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Florida Destination Named A Best Memorial Day Getaway

Jeff Gorra May 23rd

One of the most anticipated holiday weekends of the year is rapidly approaching. If you don’t have travel plans yet, Conde Nast Traveler assembled a collection of scenic locations around the country that are accessible and convenient as a quick decision trip. Each place has a nature-driven, adventurous tone to it. This enables you to combine relaxation and activity during the first long summer weekend. The best part is there is still time to book these Memorial Day escapes.

So, what is this Florida destination ready to welcome you this weekend?

St. Petersburg

Though there are plenty of reasons to travel over the bay at all times of the year, Memorial Day weekend offers a great opportunity to take advantage of all the area has to offer. “St. Petersburg is the ideal Florida city for a long weekend vacation. Nestled along the serene Gulf Coast, St. Pete has some of the most enviable beaches in the state, but it’s also gaining recognition for its thriving arts scene.” the article highlights.

They also point out the pier has reopened. If you’re looking for some baseball, the first place Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium, Tropicana Field is in St. Petersburg. They have a unique interleague three-game series starting on Friday. The Los Angeles Dodgers will be in town taking on the Rays through Sunday. The last time the Dodgers came to town was in 2007, so this is a rare occurrence.

Furthermore, St. Petersburg has a variety of public golf courses that allow you to play a round with either a bayside or gulf-side scenic view.

What Else in Florida?

If you are heading to the east coast of Florida and looking for a Memorial Day getaway, Biscayne National Park was also highlighted in Conde Nast Traveler’s list. Roundtrip opportunities from here are endless with Overseas Highway taking you along the Florida Keys

The start of summer is almost here. Are you still looking for plans to make to kick things off? Check out this Florida destination named one of the best spots for a Memorial Day weekend getaway.

2 Florida Locations Have the Bluest Water in America

Travel and Leisure recently published a report that details 10 of the most stunning bodies of water in country. From sunny ocean spots, to lakes, to waterfalls these locations are simply breathtaking. Included in the list were two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America.

Dry Tortugas National Park

This is one of the most unique spots in the country. Dry Tortugas National Park lies west of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It is made up of seven small islands and that are surrounded by coral reef. The park enclosed is roughly 47,000 acres. To arrive here, you must either take a boat or a seaplane. Therefore, it is not accessible by car.

Describing its blue waters, Travel and Leisure says, “Most of it is placid, turquoise, and filled with colorful marine life, making for some of the best snorkeling in the Sunshine State.”

Devil’s Den

Another destination recognized in the report was Devil’s Den. This spring is situated in Willston, about 20 miles south of Gainesville. It is a natural cave that is privately owned. The water has been known to consistently register around 72 degrees regardless of season. One of its main attractions is scuba diving. In fact, it is also a scuba training center where diving is available seven days a week. However, you must have proper certification as it the water has a maximum depth of 54 feet. Their are four lodging cabins at Devil’s Den. The property contains 120 feet of surface diameter.

Also mentioned on Travel and Leisure’s list was Crater Lake in Oregon, Jenny Lake in Wyoming, and Tenaya Lake and Lake Tahoe in California. Havasu Falls in Arizona was the spotlighted waterfall. Finally, as for beaches with the brightest blues, Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico and Lanikai Beach in Hawaii were among the best.

These two Florida locations that have the bluest water in America were the only east coast spots to make this feature.

  • Dry Tortugas National Park

    This home of Fort Jefferson offers swimming, fishing, and camping. Furthermore, it also has a wide array of bird life. You can bring your own boat up to the park, which offers various tours throughout the day. Or perhaps you’d prefer to hop in a kayak or on a paddleboard and simply explore the turquoise blue waters, that’s an option as well.

    Seaplane at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

  • Devil's Den

    Devil’s Den has a dive platform in the middle due to its high level of Scuba and snorkel attraction. In addition, you must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult to visit. Their website explains the history by detailing, “On cold winter mornings you can see steam, like smoke, rising from the chimney opening. Thus, the early settlers gave the name Devil’s Den.”

     

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