[sugarcane]

I'm a recent college grad. relocating from Miami. I recently accepted a job in Lakeland and will need to find somewhere to stay by 2/1. I've already been apartment hunting twice (once after my final interview and once last weekend) and looked at around 12 apartments including Victoria Manor, Arbor Glen, Huntington at Sundance, Audubon Oaks, Carlton Arms (both of them), Village at Lake Highland, Paddock Club, Madison at Lake Gibson, Parke 33 and Cambridge Cove.

Some questions I have:
1. What's the commute like going from North to South Lakeland in the morning? One of the apartments I really liked (Arbor Glen) is close to I-4, would that help any?
2. I'm in my early 20s, would it be feasible for me to live in Tampa or Orlando and just commute to Lakeland? I didn't really see a lot of people my own age hanging around and that kinda scared me. I was raised in a small town but would Miami -> Lakeland be too much of jump?
3. Do you have any advice/experience with any of the complexes I listed? Any areas I should avoid?

Feel free to add any advice or words of encouragement.. I'm a little nervous, lol.

Thanks in advance!

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by sugarcane

I'm a recent college grad. relocating from Miami. I recently accepted a job in Lakeland and will need to find somewhere to stay by 2/1. I've already been apartment hunting twice (once after my final interview and once last weekend) and looked at around 12 apartments including Victoria Manor, Arbor Glen, Huntington at Sundance, Audubon Oaks, Carlton Arms (both of them), Village at Lake Highland, Paddock Club, Madison at Lake Gibson, Parke 33 and Cambridge Cove.

Some questions I have:
1. What's the commute like going from North to South Lakeland in the morning? One of the apartments I really liked (Arbor Glen) is close to I-4, would that help any?
2. I'm in my early 20s, would it be feasible for me to live in Tampa or Orlando and just commute to Lakeland? I didn't really see a lot of people my own age hanging around and that kinda scared me. I was raised in a small town but would Miami -> Lakeland be too much of jump?
3. Do you have any advice/experience with any of the complexes I listed? Any areas I should avoid?

Feel free to add any advice or words of encouragement.. I'm a little nervous, lol.

Thanks in advance!

1) I-4 has nothing to do with the north-south commute in Lakeland. Lakeland Hills Blvd to S. Florida Ave is what you'll be using for that more than likely from Arbor Glen. US-98 is the other North-South road and both have lots of redlights and lots of traffic. How far south in South Lakeland do you work?

2) Lakeland is not a happening place. It is ok for retired folks but if you like excitement you better pick Tampa or Orlando although I would never want to travel that far for work. I-4 rush hour is HORRIBLE. Coming from Miami you will be in for a culture shock, I was born and raised in Amish Country, PA and even I am shocked at how backwards this place can be at times, lol. You would have to live here to understand.

Now if you love nature and fishing you may really enjoy the area.

3) I never lived in any of those apartments so I can't really comment. Check online apartment reviews at www .apartmentratings. com , I have found them overall to be pretty accurate. Anything under 60% forget about it. You still need to visit the complex during the night to get a better feel of the REAL area. I would recommend checking out Willowbrooke Apartments in South Lakeland. You would be closer to your work and live in a nice section of the city.

As for areas to avoid: stay away from North, West, and East Lakeland especially during the night unless you like drugs, prostitutes, rampant homelessness, thefts, burglaries, assaults, murders, etc. North of North Lakeland around I-4 is generally pretty safe and nice. I just hate the traffic up there. I live in East Lakeland and am familiar with the ENTIRE city.

Lakeland is really a city that people either love or hate. You'll just have to find out for yourself if it is right for you. Since you already have a job lined up here you really have nothing to lose by trying it out. Stick to South, Downtown, or North North Lakeland and you'll be fine.

Best of luck on your move. I hope you love Lakeland and everything works out for you.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by sugarcane

I'm a recent college grad. relocating from Miami. I recently accepted a job in Lakeland and will need to find somewhere to stay by 2/1. I've already been apartment hunting twice (once after my final interview and once last weekend) and looked at around 12 apartments including Victoria Manor, Arbor Glen, Huntington at Sundance, Audubon Oaks, Carlton Arms (both of them), Village at Lake Highland, Paddock Club, Madison at Lake Gibson, Parke 33 and Cambridge Cove.

Some questions I have:
1. What's the commute like going from North to South Lakeland in the morning? One of the apartments I really liked (Arbor Glen) is close to I-4, would that help any?
2. I'm in my early 20s, would it be feasible for me to live in Tampa or Orlando and just commute to Lakeland? I didn't really see a lot of people my own age hanging around and that kinda scared me. I was raised in a small town but would Miami -> Lakeland be too much of jump?
3. Do you have any advice/experience with any of the complexes I listed? Any areas I should avoid?

