First stop, Lake Wales

Franklin & Rose

Thanks to Tiktok I had watched the journey of a small boutique from the beginning of its story. I had not had the chance to visit for myself yet, so that was first on the agenda. Franklin & Rose is an adorable clothing shop inside the historic Rhodesbilt Arcade building in downtown Lake Wales. On this gloomy morning, nothing else in the building was open, but that’s ok because the vast and colorful mural by artist Gillian Fazio was right behind it.

Bok Tower

While I didn’t visit on this trip, if you are going to head to Lake Wales, Bok Tower should be on your list if you have time. I wouldn’t advise going in the summer, it’s just too hot. However, in the early spring the blooming flowers are absolutely gorgeous and you can take your time and enjoy the short walking trails or even bring a picnic to enjoy on the sprawling lawns. There is a fee to get in, but you can spend as much time as you’d like there.

Next, Winter Haven

Honeycomb Bakery

It’s clear the locals love this spot because the bakery was packed on a cold and rainy morning. Thankfully they have covered outdoor seating where we could enjoy an excellent latte and one of the best almond croissants I’ve had in recent memory. Other items on the menu, including toasts, all allow the winner, their fresh bread to be the star. I would recommend this as a stop.

Second-hand shopping

We had a few spots on our list including Treasure House Antiques and Sherman Antiques. If you only had time for one I would lean toward visiting Sherman Antiques. It’s huge with a downstairs area, and the owners were very pleasant and helpful.

Coffee Break #2

N+1 Coffee

N+1 Coffee is a tiny spot that made a delicious oat milk matcha. There is indoor seating, but nothing outdoors. It’s also right next to another Gillian Fazio "Haven" mural. There was also a vintage/thrift store next to the mural I popped inside to visit. Came away empty-handed, but it had a cool vibe and friendly peeps.

Regroup and Brew

Grove Roots Brewing

This local brewery was a quick pit stop while we recharged and double-checked if there were shops around that we had missed that we could still make a stop at (side note, a lot of places in this area and Lake Wales close early, even on the weekend). A quick grapefruit IPA and a hot and buttery pretzel from the food truck on hand proved to be a great idea. This spot had plentiful outdoor seating, both covered and out in the courtyard to enjoy on a beautiful day.

Sweet Break

The Donut Man

This shop is locally owned and a staple in the community. It was incredibly refreshing to visit a donut shop where the flavors were plentiful and the price was under $2. I know we have the Donut King over my way, but these were better.

Local shopping

80s Arcade

We were excited about this shop that, according to our research, would have a good selection of retro games. There is even a room in the back with a few arcade games to play. The owner has done a great job with the shop's overall look, very retro with TVs playing old 80s music videos. Also, I saw Pop figures here I’ve never seen before, even at huge warehouse-type collectible shops. However, no one acknowledged our presence the entire time until a purchase was made (about 20 minutes), which was disappointing. Cool shop, but not very friendly or helpful.

Dinner Time

Adler’s

Nutwood was where I had initially planned to have dinner, but the rainy weather wasn’t cooperating with outdoor dining. Thankfully Adlers was recommended by a local, and had covered outdoor seats. They had an interesting Bánh mì burger as one of their specials that I wanted to try. Overall it was pretty good, I could have done with the pork being a tad juicier, but the other standard burger that was ordered was solid, and they had great fries, so I’d recommend. Sorry to my vegan friends, this place did not look vegan-friendly.

Vintage Florida

The main drag of 19 through Winter Haven will have you passing by some pretty iconic signage. You'll see the still open Andy’s Igloo where you can walk up to the window for a milkshake, the single McDonald’s arch, which there are only 12 of left standing, and a movie theater at Grand Cinema that will transport you back in time.

As always, these guides are based on my own personally paid for travel and experiences and are not sponsored in anyway.