Spring Training Advice

by peazgrl on Mar 2, 2010 2:25 PM EST

My boyfriend and I will be spending next week in Lakeland, attending the games against the Braves and Yankees. My question is, does anyone have any advice about not only how to spend our baseball time there, but our non baseball time there? Is there a must try restaurant, a cool flea market to visit, or a special beach to lay out on? We just want to maximize our visit :) Thanks for the suggestions in advance!

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I don't really have any answers for you

but I’ll be there from the 10th-15th!

No Run Support

by allikazoo on Mar 2, 2010 4:38 PM EST reply actions

I'm also heading down next week.

Sunday through Thursday. I’d definitely appreciate any tips as well

Verlander.Porcello.Crosby.Scherzer.Turner: the future..?

by BrianCMU. on Mar 2, 2010 7:16 PM EST reply actions

Lakeland's alright.

The downtown’s small but quite pretty.

The seafood restaurant right across from Munn Park, Harry’s, is apparently quite good (although I hate seafood, so I wouldn’t really know). Just south on Kentucky is a pub called Molly McHughes; they serve up a delightful pint of Guinness.

If you like architecture, the buildings of Florida Southern College are very interesting; Frank Lloyd Wright designed quite a few of them.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, most of the hotels are up north of I-4; I’m going to be staying at Jameson Inn, and by all accounts it’s very nice and surprisingly inexpensive.

If Lakeland doesn’t thrill you, Tampa is just to the west; the Ybor City district is nice but has been oddly quiet every time I’ve been there, but the Tampa Bay Brewing Company has some really spectacular beers and might just be worth the trip alone. (I recommend their stout, although at 8% it packs quite a punch.)

If you’re looking for a nice little drive and a nice little ballpark, the Pirates play at a great little park in Bradenton, and the Cancun Mexican-Cuban Grill in town has spectacular food, despite its strip-mall location. (Speaking of malls, there’s a huge outlet mall on the outskirts of town; be prepared to see a lot of Canadian plates in the parking lot.)

Hope this helps!

by frisbeepilot on Mar 2, 2010 11:41 PM EST reply actions

Agreed.. not much to lakeland proper.

I keep promising myself I’ll write this stuff up one day, but here’s a start:

Downtown lakeland doesn’t have much, but there are a few restaurants and bars, etc. Little is open sunday morning, which I always forget on the way to a game. Last year there was a new little BBQ restaurant that hopefully is still open.

I normally stay in Tampa; its a lot closer to more stadiums (Yankees, Tampa Rays, Phillies, Blue Jays). Due to bridges / causeways, traffic can be a pain. But there are more things to do at night. Orlando also works if you’re commuting in.

Driving can be annoying as hell. Construction in tampa + people who like to run into each other leads to headaches. Be prepared. Especially as you get near water or bridges. Lakeland is in the middle of nowhere. Going to a game is rarely a problem, its heading out.

Not sure how much ‘must do’ things there are.. i’m always looking for a good vintage guitar shop and i haven’t found one there yet. Beaches near clearwater / St Pete’s can be cool. I also recommend Ybor city.. the Columbia restaurant (recommended a few years ago by one of the Tigers beat writers) is always a good time — i’ll have to check out the Brew company as recommended above. St Petersburg has a very good Dali museum.

I’m guessing you have flights (or are driving); i’ll just throw this out there for those looking to book: both orlando and tampa are good choices based on location to Lakeland. Tampa has by far THE FASTEST baggage claim system in the world; 3 out of the last 4 years my bag has been waiting for me. Orlando, you’re dealing with mouse country. Just an FYI.

My main beef with all of it is that nothing really is walkable. You have to drive everywhere.

Enjoy; i’ll be there march 19 – 22.

www.tigergeist.com

by jb_sf on Mar 3, 2010 5:36 PM EST reply actions

The problem with Tampa

I’ve always found that, unless you’re going with a higher-end hotel, there really isn’t much to choose from in terms of accommodations in Tampa (although I do recall staying at a decent Super 8 near the St Petersburg airport, but that’s a pretty fair hike from Lakeland, being west of Tampa).

by frisbeepilot on Mar 4, 2010 12:40 AM EST up reply actions