Lake Wales, Fla. — One expects a Swiss chalet to be surrounded by snow, not sand, but this is Polk County, the land of the unexpected — some would say the downright quirky.

So what's the big deal about Chalet Suzanne, a country inn in Central Florida that's been a top romantic getaway and honeymoon destination for almost 80 years? It's just your average flamingo-pink Swiss chalet, with two dozen-plus rooms and an on-site soup cannery known for manufacturing the "Moon Soup" Apollo astronauts enjoyed on the space missions of the 1960s and '70s. You'll also find a few leftover cans of sterile Florida well water bearing the label NASK, for Nuclear Attack Survival Kit, that were processed there in 1962 as a response to the Cuban missile crisis.

Wesley K.H. Teo / Special (ENLARGE)

Chalet Suzanne, a country inn in Polk County in Central Florida, has been a top romantic getaway and honeymoon destination for nearly 80 years. The flamingo-pink inn has themed guest rooms.

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This Swiss chalet has no ski lift, but it does have a sod airstrip out back should you arrive flying your own twin-engine aircraft or helicopter.

In spite of Chalet Suzanne's bizarre history and overwhelming pinkness, there is nothing that smacks of over-the-top kitsch here. Its unusual combination of Florida-style elegance and old-world charm sets guests at ease the moment they step foot on its cobblestone walkway and take in their first view of Lake Suzanne.

The rooms are large and comfortable with a name that reflects a unique feature of its decor. Whether you stay in the Sunset Room or the Orchid Room, you're sure to appreciate the individual personality of your accommodations.

Guests can visit the Ceramic Studio and leave an everlasting trace of everlasting love. Couples designing tiles with their names, date of visit and maybe a romantic sentiment have been a tradition since the Autograph Garden was started in the 1970s. After the tile is glazed, it's placed in the garden wall alongside tiles commemorating the honeymoons and anniversaries of lovers from years past. It's the grown-up version of carving your name into a tree.

Chalet Suzanne has long had a reputation for some of the best fine dining in the region. Maine Lobster Newburgh, King Crab thermidor, and Crab Sasse are just a few dishes that make it a seafood lover's dream. For many couples, celebrating their anniversary with a romantic dinner at Chalet Suzanne's award-winning restaurant is an annual tradition.

A prerequisite to each entree is the restaurant's signature broiled grapefruit appetizer. (This is the heart of the citrus industry, after all.)

Elegant rooms and fine dining aside, one of the best things about Chalet Suzanne is its location, making it the perfect base for exploring the romantic gardens of Central Florida.

Historic Bok Sanctuary

What could be more romantic than a stroll in a moonlit garden with bells chiming a soothing melody in the background? They aren't wedding bells, but if a wedding is in your future, the Historic Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales is a popular wedding venue.

Originally designed as a bird sanctuary, now the gardens are also a sanctuary for people needing a break from the pressure of everyday life. A visit to this 128-acre oasis is a treat in any season, but in the spring Moonlight Carillon Concerts give guests a rare chance to view these exquisite, subtropical gardens by moonlight while listening to music from Florida's first carillon.

Since 1929, the sanctuary has been filled with music from the 205-foot Singing Tower topped with its 60-bell carillon. The bell tower was the brainchild of the sanctuary founder, Dutch-born Edward W. Bok, who commissioned Milton B. Medary to design a tower reminiscent of the European church bells of his childhood. Today the neo-Gothic tower is a landmark.

Hollis Garden

Hollis Garden in Lakeland, overlooking Lake Mirror, is small — only 1.2 acres — but every inch is packed with something spectacular that makes amateur gardeners wistfully say, "I wish I could grow that."

This formal garden is divided into themed "rooms," each featuring flowering plants and ornamental shrubs often accentuated by water elements, like koi ponds and fountains.

As you explore the area, you may come across unusual "visitors" that make you look twice. Why doesn't that man's newspaper blow in the wind? How long can that couple embrace? Why is that child as still as a statue?

Well ... because he is a statue. Actually, he's a sculpture by renowned artist J. Seward Johnson Jr.

Through the end of May, 19 of his highly detailed sculptures will be on display at Lake Mirror and Hollis Garden. Johnson is known for his life-size bronze sculptures that portray ordinary people doing everyday things such as flying a kite, taking a baby for a stroll or reading a newspaper on a park bench.

These sculptures are just another example of how Central Florida's natural beauty is often punctuated by something unexpected but pleasant, like discovering that the exotic plant you fell in love with in a Florida garden will actually grow in your own backyard.

IF YOU GO

Driving: Lake Wales, Fla., is about 465 miles from down Atlanta, about a seven-hour drive.

Flying: Expect to pay about $180 round-trip airfare from Atlanta to Tampa, about a 1 1/2-hour drive away, or Orlando, about an hour away.

About the inn: Chalet Suzanne Restaurant and Inn, 3800 Chalet Suzanne Drive, Lake Wales. Room rates: $169-$229. 1-800-433-6011, www.chaletsuzanne.com.

About the gardens:

• Historic Bok Sanctuary, 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales. Admission: $10, adults; $3, children ages 5-12; free, children under 5. 863-676-1408, www.boksanctuary.org.

• Hollis Garden, 702 E. Orange St., Lakeland. Admission is free. 863-834-6035, see their Web page.

More gardens and groves:

• Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, 6000 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven. Daily admission: $39.95, ages 10-59; $34.95, ages 3-9 and 60 and older; free, children under age 3. 863-324-2111, www.cypressgardens.com.

• Davidson of Dundee, 28421 U.S. 27, Dundee. 1-800-654-0647, www.davidsonofdundee.com.

• Lang Sun Country Groves, 5900 U.S. 17 and 92, Lake Alfred. 863-956-1460, www.langsuncountry.com.

More information:

• Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce, 340 W. Central Ave., Lake Wales. 863-676-3445, www.lakewaleschamber.com/lakewalestourism.asp.

• Visit Florida: www.visitflorida.com/Lake_Wales