Your Guide to Planning The Best Florida Trip This Summer
The start of the summer season calls for a vacation full of sunsets, beaches, and memories. Be it a solo trip or a family vacation, nothing screams summer more than spending a day at the beach and enjoying some ice cream or feeling the soft sand beneath your feet.
If all of this is exactly what you are looking for or want to do then going to Florida is the perfect choice for you.
Florida is famous for many things such as the beaches, the Cuban cuisine, and the adventure parks. It has something to offer for every kind of traveler from kids to seniors. Therefore, Florida needs to be your next stop for your summer trip.
However, embarking on a summer trip without any planning may not be the best idea. No matter how laid back you want this trip to be, you have to plan to some extent to make sure you have a great experience.
Hence, we have curated this guide to help you plan your summer trip to Florida.
Major Spots
Florida has many notable cities that have a great coastline and nightlife to offer. If you are planning a trip to Florida then you probably want to cover and see as much of the state as you possibly can.
The best places to visit are Tampa, Orlando, Key West, Miami, Key Largo, Clearwater Beach, etc. These places boast about their crystal clear water, city skylines, and picturesque skies. For instance, Key West’s sunset is considered one of the most beautiful sunsets in the U.S. so it might be a good idea to look into Key West Sunset Cruise.
You should try to cover at least a couple of islands and cities when visiting Florida. If you are traveling with kids then make sure to get tickets to adventure parks as well to guarantee an unforgettable experience.
Summer Preparation
Summer brings with it many blessings such as ample sunlight, blooming flowers, outdoor festivals, tropical fruits, and pool reopenings. These are the things we dream about when bearing the winter cold.
However, we often forget about the perils that summer brings along such as harmful UV rays, sunburns, mosquitoes, dehydration, sweat, and even tourist crowds. For these reasons, it is important to plan ahead and get an understanding of what to expect when visiting Florida.
You need to pack some summer essentials for your trip. If you are planning on going to the beach then you need to protect yourself from the harmful UV rays by regularly applying sunscreen, wearing a hat, and investing in polarized sunglasses. You also should make your Brazilian wax appointment at least a week before your beach trip to ensure a comfortable and bacteria-free experience.
If you are planning on visiting adventure parks then make sure you have comfortable shoes because your day will be filled with long lines and tourist crowds with hardly any place to sit down.
These small things can ensure a much nicer experience and keep you excited about your trip after getting there.
Weather Changes
A misconception that Florida visitors often hold is that summer weather in Florida is consistent sunshine. This is why most tourists don’t look at the weather forecast to see what they will be dealing with. However, the Sunshine State is notorious for unpredictable weather.
Thunderstorm season in Florida starts around the middle of May depending on what region you are in and can stretch to the end of October. Due to this, your beach trips may be cut short as this season brings with it dangerous hurricanes too.
Make sure you check the weather forecast every day and plan accordingly. For example, if rainfall is expected on a specific day then you should probably plan to visit a museum or plan another indoor activity instead of going to the coastline. If you do decide to do an indoor activity, make sure you pack an umbrella and some rain boots.
Cuisine Checklist
Florida is known for the Cuban food scene and culture especially as you go further south. You cannot go to Florida and not try the famous Cuban sandwich i.e. the Cubano. Pair it with an afternoon Cuban coffee and you have officially visited Florida.
You can also count on finding the freshest fish and seafood while dining in a beach-view private gazebo. The breweries and bars in different cities offer tropical flavors and Florida specials on tap that you won’t find anywhere else.
Food options in Florida cater to every budget as you can dress up and indulge in a fine dining experience or go straight from the beach to devour some local tacos.
Make sure you create a checklist of every lunch and dinner spot you want to try so you don’t waste time trying to get a last-minute reservation or end up having fast food because of a long waiting at a fine-dining restaurant.
Advance Bookings
Tourist season is pretty much non-stop in Floridian cities. This means that many places are booked for months in advance from hotels, restaurants, and even some attractions.
Flight tickets are also not cheap at the height of summer and holiday season so advance planning is a necessity. While you can drive in under 12 hours from most east coast states, you will probably have to fly if you are coming from anywhere else unless you are looking for a really long road trip. Furthermore, Florida is a large state so you might have to even book a rental car to travel between cities.
Booking and making these reservations is extremely important and can simplify your trip experience so much. There is nothing worse than having to delay or cancel plans because you did not book in advance.
Conclusion
A trip to Florida with your friends and family can prove to be an amazing experience. You can try many different activities depending on what everyone likes and what the weather calls for.
Try your best to plan a rough itinerary for each day so you have some structure to your trip.
