[floridagal09]

Hey there! My husband and I are moving down to the Lake Wales/Winter Haven area in October and need help deciding where to look for a rental home. We have been used to living in places where we enjoy culture, proximity to colleges, good libraries, kayaking, and walking/biking trails. Can you help us pinpoint within this general area where best to look? It's just my husband and me, no kids, ages mid-40s to mid-50s. The new job is in Lake Wales. Thanks in advance!

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by floridagal09

Hey there! My husband and I are moving down to the Lake Wales/Winter Haven area in October and need help deciding where to look for a rental home. We have been used to living in places where we enjoy culture, proximity to colleges, good libraries, kayaking, and walking/biking trails. Can you help us pinpoint within this general area where best to look? It's just my husband and me, no kids, ages mid-40s to mid-50s. The new job is in Lake Wales. Thanks in advance!

I would look to live in Winter Haven, it's not that far to Lake Wales. Lake Wales is a charming little town, but you will have more to do of what you like in Winter Haven - Winter Haven has a beautiful small downtown with a nice park and a gorgeous new library. They have a lot of little festivals downtown there as well, not to mention the chain-of-lakes. Plus, from Winter Haven it's an easy drive to Lakeland for colleges, more trails and more stuff to do. It's all a really gorgeous area, you will love it!

[Aconite]

Culture? Good libraries? Winter Haven?

You may want to do a little more research, unless you enjoy driving. Tampa is about an hour, as is Orlando, and you're going to end up making the trip into the city more often than not if you really want something like you describe.

Lake Wales is a charming little town, particularly if you're white, Christian, Republican and middle class. There are some relatively cute older areas in Winter Haven near Lake Howard (same disclaimer).

Good luck with your search.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Aconite

Culture? Good libraries? Winter Haven?

You may want to do a little more research, unless you enjoy driving. Tampa is about an hour, as is Orlando, and you're going to end up making the trip into the city more often than not if you really want something like you describe.

Lake Wales is a charming little town, particularly if you're white, Christian, Republican and middle class. There are some relatively cute older areas in Winter Haven near Lake Howard (same disclaimer).

Good luck with your search.

Gee, have you ever even BEEN to Winter Haven? It's a beautiful smaller city, and has a brand new 32,000 sq. ft state-of-the-art library. Also, the OP will be working in Lake Wales so don't think they want to move to Tampa or Orlando. IMO, Winter Haven is a pretty nice town if they don't want to be too far from work. Here is a nice website:

http://www.mywinterhaven.com/

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by floridagal09

Hey there! My husband and I are moving down to the Lake Wales/Winter Haven area in October and need help deciding where to look for a rental home. We have been used to living in places where we enjoy culture, proximity to colleges, good libraries, kayaking, and walking/biking trails. Can you help us pinpoint within this general area where best to look? It's just my husband and me, no kids, ages mid-40s to mid-50s. The new job is in Lake Wales. Thanks in advance!

Lake Wales would easily be my choice. Winter Haven is a bit run down in a lot of areas and is overrun with elderly retirees. WH is like a mini Lakeland (this is obviously not a good thing).

Lake Wales is a much better choice (cleaner, safer, less run down, less crime, less traffic, etc) . Both cities have numerous outdoor opportunities although WH would have more lakes and better kayak access.

Please visit both areas and you will see how much better and less ghetto looking Lake Wales is.

Best of luck.

[Nomadicus]

My 2¢ is for Winter Haven. Lots of newer developments in between WH and LW...Best medical facilities in WH....Bad areas in both. Good areas in both. College in WH. Explore first.

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Gee, have you ever even BEEN to Winter Haven? It's a beautiful smaller city, and has a brand new 32,000 sq. ft state-of-the-art library. Also, the OP will be working in Lake Wales so don't think they want to move to Tampa or Orlando. IMO, Winter Haven is a pretty nice town if they don't want to be too far from work. Here is a nice website:

http://www.mywinterhaven.com/

Gypsy, I've been to Winter Haven a number of times recently, as I have several family members still living there.

Never suggested moving to Tampa or Orlando (since the OP didn't bring it up)-- but if she're looking for cultural events, it's a distinct possibility that the drive either direction is in her future. Winter Haven and Lake Wales aren't exactly overrun with Broadway productions, ballet, orchestra, jazz festivals, museums, universities...Sarasota , sure, but Winter Haven? Mmmm...not so much. (And yes, I know, Sarasota is too long a commute and was never brought up to begin with. Purely a yardstick for small cities with actual cultural events.)

My opinions of the place may be different from yours (hence the word "opinion", rather than "census statistics", which are Google-able if the OP had only wanted that), but they are every bit as valid. Diversity is a lovely thing.

[floridagal09]

I can see that opinions run both ways on LW or WH. I like what I'm reading for both areas. Culturally I am managing expectations and expect to drive a ways to satisfy our cultural cravings. However, we tend to gravitate to the town or portion of the town that has more of a youthful vibe, if such a thing can be found in these towns. For those of you who know the pockets within these towns, where would you suggest?

[Nomadicus]

I'd lean to WH....More sports bars type of places. Not sure of any clubs at all. Not far from WH is Lakeland that has more in the way of things to do...This overall is a more relaxed part of the state and that is the way it will most likely stay for years to come. There needs to be a place like we have here for those whol like it just the way it is....

[floridagal09]

Appreciate all the input and am visiting August 13-16 to scout both Lake Wales and Winter Haven for rental homes in the more established neighborhoods. I don't mind relaxed as long as there seems to be a good mix of things to do for all ages. Anyone having more input before I head down there? Thanks.