Melange is a really cute antique shop in Lake Wales in a very unexpected location. The sign for the…read moreactual shop says that the building is a law or real estate office, but it's a perfect place to house antiques! It also contains a small custom framing shop. As most places, it's really hot in here so take a fan to enjoy your experience properly. The husband and wife team are very personable and comfortable with their customers. They can be somewhat hard to find but once they spot you they will welcome you and answer any questions you have. It was unfortunate to hear that due to the coronavirus, they may be going out of business. If they do, it will be a shame but if they don't, I hope people in the area (and those visiting) will stop and buy something! It broke my heart to leave this gorgeous leather push-pin sofa that was something you would see at Restoration Hardware, for $900! And I'm sure they would've negotiated! Unfortunately the owner was not able to reach the person selling the sofas but such a shame! Hopefully they are in business when I return in a few weeks! Support local everyone!

I love this place!! Antiques and wine the best!…read more The husband and wife team are outstanding. I say give them a try. The weekly events and a daily wine bar. Their located in the heart Lake Wales, FL

The Lake Wales Arts Center is located in a former historic mission style, Holy Spirit Catholic…read moreChurch. The church architect was Peter Cornelius Samwell of Winter Park and the landscape architect and decorator was A. E. de Leon. R. W. Burrows Construction Company built the Catholic Church in 1927. For the next sixty years the church congregation steadily grew until finally it reached capacity in 1988 and moved to a new church on 9th Street. Mrs. Frances Donnellon Updike, a parishioner and Ann W. Norton, an artist and educator, co-chaired a movement to raise the money to purchase the old church and transform it into the new home of the Lake Wales Arts Council which was founded in 1972 to promote arts in the region. Throughout the 1990's, the Arts Center expanded its programming by adding performances, exhibitions, summer camps, and community art education. By 2001, $1.4 million was raised for structural restoration and a new addition. The Michael Crews Education Wing and Gallery opened in 2001, named in honor of one of the Arts Council founders. In 2011 Polk County State College took over the building and renovated it. They held college classes and art events but they returned ownership back to the Lake Wales Arts Council in 2018. Today the Lake Wales Arts Center serves as a regional destination for visual and performing arts. They offer many free events throughout the year including concerts with partners like Bok towers in the Updike Concert Hall, in the grassy courtyard, and in the outdoor seating area. They also have art exhibitions, workshops, classes, festivals, and community events. Annual events include an international photo competition, black history month exhibit, and Hispanic heritage month exhibit. Art from seasoned and emerging artists is displayed in the Michael Crews Fine Arts Gallery. Art is rotated every 1-2 months. They offer the most publicly accessible pottery wheels in Polk County and they have the only publicly accessible stained glass studio in Central Florida. They are the home of the Lake Wales Chorale, a group of community voices that have toured internationally. On a recent trip to Lake Wales I was able to pop in for the free art exhibit Sacred currents Spirituality in African Art. I love how the Lake Wales Arts council was able to turn this historic church into a cultural resource for this community.

Fantastic display of horns throughout history from all over the world. Great after school…read moreprograms for arts and cultural enrichment. Wonderful upbeat environment with all kinds of concerts and performances. Highly recommended.

Quite a surprise for teeny tiny Avon Park! The college has an enormous campus here with dozens of…read morebuildings. Read on for why you should visit. Location- With so many buildings it can be a little overwhelming. Let your GPS do its thing along with the picture I posted, and you'll have no trouble spotting it. Plenty of easy parking. Time Commitment- This is a small museum. Ninety minutes and most folks will be done. What to Expect- As the name suggests, expect the focus to be on Florida including the artists. It's a great way to learn about this wonderful state! Cost- Every time I have been here it has been free with donations requested. Hours- Extremely limited. Check first before you go. This is not a "Destination" location. It's the kind of place you visit when you are in the area and have a few minutes. Yelp will give you plenty of places for lunch within five minutes of here. What a great place to walk off that huge platter of Gator Bites & giant pitcher of beer!

Frostproof is a small town in Central Florida in southern Polk County that sits on the Lake Wales…read moreRidge. The Lake Wales Ridge Scenic Highway 17 runs through downtown. Frostproof is south of Lake Wales, north of Sebring, and east of winter Haven. The town is located on an isthmus between Reedy Lake and Lake Clinch. Although you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, Frostproof is only an hour's drive from Legoland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios. The town motto is "The Friendly City." The first permanent settlement in Frostproof was in 1850 near Fort Clinch on Lake Clinch. It was named after a US army commander during the Seminole Wars, Duncan Lamont Clinch. The settlement was abandoned a few months later but by the 1880's homesteaders started arriving attracted by the abundant hunting and fishing. W.H. Overocker and other settlers applied for a post office in 1892. The town was originally named Keystone City but it was often confused with Keystone Heights in North Central Florida. The new name of Frostproof was chosen in an effort to convince citrus growers it would never freeze here. Ironically Frostproof froze over later killing all of the citrus trees although the citrus industry recovered and still thrives here to this day. Two of Florida's legendary agricultural giants, Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. and Latimer "Latt" Maxcy controlled most of the ranch and grove land in this part of Florida for years. Katherine Harris, a descendant of Bill Hill Griffin Jr. is a former Florida Secretary of State and the stadium in Gainesville where the Gators play football is known as Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field but most Gator fans just call it the swamp. I was in town for the 39-Mile Scenic Highway Yard Sale that runs right through downtown Frostproof. I was charmed by all of the ornate 1920's architecture from Florida's land boom years. You can walk the Frostproof Historical Trail, a self guided tour of the historical building in town. You can also fish, boat, and bird watch at Reedy Lake, attend a cultural performance at the historic Ramon Theater, or hike at the Ridge Audubon Center and the Arbuckle Wildlife Management Area of the Lake Wales Ridge State Forest. The Frostproof Historical Society and Museum displays exhibits, photographs, and artifacts about Frostproof's past and pioneers. Mister Chris Coffee Gallery & Depot offers coffee, giant muffins, live music and art in a historic train depot while P& J Recreation has been serving up the best southern style slaw burgers since 1943. Florida Wildflower Studios offers art classes, events, and activities. I love small, historic Florida town like Frostproof. They are loaded with charm and friendly people. They are also are great place to find vintage and antique treasures and natural beauty while enjoying the quieter side of Florida. Although Frostproof has two traffic lights in the downtown at most, there are treasures to be unearthed here.

I do not know about the husband or guy who does the framing, I believe is the husband, but the wife…read moreor female owner was extremely to be honest and for a lack of a better word snotty towards me and I will not go back in there. I only recommend them to high end customers who are dressed in designer clothing. Little did she know I had access to when I admired her own artwork and asked her advice about mine by showing her my shots on my cellphone. It wasn't a scheduled visit but a impromptu one since I was in the area.

Downtown Art Gallery is always my number one "go to" when I have a framing need. Their selection of…read moreframing stock is extensive and their framing work is always 100% perfect. In addition to their expert help in framing, they carry an extensive inventory of art and jewelry that is hard to pass up any time you enter their shop. If you ever receive an invitation to one of their "drop-ins", do yourself a favor and don't miss it. Jeff & Heidi are the best!!!