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Through Heather's Looking Glass

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Hidden Gems in Central Florida

July 12, 2024 | Travel

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Visit Central Florida, however, all opinions are my own.

On our recent trip to central Florida, we stayed a few days in Polk county. It has so much to offer families, and we found a ton to do! Check out these hidden gems we discovered and why we loved them!

Camp Margaritaville Auburndale: We love the Margaritaville brand and loved the laid back vibe of this location. We don’t have an RV, so we appreciated the lodging option of a cute “cabana cabin” complete with back porch overlooking the water. Emma Kate loved the pool and waterslide, and we loved that one of the restaurants is adjacent to the pool so we didn’t have to leave the pool area to eat dinner. (We also did laundry right by the pool, super convenient!) They also have certain cabins that are pet friendly! The whole vibe of this place is just laid back and fun!
Visit Central Florida
Black and Brew: This coffee shop is in downtown Lakeland (which is adorable by the way) and has indoor and outdoor seating. My iced vanilla latte was delicious and Emma Kate enjoyed a greek yogurt bowl that held her over perfectly until lunch. This would be a great place to get some work done on my laptop, too!
Visit Central Florida
Florida Children’s Museum: This museum was HUGE and had so many fun exhibits! They have mostly indoor activities but do have a few outdoor things. The second floor with the little city was my favorite. Emma Kate got to shop for groceries, work at a food truck, run a doctor’s office, and become a fireman. It was just too adorable. It’s a great way to beat the Florida heat.
The Back Nine: This unique restaurant is in walkable downtown Lakeland and would make a perfect date night or family outing spot. Not only was the food really good, but they have golf simulators in the back. Fun for all!
Visit Central Florida
Harborside: This lakefront restaurant is in Winter Haven, and the lake was just so peaceful! The menu had a lot of seafood and steak, and Bobby was super pumped about the snow crab legs. He said they were delicious and was pretty impressed. I just loved the views!
This is just scratching the surface, there is so much more to see and do like Legoland and Bok Tower Gardens. That just means there needs to be a next time, right? Thank you Visit Central Florida for all the fun!
Related: Tips for Universal’s Volcano Bay Waterpark

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I am Heather Montgomery, a southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 11-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
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So it’s actually today…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 🎉 Ju So it’s actually today…HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 🎉 
July 13th happens to be a pretty great day if you ask me. 😜

Today I’m 41. I’m not a fan of odd numbers so I’m not sure yet how I feel about this year. 😆

I will say I am always very reflective on my birthday. I’m grateful for every year God has given me, and know how blessed I am to have even made it to 41. Each day is truly a gift, and I don’t always live or act like it. As someone who is “over the hill,” I find myself wanting to soak it all in and slow it all down more and more, but it just keeps getting faster and faster! 🫣

Here’s to another go around, and hopefully to many, many more. 🥂 

#birthdaygirl♥️ #itsmybirthday🎉 #rapunzelbirthday #julybirthday #birthdayweek
I was told @alaninutrition drinks wouldn’t make go I was told @alaninutrition drinks wouldn’t make good slushies in my new @ninjakitchen slushi. Challenge accepted. 🙋🏻‍♀️

While it’s true you need sugar to make a good slush and Alani energy drinks are lacking here, with an easy modification (fruit juice!) I got it to work, and boy was it delicious on a hot July day! ☀️ 

It was a fun, summery special occasion drink! What flavor combos should I try next? Hawaiian shaved ice + pineapple juice was so good! It was so easy I want to do it again! 🥤 

#ninjaslushi #alani #alaninu #summerdrink #drinkrecipe
Are you team “it’s still summer” or are you team “ Are you team “it’s still summer” or are you team “ready for fall?” ❓ 

I’m over here still living it up for late sunny evenings outside, swimsuits, and sun kissed cheeks! ☀️ 
@hobbylobby had me cracking up with all the products out on the shelves for fall and Christmas. But they have some ccuuutteee stuff! 

#teamsummer #teamfall #hobbylobby #hobbylobbyfinds #hobbylobbystyle
No offense to camping, but waking up on a Disney c No offense to camping, but waking up on a Disney cruise is a pretty strong upgrade. 😅 🚢 
Who’s with me? 🙋🏻‍♀️

We are SUPER excited because we just BOOKED a Disney cruise for fall break! Eeepppp! I’ll share more soon in my stories so check back! 

#disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneymeme #disneyfunny
🇺🇸 Happy 250 America! 🇺🇸 So thankful to live in t 🇺🇸 Happy 250 America! 🇺🇸 
So thankful to live in the land of the free because of the brave. 

We had a beautiful day celebrating our great country. 
❤️ 🤍 🩵

Walking to the parade and the golf cart we parked on the route earlier 

Dolly stayed at the house with Grammy 

Yearly parade tradition in my parents neighborhood 

🇺🇸🇺🇸

Luna girl got her paws in some sausage 🙄

Dolly in her happy place playing fetch while we grilled 

Another parade snap 

There were some adorable floats 

EK got to go tubing with some of my parents’ friends in the afternoon 

Homemade ice cream and brownies are a must 

As are sparklers while we wait for fireworks 

Papa 😆

Mom and her buddy before the fireworks 

🇺🇸🎉

40+ minute firework show. 

Waiting on the fairway for the show. Her favorite part of the day 

She gets to run around and play and I love watching her have fun! 

Fireworks set up 

🥹

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