Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida - this is where I was born and raised. As a matter of fact, 33809 is the ZIP code that I spent 47 years of my life in. Lakeland is small enough to still be considered the small town is has always been, although it has grown considerably over the years. Lakeland is situated right in between Tampa and Orlando, so you can travel either direction for the best theme parks in existence. If it is the ocean that you're after, then Lakeland is also between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, so the choice is yours!
Now, as far as what Lakeland itself has to offer, you do not have to venture out of Lakeland to have a good time. Downtown Lakeland has some of the best dining experiences that you will find, as well as the best shopping. What about family fun? There are breathtaking parks, biking trails, and a weekly Downtown Farmer's Market held every Saturday, as well as First Friday events held on Friday evenings downtown, where they close off a few of the downtown streets, bring in live music, have vendors set up on the sidewalks, and each month it is a different theme that the event is focused around.
What about arts? Lakeland holds various art festivals throughout the year, including what is probably it's most popular tradition, Mayfair by the Lake, which is always held on Mother's Day Weekend and features artists who display their art around our beautiful Lake Morton, for the community to spend the day strolling around the lake while viewing their creations and hopefully taking home a piece or two to display in their home. Lakeland is also home to the Polk Museum of Art, which displays beautiful works and collections.
I'd be doing a disservice if, while speaking of the arts, I failed to mention Lois Cowles Harrison School of the Performing Arts, which is a high school right here in Lakeland. This is an audition-based high school for highly talented students. If you have a child who is gifted in the art of dance, theater, musical theater, visual arts, orchestra, jazz, guitar, voice, piano, or stage management, you may want to look into this high school.
Parks:
https://polknature.com/explore/circle-b-bar-reserve
https://bonnetspringspark.com/
Dining:
https://www.texascattlecompany.net/
https://hookedonharrys.com/location/lakeland/
Night Life:
Recreation: