Florida Destinations Named Best Spots For Memorial Day Getaways

Believe it or not, we've reached the month that contains the gateway to summer. As such, Southern Living has detailed the best places to go this Memorial Day weekend, and four Florida destinations were suggested.

"Whether you want to enjoy a relaxing couple of days on a sunny beach, eat and shop your way through a bustling city, or seek cooler weather in the mountains, the South is full of wonderful places to spend Memorial Day weekend," they say.

For many people Memorial Day weekend is the the first three-day weekend in a few months. It's a transitional period where we turn the page on the winter or spring, and look forward to what lies ahead in summer. School gets out, camps kick in, and you start to envision a lot of beach time with friends and family.

In Florida, we are obviously fortunate to be surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. However, that doesn't mean you don't have to venture out. In fact, the locations Southern Living points are all over the Sunshine State.

We'll start right here on the west coast. That's because Naples ranked 14th. Much of what Southern Living points out revolves around food. From the great restaurants on 5th Avenue to food boats, there's nothing wrong with eating your way through the area over Memorial Day weekend.

Traveling up the coast, Panama City was also recognized. This region gets praise for the watersports options. These activities certainly have the vibe that people think of when heading to the beach over these three days.

Then, driving across the state you can pull into Jacksonville to find the next destination mentioned. This area keeps gaining attention as an up and coming market. Jacksonville Beach also is quite welcoming to surfers, skaters, and those interested in sanctuaries.

Lastly, only 50 miles south, St. Augustine is the highest ranking spot in Florida for a great Memorial Day trip. Southern Living also named this destination the best small town of 2023. The history components of St. Augustine is what makes it a unique place to explore. "Continue your tour of all things timeworn and weathered at the appropriately named Oldest House Museum, which features Florida's oldest house and its accompanying gardens and towering oak trees," they state.

Overall, Florida has the most places named in this Memorial Day feature. With many snowbirds heading back up north for the summer, perhaps these places across the state are actually less crowded this time of year as well.

If you are looking for a quick getaway to savor the invaluable moments of sleeping in, or going out to dinner, you may want to consider staying within the Bay State. Sixt recently published the 20 best destinations for a babymoon in the United States, and five Florida cities made the list.

"When you’re expecting, many couples want to plan one last vacation or adventure before their baby arrives to enjoy time together, just the two of them," Sixt explains. They also detail how their data has shown, "Searches for ‘affordable babymoon destinations’ have increased by 300% in the past twelve months. Similarly, search trends for ‘what is a babymoon’ have soared by 250%."

To determine the best places in the country to take a babymoon, Sixt identified six different categories. They then used these topics to examine each city. As a result, they assigned a score and totaled them up. The categories were; happiness, safety, leisure activities, scenic views, friendliness, food, and drink.

Being able to eat uninterrupted and with both hands will soon be considered a luxury. A babymoon is all about relaxation and spending quality time together. "This is a great opportunity to celebrate the new adventures on the way while taking care of yourself and your own needs," Healthline explained in their recent "What Is a Babymoon?" story.

"For the most memorable experience, try to plan a babymoon when you feel your best, which for many women is during their second trimester," Healthline states when discussing when to take a babymoon.

In Florida, the five destinations that ranked among the top 20 places to go for a babymoon are all very different from each other. Sixt ranked Kissimmee as the 2oth best babymoon destination, and Miami came in at number nineteen. Three other Florida locations made the top twenty, with two landing in the top 10. Scroll down to see our highest ranking babymoon destinations.

If you drive 30 miles up the coast you will then reach the 15th ranked best babymoon destination. Fort Lauderdale finished with 57 points, scoring high in both safety and scenic views. "Take a romantic gondola ride through the Venice of America or explore the city’s numerous art galleries and museums," Sixt suggests.

Rounding out the top 10, Tampa scored 58 points thanks in-part to a perfect 10 out of 10 score in safety. Tampa is home to three beautiful parks and various waterways. You can hop over to St. Pete and catch a Rays game or ring in the 2023 NFL season with the Buccaneers. In addition, the Tampa Zoo is always a good a time as is Busch Gardens Tampa.

Finally, taking the top spot in Florida for babymoon destinations, Orlando registered a state-high, 63 points. "The city is home to various spas and five-star resorts that cater specifically to pregnant women like The Spa Orlando, making it a dream babymoon destination," Sixt points out. Over course there's Disney World here, but if you'd rather a more quiet experience, Visit Orlando suggest checking out a peaceful ride through Rock Springs.