Plant City vacation rentals

One of the outlying cities in the Tampa Bay metropolitan region, Plant City is known for its broad range of plant nurseries, which cultivate berries and citrus fruits as well as vegetables and tropical houseplants. Plant City is also home to a storied history as a railroad town — the city was actually named for a famed railroad developer, not for the nurseries, gardens, and farms that today make the region a patchwork of colors.

Many visitors add the neighboring city of Lakeland to their trip to take in the Polk Museum of Art, home to works by internationally renowned artists from the Impressionist, Cubist, and Pop Art schools. Back in Plant City, you’ll find realistic statues in lifelike poses dotted all over town. The city is also home to almost 200 lovingly maintained buildings from the past century — the East Hillsborough Historical Society operates a museum and archives here where you can learn more about the area and its architecture.

Just a few miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico in central Florida, Plant City draws visitors year round for its perennial tropical climate. The best time to visit may be between January through April and from October through December. The temperatures during these periods are warm but not overly hot, and you can experience some of the city’s biggest events, including the Florida Strawberry Festival, held each March. Another event to keep an eye out for is the Plant City Pig Jam in November, a BBQ competition and festival held on the weekend before Thanksgiving.

The bountiful produce of the city’s many nurseries is on display all year round — you’ll be able to get a taste of local ingredients at virtually every eatery in town. Visitor numbers tend to drop in the summer months, when you can expect hot, humid conditions and short, sharp storms.

Bing Rooming House African American Museum

Once serving as a hotel that provided a safe space for African Americans during segregation, this 1920s facility is now committed to preserving and presenting African American history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum houses artifacts, oral history videos, and documents that aim to help visitors better understand what the period of segregation was like for Black Americans during that time.

Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum

The Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum is a tribute to the history of trains and railroads in Plant City, which have left their mark right up to the present. Exhibits include restored locomotive cars, railroad memorabilia and artifacts, and even a stop at a train viewing platform, which is a great vantage point to see engines coming and going.

McCall Park

McCall Park is one of Plant City’s largest green spaces. Beyond being a popular spot for a picnic in the Florida sunshine, it also hosts a packed program of events. A car show is hosted on the third Saturday of every month, while foodies are well served by the Main Street Food Truck Rallies, which take place on the last Friday of every month.