• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About/Hire Me
    • About Me
    • Hire Me
    • Contact
    • Family
    • Faith
    • FAQ
    • My Running Story
    • Recipes
  • Disney
  • Fitness
    • runDisney Information Page
    • Fitness
    • Races
  • Parenting
  • Travel

Through Heather's Looking Glass

  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • family
  • About Me

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

Like this:

Like Loading…

Sign up for my newsletter

Primary Sidebar

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!
Thank you for visiting, and feel free to contact me with questions, (or for PR inquiries or press trip invites) at Support@HeathersLookingGlass.com.

Please, no guest post requests. 🙂

More about me

Privacy Policy

You can also find me here:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Free Travel Planning with Best Day Ever Vacations (Yes, It’s Completely FREE!)
  • Mom Must-Haves for a Basketball Tournament: The Ultimate Survival Guide
  • Why Spring Is the Sweet Spot for Family Vacation on Alabama’s Beaches
  • You’ll Get It When You Get Here: A Spring Break on Alabama’s Beaches That Actually Feels Like a Break
  • A Word for 2026

 

Search

How to Start a Blog

How to start a blog
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
  • Disney
  • Fitness
  • Travel
  • Family
Being an adult is basically realizing every month Being an adult is basically realizing every month comes with a new expense you weren’t expecting. 🙃 (ad)

We’re always looking for ways to be intentional with our family’s decisions, which is why we’ve been learning more about Liberty HealthShare and the healthcare sharing community they’ve built.

Have you ever looked into healthcare sharing before? If you are curious like me, check out the link in my bio or stories for info!

#libertyhealthshare #healthshare #healthyfamilies #parentingchallenges #momlifeunfiltered @libertyhealthshare
Thinking about staying at Loews Royal Pacific Reso Thinking about staying at Loews Royal Pacific Resort? #hosted

A few things we loved:

🌴 Tropical island atmosphere that actually feels like an escape from the parks

🚤 Water taxi access to Universal CityWalk and the parks

🚶 Easy walking path if you’d rather skip the boat

🎢 Unlimited Express Pass included for registered guests

🏊 Beautiful pool area with plenty of space to relax between park days

For us, it was the perfect balance of resort time and theme park time.
Have you stayed at Loews Royal Pacific Resort, or is it on your Universal wish list?

*Valid on both arrival and checkout day. Please see the Universal Orlando website for rules and regulations for the unlimited express pass. Not valid at Epic Universe or Volcano Bay. Park tickets purchased separately. 

#loewsroyalpacific #universalorlandoresort #universalorlandohotels #universalhotels @universalorlando
There should be a support group for millennials wh There should be a support group for millennials who still think we’re the “young adults” in the room… until a casual conversation reminds us otherwise. 😭

Please tell me I’m not the only one who’s been personally victimized by the passage of time and a perky Gen Z girlie. 😂

Drop your most humbling “wait… I’m HOW old?” moment below.

#millennialmom #millennialparenting #millennialmemes #millennialwomen #millennialwomen
#ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time liv #ad #BraunPartner Less time shaving. More time living thanks to @BraunBeautyUS Smart IPL. ✨ 

I didn’t realize how much mental space hair removal was taking up until it just… wasn’t anymore. Between games, trips, and everything in between, having something I can do at home in minutes has been a total game changer. The app-guided treatments keep me consistent without having to think about it, and I’m already noticing smoother skin that actually lasts. And yes — the full-body, 10-minute-at-home situation still feels a little unreal. 

If you’ve been on the fence, Prime Day (June 14–27) is definitely the moment to check it out with $120 off. #BraunSmartIPL
Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: # Reasons our family loved Henderson Beach Resort: #HendersonPartner

💦 Multiple pools + lazy river

🍽️ Great dining options right on property

🌅 Gorgeous Gulf views and sunsets

🏖️ Beach chair rentals available right on the beach

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly while still feeling like a luxury getaway

✨ The kind of place that makes you immediately start planning your next trip

Current offer:Book a minimum 2-night stay and receive a $100 resort credit for your stay! (check with the resort for current availability and details).

Would you choose the beach or the lazy river?

#DestinFlorida #HendersonBeachResort #DestinFWB #FloridaVacation @thehendersonfl
We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we We didn’t set out looking for a “perfect” trip… we just needed a break from the noise.
What we found in Florida was something better than that. #ad

Our first stop in Auburndale was all about slowing down in the best way. We stayed in a cozy tiny home at Camp Margaritaville (you can also stay in an RV!). We enjoyed coffee on the porch, our daughter loved the pool and waterslide (there is even a splash zone for the littles!), and at night we slowed things down with s’mores instead of screens. It felt like nature + comfort + family time all finally in the same place. They have so many other amenities like mini golf, golf cart rentals, pickleball, a playground, cornhole, and more. Nearby, we explored the Florida Children’s Museum and had incredible food and drinks at Smith’s American Tavern and Black & Brew Coffee. 

Then, we headed over to Fort Myers to experience a completely different side of the state. Shelling walks at sunrise, beach volleyball, pool cabanas, and the kind of Gulf sunsets that make everyone go quiet for a minute. Direct beach access at the Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers made it effortless to go from “let’s check it out” to toes in the sand in minutes. There were several restaurants on property, so we never even got in our car. That plus live music, fire pits, the spa, and lawn games made it easy to want to stay put and relax.

What stood out most wasn’t just the scenery… it was how easy it was to actually be together here. No rushing or overplanning. That’s the true Floridays feeling for me. Laid-back, a little unexpected, and exactly what we didn’t know we needed. 🌴☀️

@VISITFLORIDA @visitfortmyers, @visitcentralfl 
#VISITFLORIDA #LoveFL #MyFortMyers #MargaritavilleResorts FamilyTravel FloridaTravel TravelWithKids
When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we h When the Smoky Mountain heat gets unbearable, we head to Pigeon Forge Snow. ❄️ #sponsored 

One of our favorite family activities in Pigeon Forge because you can snow tube year-round, rain or shine, without worrying about the weather outside. 

My daughter could do the tubing hill over and over, and the indoor snow play area makes it even more fun. Honestly such a good break from the summer heat. Plus, it’s super close to nearby attractions like Dollywood and several mountain coasters. 

Click the 🔗 in my bio to save on your next visit to the Smokies!

 #pigeonforgesnow @pigeonforgesnow

Copyright © 2026 · Through Heather's Looking Glass · Theme by Bella Creative Studio

Loading Comments...

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d