Travelers Are Flocking To These 2 Florida Destinations

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

According to 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 History. Out of these, 31.5 million are Americans.

Yes, 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 is perhaps questioning? Well, 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 International Airport (PIE).

Not all guests are accounted for right here, as this refers completely to air arrivals, so the precise uptick in tourism might be a lot increased, however based on the Florida Government, PIE has posted a 14% improve in passengers as of the most recent depend.

This is hardly shocking, given St. Pete’s fame because the ‘Sunshine City’, with the namesake Pete Beach operating 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’s additionally a critically underrated cultural hotspot, enjoying host to the Dali Museum, the place you may admire a few of the surrealist artist’s greatest work, the Museum of Fine Arts, and naturally, the opulent Mahaffey Theater, the place the Florida Orchestra relies.

Over in Clearwater, just north of St. Petersburg, you may discover a postcard-ready Clearwater Beach, one of the vital lovely in all of Florida, with mushy, superb white sands, the long-lasting, 1,080-foot Pier 60, and pristine islands like Caledesi and Honeymoon Island State Park.

Fly Cheap 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

Forget Miami and its Art 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 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 appeal, 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 House now performs host to an African-American museum, and the beautiful, yellow-brick Old Charlotte County Courthouse, constructed within the Classical Revival Style, 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 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 complicated with over 30 boutique retailers, artwork galleries, and comfortable eating places—if we might add, one of the best burgers on the town are Village Brewhouse’s!

Oh, and for those who’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 Cheap 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 Travel Off Path, has over 60+ nations underneath his belt (and at the moment weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your luggage.