With the COVID-19 pandemic, travel looks a bit different. Many states and tourist locations have been closed since March but are starting to reopen. The tourism industry is fraught with restrictions to include only allowing a limited number of guests at a location, bars closed in many towns, and the requirement of increased sanitation and face masks. Those of us who travel on a regular basis are jonesing for normalcy. We have been counting down the days until we can plan our next trip. But what do we do? What is safe? Here is a list of social distancing “staycation” ideas for those of us living in Florida.
Why Should You Choose a “Staycation” in Florida?
The pandemic has changed the county. Having completely shut down for the first time in our lives, the fear is all encompassing. Though travel, escape, or vacation is important in order to forget our troubles and reconnect with family, it is imperative we choose an option that is safe.
A “Staycation” Can Offer Adventure You Never Knew Existed
I have lived in Florida my entire life and amazingly there are so many locations in Florida I have yet to experience. Why not plan “staycations” to truly enjoy all Florida has to offer?
Whether it is the beach, an outdoor hike, a town you have yet to visit, or a theme park, Florida has so much fun and adventure we have yet to explore.
Cost Savings When Choosing a “Staycation”
Planning a “staycation” saves money. There are no flight costs involved. In many instances, you can plan a day trip where you can visit and then return home to avoid the cost of a hotel or a vacation rental.
Groupon and LivingSocial have deals (especially now that the tourism industry has been hit so hard) for experiences throughout Florida. You can easily find something to do on a weekend without spending a lot of money.
My Recommendations for A Social Distancing Staycation in Florida
There are so many ideas for a social distancing “staycation”. Here are just a few of my recommendations:
Visit A Theme Park
There are a host of theme parks in Florida. From Walt Disney World to Sea World to Universal Studios, all of the parks have reopened with safety measures in place.
The attendance at theme parks has been lower than expected so now is a great time to plan a day or two at some of the more busy theme parks to avoid the crowds. All require you to wear a mask and most require you to make advanced reservations.
For more information, check out our article: “Florida Is Open“.
Camping or “Glamping”
There is no better social distancing staycation in Florida than to go camping or “glamping”. Do you own a tent or an RV? You can choose any of the many campgrounds and state parks to camp. Are you looking for a unique “glamping” experience? Why not rent a cabin or even a houseboat!
Read about our experience “glamping” on a houseboat off the shores of Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Rent A Florida Vacation Rental
If you are a like us and worry about reserving a hotel room because of the amount of people, I recommend renting a Florida Vacation Rental. The large space will allow you to bring your entire family. Most locations include a kitchen so you can stay at the property to cook your meals and avoid crowds.
This summer we rented a Florida vacation rental named Twelve Parsecs. This 9 bedroom, 5 bathroom Star Wars themed home was the perfect escape for my son’s 13th birthday. It was large enough that even the adults could social distance from the kids! Read about our experience here.
Visit A Park
Florida has a variety of parks for you to visit. Hike trails or get involved in an activity such as wake boarding. There is something for everyone to do. Most parks are either free or extremely reasonably priced.
We visited Sunwest Park located in Hudson, Florida. The cost is only $5 to park. They have an inflatable water park, kayaks, as well as wakeboarding for an additional fee. Bring your cooler and sand toys. Swim in the spring fed water. For more information on Sunwest Park, click here.
Swim In the Springs
Florida summers are hot! Take a day trip to one of Florida’s 700 springs. Bring a lunch, tube, and a snorkel and mask. Enjoy the refreshing waters with temperatures staying around 70-75 degree.
Should you choose to swim at Three Sisters Spring in Crystal River, you can also do a little scalloping or maybe even see a manatee.
Rent A Water Bike, Kayak, or Paddleboard
Get some exercise, take in some Vitamin D, all while enjoying the outdoors by renting a water bike, kayak or paddleboard. There are many locations throughout Florida where you can enjoy these water sports.
This summer we rented a water bike with Crystal River Water Bikes. What an experience! Pedaling a water bike is much easier than a kayak. We saw manatee and swam in the nearby springs. For more information on our experience and how to save money on your rental, click here.
Go To The Beach
Probably one of the most popular social distancing staycation destinations in Florida is one of the many beaches. Outside with sun, sand, and salt, this is the perfect location to enjoy beautiful scenery, family time together, and relaxation.
We chose to visit Clearwater Beach this summer. It was a wonderful trip. We rented a jet ski and took a tour on the Sea Screamer. There are many attractions in the area that we recommend you visit. Here is more information on our trip to Clearwater Beach as well as our recommendations on what to do, see, and eat.
In summary
Though the recent pandemic has changed what travel looks like, there is still so much to see and do. If you are looking for a staycation in Florida where you can safely social distance, these are just a few of my recommendations. The state of Florida is open and ready to welcome you, no matter your comfort zone.
Have you traveled to Florida? What have you done? Drop me a comment. I’d love to hear about your experience.
Disclaimer:
This post includes affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission and/or points/incentives should you click on a link and make a purchase or sign up for a free service. This blog is independently owned and the reviews of any product and/or travel destination here are my opinion
