Winter Haven is a city of about 50,000 in Polk County, Florida, situated in the heart of the state between Tampa and Orlando on the Chain of Lakes — a series of interconnected lakes linked by canals. The area was famous for water skiing tourism through much of the 20th century, and LEGOLAND Florida, which opened in 2011 on the former site of the Cypress Gardens theme park, is now the city's main attraction.
Cypress Gardens itself opened in 1936 and was one of Florida's first theme parks, known for its elaborate botanical gardens and water ski shows. The botanical gardens survive within LEGOLAND, and are genuinely worth seeing if you are visiting the park. The Downtown Historic District has a handful of good independent cafes and restaurants in its revitalised 1920s storefronts. Bok Tower Gardens, a National Historic Landmark with a carillon tower and beautiful landscape gardens, is about 30 minutes south near Lake Wales and is one of the most underrated attractions in the state.