Travelers Are Flocking To These 2 Florida Destinations

Be it for the epic theme parks, the sun-kissed sands, or the plush nature parks, Individuals are flocking en masse to Florida this 12 months:

In keeping with Governor Ron DeSantis, the southernmost state achieved a record-breaking 34.5 million guests between April and June, probably the most out of any second quarter in Historical past. Out of these, 31.5 million are Individuals.

Sure, there’s been a major drop in worldwide guests, who accounted for less than 3 million entrants, however home demand is at an all-time excessive—and the place are vacationers headed, you may be questioning? Nicely, there are two locations rising the quickest in reputation:

St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Two sister cities lining Florida’s Gulf Coast, within the Tampa Bay space, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, type a big conurbation served by St. Pete–Clearwater Worldwide Airport (PIE).

Not all guests are accounted for right here, as this refers completely to air arrivals, so the precise uptick in tourism may very well be a lot increased, however in accordance with the Florida Government, PIE has posted a 14% enhance in passengers as of the newest depend.

That is hardly shocking, given St. Pete’s fame because the ‘Sunshine Metropolis’, with the namesake Pete Seashore operating for a whole 7 uninterrupted miles alongside bright-blue seas, and year-round nice temps (together with common highs of 86°F in September!)

It is also a significantly underrated cultural hotspot, taking part in host to the Dali Museum, the place you possibly can admire a number of the surrealist artist’s greatest work, the Museum of Wonderful Arts, and naturally, the opulent Mahaffey Theater, the place the Florida Orchestra is predicated.

Over in Clearwater, simply north of St. Petersburg, you may discover a postcard-ready Clearwater Seashore, some of the stunning in all of Florida, with gentle, tremendous white sands, the long-lasting, 1,080-foot Pier 60, and pristine islands like Caledesi and Honeymoon Island State Park.

Fly Low-cost To St. Petersburg-Clearwater This Fall

Averages as seen on Allegiant Air:

• Indianapolis (IND): $38 one-way, $90–$140 roundtrip
• Cincinnati (CVG): $48–$55 one-way, $110–$150 roundtrip
• Bloomington (BMI): $43–$62 one-way, $100–$160 roundtrip
• Grand Rapids (GRR): $49–$55 one-way, $110–$150 roundtrip
• Knoxville (TYS): $50 one-way, $120–$160 roundtrip
• Asheville (AVL): $35–$49 one-way, $90–$140 roundtrip
• Syracuse (SYR): $38 one-way, $90–$140 roundtrip
• Cedar Rapids (CID): $61 one-way, $130–$170 roundtrip

Punta Gorda

Neglect Miami and its Artwork Deco-filled districts, Orlando and the fairytale escape it gives, and Fort Lauderdale’s glitzy marina: the fastest-growing vacation spot within the Sunshine State in the mean time is the offbeat Punta Gorda, with a 22.5% enhance in airside guests.

Tucked away within the lesser-known corners of Southwest Florida, it’s the epitome of Floridian allure, combining the traditionalism of the America of Olde, with its heritage mansions and landscaped gardens, with coastal rest.

For the tradition buffs on the market, he early Twentieth-century Blanchard Home now performs host to an African-American museum, and the attractive, yellow-brick Outdated Charlotte County Courthouse, constructed within the Classical Revival Type, is equally open for visitation.

The compact, picture-perfect downtown is especially charming, with its mural-lined streets and quirky cafes, however there’s nowhere higher to absorb Punta Gorda’s unusually energetic ambiance (for a small city) than its harborwalk.

A 2.4-mile path straddling Charlotte Harbor and the aptly-named Peace River, it passes verdant parks, a scenic marina, and culminates at Fishermen’s Village, a waterfront complicated with over 30 boutique outlets, artwork galleries, and comfortable eating places—if we might add, the very best burgers on the town are Village Brewhouse’s!

Oh, and should you’re right here primarily for Florida’s world-class seashores, there are family-friendly stretches of unruffled sands at Englewood, Don Pedro Island State Park, accessible by boat or kayak, and Little Gasparilla, a barrier island and turtle-nestling hotspot.

Fly Low-cost To Punta Gorda This Fall:

• Cincinnati (CVG): $38 one-way, $76 roundtrip
• Pittsburgh (PIT): $43, $86 roundtrip
• Indianapolis (IND): $50 one-way, $100 roundtrip
• South Bend (SBN): $43–$50 one-way, $86–$100 roundtrip
• Louisville (SDF): $38 one-way, $76 roundtrip
• Portsmouth (PSM): $55–$60, $110–$120
• Knoxville (BNA): $55–$60, $110–$120
• Allentown (ABE): $60 one-way, $100 roundtrip

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead author at Journey Off Path, has over 60+ international locations beneath his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your baggage.