable to see your primary care physician. Historic Lake Wales is just 15 miles away (about 10 from Legoland). Florida's Natural juice company has a "Grove House" across from their plant on U.S. 27 with information about the citrus industry and free samples. Spook Hill is an optical illusion where you appear to roll uphill relative to the surrounding terrain, although its actually a slight downhill slope.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Winter Haven into what it is today.
Settled in the 1880s, Winter Haven became a transport hub for the citrus industry in the early 20th century. The city was incorporated in 1911. Eastern Polk county has long been among the top citrus-producing regions in the country. Since there are a few dozen lakes in and around the city, the Chain of Lakes project to link many of them by canals was begun in 1915. Most of the current canals were built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps, although the original wood seawalls have rotted and been replaced by metal ones. The city was also home to Spring Training baseball, home to the Philadelphia Phillies (1928–1937), Boston Red Sox (1966–1992) and the Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) (1993–2008). In 1936, Cypress Gardens opened as the first commercial theme park in Florida. Cypress Gardens was famed for its water ski shows, Southern atmosphere, and lush gardens traversed by canals. Cypress Gardens struggled financially and closed in 2003. Several successive owners added roller coasters and a water park, but it closed again in 2009 and was transformed into Legoland Florida, which opened in October 2011. The original botanical gardens (owned and protected by the county) and the water ski show (a pirate-based one) have been incorporated into the new park and Southern belles—made of Legos, of course—have kept the memories of the original Cypress Gardens alive....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Winter Haven.
For more information and a complete list of public events, see the city's website or call ☏ +1 863 291-5656. There are no large shopping malls in Winter Haven. The nearest indoor shopping mall is Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, off U.S. 27 2 mi south of Cypress Gardens Blvd. The largest shopping center in town is Winter Haven Citi Centre between U.S. 17 (3rd St. SW) and 1st Street S and Avenues G & K SW. It features Belk & Macy's for clothing, Lowe's (home improvement), Staples (electronics & office supplies), Carraba's (Italian restaurant), Longhorn (steakhouse), and a dozen or so small stores. There are many small shops along Central Avenue in Downtown. A free parking garage is located on Ave A NW between 2nd & 3rd Streets NW. It was completed in 2012 with a picturesque facade designed to blend in with the surroundings. There is a large outdoor shopping center around the intersection of U.S. 17 and Cypress Gardens Blvd., called The Landings. It has a few restaurants.
Climate
Winter Haven was named for its temperate climate. The climate is much the same as the rest of Central Florida (except coasts). Winters are mild, with highs in the 70s (°F, 21-25°C) and lows in the 50s (°F, 10-15°C). Lows in the 30s (°F, 0-5°C) are common after cold fronts and there are usually a handful of lows below freezing each winter, although that requires clear skies, so it usually warms very rapidly after sunrise (30°F/-1°C at 6AM, 55°F/13°C by noon is typical). Cold fronts occasionally pass by as squall lines, so tornadoes in December or January are not unusual. Snow is rare; the last measurable snowfall was in 1977, although sleet/wintry mix fell in an unusually cold January 2010. Summers are hot and humid, with highs around 95°F (35°C) and lows in the mid-70s (°F, 23-25°C). The heat index averages around 97 °F (36 °C) for daytime highs and 78 °F (26 °C) for nighttime lows.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsWinter Haven Municipal Airport (GIF ) is on the far northwest corner of town (near Auburndale) and only handles general aviation. Brown's Seaplane Base (FAA LID: F57; ☏ +1 863 956-2243) is a privately operated, public-use airport on the west side of W.H. Municipal Airport and connected to it by a taxiway. It handles mostly seaplane traffic on Lake Jessie and is primarily a flight instruction school. The nearest major airport is Orlando International Airport, which is approximately 45 minutes away. Orlando has hundreds of daily domestic and international flights. Tampa International Airport is further away (about 1 hour 15 minutes), but has a simple layout and is a very convenient airport to get in/out of quickly. Winter Haven is a stop along the daily Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes. If you plan to arrive by train, you should have friends/family at the station to pick you up or have the phone number for a taxi to call when you arrive....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Most of Winter Haven proper uses a grid system consisting of lettered "avenues" running north-south & numbered streets running east-west. The center of this system is the intersection of Central Avenue and 1st Street on the east side of the small downtown area. With respect to this intersection, the city's streets are named Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), & Southwest (SW). The direction is very important for addresses! There can be 4 different locations with the address "100 Ave. A". With higher numbered streets/addresses, the distance between these locations can be several miles. The system is simple, but can be very confusing. Winter Haven is served by two bus services. Winter Haven Area Transit (WHAT) has many routes throughout the town. Citrus connection, serves Lakeland and several intercity routes between major towns in Polk County. Routes and information about both can be found here. All routes radiate from the downtown bus terminal. Adult fare is $1.
Where to Stay
The Best Western is the closest hotel to Legoland and the only one within reasonable walking distance. Lake Roy Inn & Economy Suites are located a couple miles down Cypress Gardens Blvd. and a continuous sidewalk runs along the road, making these possible walking-distance choices. All hotels in this area are near bus stops along the route servicing Legoland. Free public internet access is available at the Winter Haven Library: There are two USPS post offices in town and one in the community of Eagle Lake: A visit to the emergency room is usually very expensive and, despite the title, often entails a long wait to be seen (unless you're having a heart attack, stroke, or similarly grave issue). Urgent care clinics are often the same insurance deductible as a regular doctor visit and offer services for urgent, but not life-threatening, issues—such as pain, broken bones, infections—when you are unable to see your primary care physician.
Money & Budget
There are no large shopping malls in Winter Haven. The nearest indoor shopping mall is Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, off U.S. 27 2 mi south of Cypress Gardens Blvd. The largest shopping center in town is Winter Haven Citi Centre between U.S. 17 (3rd St. SW) and 1st Street S and Avenues G & K SW. It features Belk & Macy's for clothing, Lowe's (home improvement), Staples (electronics & office supplies), Carraba's (Italian restaurant), Longhorn (steakhouse), and a dozen or so small stores. There are many small shops along Central Avenue in Downtown. A free parking garage is located on Ave A NW between 2nd & 3rd Streets NW. It was completed in 2012 with a picturesque facade designed to blend in with the surroundings. There is a large outdoor shopping center around the intersection of U.S.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Winter Haven
Girl Behind a Fence
a red light house sitting on the end of a pier
Snow falling on a stone bridge over a street.
red house on snow field
Secluded Snowy Cabin
Lone surfer goes for a ride at Grand Haven State Park, MI in the middle of winter.
Before the dad joke (IG: @clay.banks)
Ice On The Beach
After the dad joke (IG: @clay.banks)
First time seeing snow on the beach //
Girl Behind a Fence
a red light house sitting on the end of a pier
Snow falling on a stone bridge over a street.