This is National Travel & Tourism week. Here in Florida, no matter where you are, there’s a fun day trip. Most are easily within an hour of where you’re sitting right now.
You can take a drive up the backroads. Perhaps make a journey to a destination location. And a jaunt to a special event always is fun. We think the Sunshine State simply is packed with places to go, things to see and people to meet.
Now’s the Time
If you’re not in Florida, this is the perfect time for you to travel to Florida. There’s fun, experiences and good times just around the bend. The weather is right now. And many of the winter residents have retreated to there homes back north. That means less crowded conditions and in many cases, lower rates.
Do you enjoy the beach? We do! Did you know Florida has more shoreline than any other state? There’s the Atlantic coast or the Gulf – not to mention all the freshwater lakes. In fact, there’s a spot calling your name right now for swimming, sunbathing, boating and fishing.
If you like to play golf, tee times are readily available on courses with skill levels ranging from duffers to zero handicap. Personally, we opt for the courses with a single club, colored balls and hazards that include a windmill or a dinosaur.
Of course, when people say Florida the major theme parks come to mind. But there are literally hundreds of other amusements here. There are historic attractions such as the mermaids of Weekie Wachie and the glass bottomed boats of Silver Springs – both of which now are state parks.
In factl Florida has a great state park system. There are dozens of them from the Gulf to the Atlantic, from the Panhandle to the Keys and wherever you are in Florida chances are there’s one near you.
There are lesser-known but equally interesting destinations such as the Coral Castle, Butterfly World and even the Skunk Ape Research Center.
And while you’re exploring the Coasts of Florida (there are at least a dozen of them), or the geographic regions of the state (there are at least six of those), there are great places to stay and wonderful places to eat.
Naturally there are the national chains, but there also are some wonderful regional names. Moreover, there are a host of one-offs that provide delicious and unique dining experiences.
Yes, this is National Travel and Tourism Week, but even after the Merry Merry Month of May there are lots of opportunities to enjoy the Sunshine State. There are minor league ballgames all summer long, arts and craft shows, food festivals, concerts and much more.
And if you are fortunate enough to live in Florida, an overnighter starting on Friday can give you the opportunity to enjoy a nice hotel or motel, several different restaurants, a destination location and still be back in time for church on Sunday.
Tourism is a way of life here in Florida. You can expect friendly faces and helpful staff wherever you go. And remember, the travel experience is something that never can be taken away from you and the memories now can be stored in the comfort of your smart phone
So don’t wait for when, do a little travel and tourism right now. There’s always time for fun here in the Funshine State.