Moving there for school, work?
Lake Mer is a popular spot just off downtown to walk and spend endless times. Mitchell’s Coffeehouse is popular, good way to make friends & good coffee & muffins. The Art Museum has concerts sometimes, Ellen Chastain at the the museum knows all about music events in the area. A good local band: The Love Affair, can be found on myspace. E-mail me at k.schnitz@gmail.com with any further questions.

Umm… don’t. =)

Seriously, though…
I grew up there. It’s a cool old-Florida kinda town. (I think cohesive is talking about Lake Mirror.) If anyone talks of “The Lake,” they’re referring to Lake Hollingsworth and prolly about doing something on the 3-mile perimeter trail.

There’s usually lots going on as far as music and arts and it all depends on your tastes. Downtown, off Kentucky is a great Irish pub (Molly McHugh’s) and around the corner off Main is Lillian’s… they have a pretty regular band schedule.

One good thing about it is that you’re almost halfway between Orlando and Tampa, so your choices are practically limitless.

If you like thunderstorms, Lakeland has some of the best (Polk County is the lightning capital of the world).

http://www.thelakelandwebsite.com/
http://www.lakeland.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeland,_Florida