Plant City, FL

Plant City, originally called Ichepucksassa after the Indian village that existed there, was renamed Cork. In 1884, Henry Bradley Plant extended the South Florida railroad into the town. The town, incorporated in 1885, received the name Plant City in his honor.

Initially a center for cotton production, Plant City switched to strawberries as its primary crop, for which it became famous. You can savor fresh shortcake, cobbler and pie in Plant City during the Florida Strawberry Festival held in early spring.

The Annual Plant City MLK Cultural Arts Festival in January features a parade, ethnic food, a health fair, carnival rides, concession stands and performing artists, as well as exhibits on Black History at the Bing Rooming House Museum. In November, the city hosts the Pig Jam Barbecue contest, open to professionals and amateurs. Live music, kids activities and great food make this a fun family event.

Whether you are craving Southern comfort food, Cuban sandwiches or deep-dish pizza, Plant City restaurants have you covered.

Olde Town Pizzeria dishes up Chicago-style deep dish pizza and award-winning strawberry walnut salad. Freshly made sauce and high-quality meat make everything on the menu taste good. With big screen TVs and awesome food, enjoy game night here.

For Southern soul food that satisfies, try Fred's Southern Kitchen on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Dig into the country buffet with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, dumplings and bread pudding. Finish with a slice of pecan pie, the local favorite, while you get a taste of Southern hospitality. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can get comfort food here any time of the day.

Try the hearty Cuban sandwich at Strawberry Hut Sandwich Shop on Wheeler Street, or bite into one of the cafe's meaty, toasty cheeseburgers. Be sure to order the strawberry shake, since you're in Plant City, after all.

On Thursdays, O'Brien's Irish Pub hosts Trivia Night. Other events include cheap beer night, ladies night and open mike night. Enjoy a great selection of craft and draft beers, live music on most nights and decent pub fare or watch the game with your buddies.

Head to Top Shelf Sports Bar and Grill for live music, decent drinks and food. Try their onion rings or chicken wings with a sweet sauce. Watch sports on their big screen TVs and enjoy good service.

Savor some blueberry and blackberry wine at Keel and Curley Winery. With $4.00 wine tasting on Wednesdays, Trivia Thursdays and music on Fridays, come here to relax and sip exquisite wines.

Residents of Plant City typically use their own cars to get around. Although few locals use public transportation, the Hillborough Area Regional Transit provides local and express bus service, door-to-door para-transit, metro-rapid buses and the TECO Line streetcar system. Avail yourself of the park-and-ride facilities in Brandon if you need to get to Tampa for work. Uber and SuperShuttle serve Plant City as well.

Four parking lots in the downtown area serve the offices, government facilities and retail space parking needs of residents. Interstate 4 connects Plant City to Tampa and Orlando. With no designated biking lanes and few pavements, however, Plant City may not be the best city for bikers and walkers.

Parks in Plant City feature wetlands, ponds, athletic fields, playgrounds and trails, making them kid-friendly and family-friendly.

Edward Medard Park and Preserve contains a 700-acre reservoir and a fishing pier that draw many visitors interested in fishing and boating, with horseback riding and hiking also available. Kids can enjoy the playground, so bring a picnic lunch to munch on while they play. A $2 entrance fee applies to vehicles. You can bring your dog along but make sure it's on a leash.

Head to the Mike E. Sansone Community Park for a game of baseball, softball or basketball, or play volleyball in the sand volleyball courts. With a 8,500 square foot skate park and a nature trail through a wetland area, this park has so much to offer.

Home to the Plant City Tennis Center, Ellis-Methvin Park boasts four baseball fields, two full-sized soccer fields, a playground and three picnic shelters. It has a walking trail around the pond and another one around the perimeter of the park.

The closest dog park, Mango Dog Park, located in Seffner, features a doggie pool and a grass lawn for dogs to run in.

Monthly events such as the Strawberry Classic Car Show and Bike Fest, bring bike and car enthusiasts to Plant City.

The cost of living in Plant City runs lower than the cost of living in Tampa and also lower than the national average. Expect to pay about 1 percent less than the national average for gasoline or $3 for a bus trip to Tampa. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment runs around $700, and a glass of beer at a pub should set you back about $2.50.

In the historic downtown of Plant City, you'll find stores featuring antiques,quilting, rocking horses and more. The closest mall, Lakeside Village located in Lakeland, features big-name stores, a movie theatre and several restaurants.

For adorable clothing, accessories and baby clothes, shop at Sister's Boutique & Gifts on Reynolds Street. The shop also carry lotions, candles and gifts. Try the clearance aisle in the back of the store for great deals on unique pieces.

Served by Publix, Winn Dixie and smaller grocery stores such as The Corner Store and Felton's Meat and Produce Market, you can always find fresh, local, organic and hard-to-find ingredients in Plant City. Pick up goji berries, seasonal produce, fresh sauces, honey, soaps or candles at the Corner Store on Reynolds Street. Order a fresh wrap from the kitchen on your way out, and let your kids play in the designated play area while you shop and enjoy music on some Saturdays.

If you are looking for meat, smoked chicken and even beef tongue, head to Felton's Meat and Produce Market, which also carries Mexican staples such as corn tortillas and queso fresco. Stock up on the reasonably priced cooked meats.

One of the largest farmers markets in the southeastern United States, the Plant City Farmers Market is located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.