Feel free to add any advice or words of encouragement.. I'm a little nervous, lol.

Thanks in advance!

Different people have different experiences; I respect that the poster above has not had good experiences here in Lakeland, we on the other hand have enjoyed the year and a half we have lived here.

I WILL say, that as a young person you will enjoy Tampa a lot more than Lakeland unless you are more of a sports/nature person and don't need nightclubs and such. There are some young people in Lakeland due to Florida Southern College and several other very small colleges, but there are lot of older folks, as you will find in many places in Florida. The move from Miami to Lakeland will probably be too much of a shock, honestly.

The commute between Lakeland/Tampa could be anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending where you are going point-to-point. If you live in Lakeland itself, I would live in southside Lakeland, much nicer and you can commute on the Polk Parkway to I-4, which is what my husband was doing to get to downtown Tampa.

Congrats on getting a job in these times, and good luck!

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Different people have different experiences; I respect that the poster above has not had good experiences here in Lakeland, we on the other hand have enjoyed the year and a half we have lived here.

You also lived in one of the best areas of the city. You mentioned in another post living near Lake Hollingsworth, I love that area there and the beautiful mansions along the lake. And even living in the best, safest area you didn't stay in Lakeland for very long, I don't blame you for escaping this crime ridden city but a normal working class person will have a much much different opinion of Lakeland than someone living amongst the wealthy or someone who just drove through the city, visited Downtown or saw a pretty picture in a magazine or on the internet.

I think you picked a perfect time to leave because this year is going to be even worse than the last. For such a little city, Lakeland sure has a lot of crime.

Sarasota is a million times better than Lakeland anyday.
Take care.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Lakeland Yankee

You also lived in one of the best areas of the city. You mentioned in another post living near Lake Hollingsworth, I love that area there and the beautiful mansions along the lake. And even living in the best, safest area you didn't stay in Lakeland for very long, I don't blame you for escaping this crime ridden city but a normal working class person will have a much much different opinion of Lakeland than someone living amongst the wealthy or someone who just drove through the city, visited Downtown or saw a pretty picture in a magazine or on the internet.

I think you picked a perfect time to leave because this year is going to be even worse than the last. For such a little city, Lakeland sure has a lot of crime.

Sarasota is a million times better than Lakeland anyday.
Take care.

Lakeland Yankee - I wish you luck and godspeed on getting back to the place you want to be. Although we lived near Lake Hollingsworth, we were not in the area with the mansions, our little neighborhood was between Edgewood and Beacon with Carolina the eastern border - this area just small bungalows and rentals. Still, we had no problems there. We didn't leave because of anything bad, we have history in Sarasota together, and frankly you are correct in what you said - Sarasota is 100 times better (at least for us) than Lakeland; even though we didn't think Lakeland was a bad place to be.

Everyone is looking for something different in a town; and frankly we thought we were reasonably happy until we moved back to Sarasota and truly found paradise.

Once again, good luck on finding your way back to your own paradise.

[sugarcane]

Thank you both for your advice! I know I-4 is not a North-South highway, but I-4 leads to Polk Parkway which appears to be a quicker route to South Lakeland. Well, that's what mapquest said anyway :P I think I'll be going with one of the apartments in North North Lakeland. Both the apartments and the prices seem to be better up there although I do agree, South Lakeland seems to be a nicer neighborhood.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by sugarcane

Thank you both for your advice! I know I-4 is not a North-South highway, but I-4 leads to Polk Parkway which appears to be a quicker route to South Lakeland. Well, that's what mapquest said anyway :P I think I'll be going with one of the apartments in North North Lakeland. Both the apartments and the prices seem to be better up there although I do agree, South Lakeland seems to be a nicer neighborhood.

The Polk Parkway might save you some traffic hassles but it might not be worth the costs depending on where you'll be working.

Here's a map of the tolls to check out
http://www.floridasturnpike.com/maps...lk_parkway.pdf

[sugarcane]

Thank you so much for the toll map! I wish I could've found that while I was still in Miami.. lol.

Just an update - - I decided to go with Arbor Glen. Yes, I would have rather gone to Tampa but I just didn't have enough time to apartment search like I wanted to. At Arbor Glen the pricing is a bit high though, and since I paid my deposit I've gotten a couple calls from another complex with better deals. Advice to anyone looking for an apartment here - - look around! There are all sorts of crazy deals in Lakeland right now.

As far as the work situation goes, living close to I-4 is going to work out well. I take I-4 to County Line Road and the traffic is surprisingly not that bad in the A.M.. few lights and best of all - no tolls!

Thanks again for the advice!