Story Ideas  -  Central Florida's Polk County

LEGOLAND® Florida, NOW OPEN... in Winter Haven, at the site of the former Cypress Gardens. In effect, Florida's first theme park has become Florida's newest! LEGOLAND Florida is dedicated to families with children ages 2 to 12, and is the largest LEGOLAND® Park in the world. The 150-acre property offers a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions; plus restaurants, shops and a beautiful botanical garden. Spectacular LEGO® models are found throughout ten themed "Lands" which include The Beginning, Fun Town, Miniland USA, LEGO Kingdoms, Land of Adventure, LEGO® TECHNIC, LEGO City, Imagination Zone, Pirates' Cove and DUPLO® Village. For photography, video and media comp admission policy, visit their press page http://florida.legoland.com/en/about/press/ and YouTube channel  www.youtube.com/user/LEGOLANDFl. LEGOLAND Florida opens their new Water Park attraction on May 26 - just in time to kick off the 2012 summer season!

Westgate River Ranch Resort - An Authentic "Dude Ranch" Experience Awaits! Visitors can unleash their inner cowboy and leave their "city slicker" worries behind.  At this 1,700-acre ponderosa of winding trails and pristine waters, guests enjoy horseback riding, guided nature hikes, fishing, boating, swimming, trap and skeet shooting, airboat or swamp buggy rides,   hayrides and a petting zoo.  Line-dance at the River Ranch Saloon or attend a sanctioned, Saturday night rodeo. Westgate River Ranch blends the best that nature has to offer with outstanding ranch activities the whole family can enjoy.  www.WGRiverRanch.com

Bok Tower Gardens - Serene Beauty and Timeless Architecture. Voted "Florida's Best Garden," this National Historic Landmark was dedicated in 1929 as a gift to the American people from Dutch immigrant and world peace advocate Edward Bok. Nearly 700 acres of conservation lands and gardens surround the 205-foot neo-Gothic and art deco "Singing Tower" carillon and the Pinewood Estate, a 20-room, Mediterranean-style 1930s winter retreat. A haven for wildlife, Bok Tower Gardens sits on one of peninsular Florida's highest points and is home to more than 120 bird species, the threatened gopher tortoise and rare plants found nowhere else in the world. www.BokTowerGardens.org

Fantasy of Flight - Experience the World's Greatest Aviation Attraction. This stunning art deco facility is home to more than 40 rare and vintage aircraft - many of which have been    restored to flyable condition. But that is just the beginning - visitors can enjoy the magic of open air flight by taking a biplane or hot air balloon ride.  There are a variety of guided tours including visits to working restoration and maintenance areas; and a daily aerial demonstration (weather permitting). Visitors can take a spin on a state-of-the-art hang gliding simulator, enjoy a taste of Florida's citrus history on the quaint Orlampa Express orange grove trolley tour or test their courage on the thrilling new "Wing WalkAir" ropes course and zip line. For more information visit www.FantasyofFlight.com/Wing-Walk-Air.

Safari Wilderness Ranch - Experience An Authentic Safari Adventure!

Safari Wilderness Ranch, opening March 2012 in Central Florida, is not a zoo or theme park. There are no crowds and no lines.  Safari through large herds of exotic game on 260 acres of pristine wilderness in customized safari vehicles, fitted with shade canopies and stadium    seating.  For a more exotic adventure, view wild game on camel back, by llama back, or by horse-drawn carriage. Indulge your senses in lemur and budgie parakeet encounters. This  family-owned, licensed working game ranch specializes in wetland exotic species, Watusi and Irish Dexter cattle, and Austrian Haflinger horses. Tours daily, by reservation only. www.SafariWilderness.com.

FUN... it's in our Nature! - Some of Our Best Attractions Took 4 Million Years to Build!  Central Florida's Polk County is home to some of the best preserved nature areas in Florida with 554 lakes, 37 nature parks and preserves - spanning more than 25,000 acres of environmental lands - and the Lake Wales Ridge.  Long before Florida had theme parks or even humans, Central Florida was mostly covered by ocean and the eastern part of Polk County was its beach. Now that unique Lake Wales Ridge is home to many rare plant and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world!  Explore our beautiful parks, lakes and nature areas by airboat (pictured), hiking trail or cycling path. Go birding, kayaking and wildlife watching or try fishing in the "Largemouth Bass Capital of the World" on one of our 554 sparkling lakes. In Central Florida's Polk County, the choices are as diverse as the wildlife.

Architecture and Art - At the Heart of Central Florida.  Visitors to Polk County can tour the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world, consisting of twelve completed structures including a water dome (pictured). The collection is located on the Florida Southern College campus in Lakeland, and both paid and self-guided walking tours are available. The Polk Museum of Art, also in Lakeland, offers a permanent collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts along with various collections and rotating exhibits on display in eight galleries and a sculpture garden. www.FLSouthern.edu/fllwctr  and  www.PolkMuseumofArt.org

Discover Florida's Best Golfing Value - Central Florida's Polk County.  With a superb reputation for golf - and historic and championship courses such as Southern Dunes, The Club at Eaglebrooke and Ridgewood Lakes, Central Florida's Polk County boasts courses designed by some of the game's greatest architects, impeccably manicured greens and top-rated   championship layouts - all at values other golf hot spots can't match. And NEW in Late 2012: The new Streamsong Resort and Spa (opening 2013) unveils two spectacular new, intertwining 18-hole courses in December 2012 by renowned golf course architects Tom Doak, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.  www.StreamsongResort.com

Vacation Rental Homes - Spread Out and Soak Up the Sun. Come enjoy comfortable    accommodations and a warm welcome to Central Florida's Polk County in one of more than 6,500 luxury vacation homes and condominiums. Just minutes away from Central Florida's attractions and a short drive to the Gulf and Atlantic beaches, these properties are convenient and affordable. They're the perfect "home away from home," with the amenities and elbow room that families need, including full kitchens, spacious furnished living areas and washer/dryer units. The properties range from two to seven bedrooms and most include private, screened-in swimming pools. They are also ideal for golf vacations since many of these homes are located in communities right on some of Central Florida's best golf courses.

Contact: Kris Keprios

Central Florida VCB

2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road

Auburndale, FL 33823

Phone: 863-551-4727

Email:      Kris@VisitCentralFlorida.org
Website: www.VisitCentralFlorida.org 
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