Recreation

If you like to fish, you’ll have access to many streams and lakes throughout Polk County. The Bartow Chamber of Commerce can provide a list of guide services that can take you to some of the nation’s top bass spots.

Indoor recreation more to your liking? Perhaps you enjoy learning about the past. Bartow is a city proud of its unique area historical sites including the Polk County History Center. In the Center, you’ll find the Polk County Historical Museum. And, if you’re interested in your own family history, check out the Polk County Genealogical Library located in the same building. Bartow’s Public Library offers an inter-library loan service in conjunction with the Florida State Library and the Tampa Bay Library Consortium giving those who are into research or reading endless resources.

If you’re into art, the nearby Polk Museum of Art offers works both historic and contemporary that visit the Museum as traveling exhibitions. Just outside the main galleries is the George Jenkins Student Gallery, dedicated to showcasing the works of Polk County public school students year round. The Perkins Gallery houses traveling exhibitions, usually by a single artist. Upstairs, the Murray and Ledger Galleries exhibit traveling exhibitions and permanent collection exhibits. Dorothy Jenkins Gallery & Emily S. Macey Gallery are the two main galleries featuring works from artists with national and local traveling exhibitions. The museum is located in Lakeland.