Travelers Are Flocking To These 2 Florida Destinations

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

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

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

St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Two sister cities lining Florida’s Gulf Coast, within the Tampa Bay space, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, kind 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 larger, however in accordance with the Florida Government, PIE has posted a 14% improve in passengers as of the most recent rely.

That is hardly stunning, given St. Pete’s fame because the ‘Sunshine Metropolis’, with the namesake Pete Seashore working for a whole 7 uninterrupted miles along 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 may admire among the surrealist artist’s finest work, the Museum of Wonderful Arts, and naturally, the opulent Mahaffey Theater, the place the Florida Orchestra relies.

Over in Clearwater, just north of St. Petersburg, you will discover a postcard-ready Clearwater Seashore, one of the vital stunning in all of Florida, with delicate, effective 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

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

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

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 Previous Charlotte County Courthouse, constructed within the Classical Revival Model, 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 take in Punta Gorda’s unusually vigorous environment (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 advanced with over 30 boutique outlets, artwork galleries, and comfortable eating places—if we could add, the perfect burgers on the town are Village Brewhouse’s!

Oh, and in case 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+ nations beneath his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that may have you ever packing your baggage.