# Mulberry (Florida)

Mulberry is a small city of roughly 3,000 residents in southwestern Polk County, Florida.

## Get in
### By car

Mulberry is at the junction of State Road 60 and State Road 37. S.R. 60 is a major east-west route across Central Florida and connects Mulberry with Brandon, Tampa, and Clearwater to the west and Bartow, Lake Wales, and Vero Beach to the east. Heading north, S.R. 37 becomes the busiest north-south road through Lakeland—signed as South Florida Ave. To the south, S.R. 37 runs into sparsely populated rural area, dotted with many phosphate mines and associated chemical plants. The road passes through the 4-corners border between Polk, Hillsborough County, Manatee County, and Hardee County directly and jumps diagonally from Polk to Manatee County and is the quickest route from Polk County to the Sarasota/Bradenton area (via S.R. 64).

### By air

The nearest commercial airport is Tampa International Airport (TPA) on the west side of Tampa. Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL) is roughly 10 miles away, but does not have scheduled, commercial flights (as of November 2012).

### By train

The nearest Amtrak station is in downtown Lakeland (Code: LAK; 600 E. Main St.; +1 863-683-6368).

## Get around
### By taxi

* Checker Cab Co., ☏ +1 863 665-8151. Serves all of Polk County.
* Yellowcab/Maingate Taxi, ☏ +1 863 292-9166. Serves all of Polk County.
* Polk County Taxi, ☏ +1 863 521-2924, toll-free: +1-800-829-4222. Serves all of Polk County.

## See

* Mulberry Phosphate Museum, 101 S.E. First St (tucked away on the southeast corner of the intersection of S.R. 60 & S.R. 37 (Church St.), behind City Hall and McDonald's), ☏ +1 863 425-2823. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. An ode to the area's roots in phosphate mining, the museum building and attached rail cars offer a decent display of fossils, local mining relics, and informational displays. Outside is the massive bucket of a mining crane, filled with mining material which you can sort through to find fossils. Free.

## Do

* 27.9081-82.0412831 Alafia River Reserve (Take S.R. 60 west to Turner Road and follow signs.), ☏ +1 863 534-7377. Features nature trails and boardwalks extending down to Alafia River.
* 27.926717-81.957252 Loyce Harpe Park (Take S.R. 37 north, turn east on West Carter Rd.), ☏ +1 863 534-4340. Features trails for hiking and mountain biking. Boat ramp. Dog park.
* Skydive of Tampa Bay, 7498 Coronet Rd., ☏ +1 863 425-3140.
* Imperial Lakes Golf and Racquet Club, 6 Country Club Ln., ☏ +1 863 425-1153. An 18-hole semi-private golf course, with lessons available and an on-site restaurant. Slope rating: 133. USGA rating: 73.2.
* Mulberry Phosphate Museum, 101 SE 1st Street (Corner of Hwy 60 and 37), ☏ +1 863-425-2823. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM. Galleries are: 1) Story of Phosphate 2) Local History Gallery 3) Fossil Gallery 4) 1949 Seaboard Train Caboose. Kids and adults can have fun digging for their own fossils and sharks' teeth in their dig pile. Free Admission and happily accepts donations.

## Eat

* Carol's Cafe, 113 W. Badcock Blvd., ☏ +1 863 869-9155. Breakfast & lunch M-Sa, Dinner F only.
* Carter's Barbeque, 709 E. Canal St., ☏ +1 863 425-1983. Lunch & dinner Tu-Sa.
* Grits & Stuff Café, 211 N.W. 1st Ave., ☏ +1 863 425-5080. Breakfast & lunch M-F. Southern eatin'. Buffet or order from the menu.

## Sleep

* Mulberry Inn & Suites, 2525 E. S.R. 60, ☏ +1 863 425-2500, fax: +1 863-869-9354. Kitchen/efficiencies available. Complimentary breakfast. Pool. Handicapped access. Free wi-fi internet access available. (Formerly Super 8 Motel) Under $100.

## Connect

* Bradley Post Office, 6947 Old S.R. 37, ☏ +1 863 428-1312. M-Sa 8AM-noon. Post office in the small community of Bradley, a few miles south of Mulberry.
* Mulberry Post Office, 2000 Mulford Rd, ☏ +1 863 425-6033. M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM; Sa 8:30AM-11AM.
* Nichols Post Office, 4805 Nichols Rd, ☏ +1 863 425-3328. M-F 8AM-noon. Post office in the small community of Nichols, a few miles west of Mulberry.
* 27.894586-81.9731 Mulberry Public Library, 905 NE 5th St, ☏ +1 863 425-3246, fax: +1 863 425-8818, info@mulberrylibrary.com. M-W 9AM-6PM; Th 9AM-7PM; F-Sa 9AM-5PM.

## Stay safe

Mulberry Police Department: +1 863-425-1119 (Emergency: 911)
Polk County Sheriff: +1 863-533-0344 (Emergency: 911)