Things To Do in Lakeland Highlands

Helmed by the brother-sister duo of Chanel Bellotto and John Dedes, Skate World's funcentric rollo-dome and family-focused atmosphere have garnered the attention of Lakeland patrons and NBC's Channel 8 News alike. Roller-aficionados and timid trundlers glide along the rink with the zeal of a businessman diving across a conference-room table made of slip 'n slides. Freewheelers can practice time-honored moves, such as shoot-the-duck and the two-arm flail, under the dance-inducing disco ball, flashing colored lights, and pumping tunes. Between rounds of going around, reenergize with a snow cone ($1.25), cotton candy ($2), nachos ($2.50), and more from the fully stocked snack bar (not included in this Groupon).

Pool Hall, Bar, Nightclub

Golf Etc. Lakeland helps golfers through the entire process of upgrading their arsenal, from finding brand-name equipment to adjusting their current gear to fit their game. Brothers Luke and J.J. Miller—the latter of whom coaches golf at Southeastern University—run the shop and personally oversee the custom club-fitting process. In the hitting bay in the back of the store, visitors are likely to see Luke—who fits and maintains clubs for many local pros—analyzing a client's swing with technology that helps him prescribe the right club or zone in on any modifications, such as adjusting the length of the shaft or replacing the club head with a jai-alai basket. Golf Etc. also features an indoor putting green for golfers to test out prospective flatsticks, and J.J. and Luke regularly perform club re-gripping and repair services.

For first-time tandem jumpers, the experience of free falling from 11,000 feet is an unforgettable experience. But just in case, Skydive Orlanpa, in partnership with Jump Florida Skydiving, can document tandem jumps with professionally produced videos set to music. A preflight interview on the ground gives way to footage shots inside the plane as jumpers and their tandem instructors make their ascension. From there, videographers capture the entire free fall as participants take in the scenery and attempt to block out the chortles of condescending geese. The parachute then deploys, and jumpers and their instructors return to terra firma. Meanwhile, friends can watch dives from the ground in a large spectator area or tag along on the plane ride and watch the leap firsthand.

An award-winning restaurant and full-service bar supply participants with snacks and drinks after their dives. Patrons can even make a weekend of their dives by staying in one of Skydive Orlanpa's 26 guest rooms replete with cable TV and WiFi.

Orlando Gateway Sport Pilot Aviation Center's Jonathan Johns first encountered the spectacle of aerial navigation at an early age, when he attended a soccer game that hosted the Navy's flight-demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels. It was love at first sight. Since then, Jonathan has flown more than 51 single or multiengine aircrafts and pterodactyls. His partner, Roger Frechette, has logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time since he took to the skies back in the 1960s. Together they have gathered a team of experienced instructors to help spread their love of cloud wrangling and maintain a fleet of meticulously cared-for, FAA-approved aircrafts, including Cessnas, the A22 Valor, Tecnam Bravo, and P-1 Paradise. From their base at Kissimmee Gateway Airport, the pilots lead sport-pilot-training flights, and their crafts carry pairs of sightseers over the area's most beloved landmarks, such as Disney World and Old Town Orlando.

David Morejon has completed three Ironmans and more than 90 triathlons, but arguably his most impressive feat has been bungee jumping from 150 feet—in a bull costume. David's passion for fitness, adventure, and animal outfits shines through in The Hog Wild Mud Run, which he co-owns with Adam Morejon. Participants are encouraged to wear creative costumes during the events, which pair tests of strength and endurance with slogs through waist-deep mud. Each mud run closes with a party where a DJ spins while athletes celebrate with beers, rather than by drinking leftover mud with festively colored straws.

Brooke Pottery features fine ceramic crafts and a host of handmade doodads from more than 400 American artists. A glazed, tri-colored McQueeny Belt Bowl ($48) offers a fetching soup-holding alternative to cupped palms, while the Heart Coaster Set ($40) lovingly shields countertops from clammy cocktails and over-fizzed sodas. Decorate feng shui–deficient gardens with ash-wood Chi Energy Amber wind chimes ($35), or embellish tree limbs with colorful Aloha Chimes ($42). For kids, the Blues Band Harmonica ($7) provides hours of fun in the key of harmonica.