With the weather still bogging down Florida with sporadic thunderstorms and surprisingly chilly conditions, northern travel for spring break seems to be no longer an option.
How convenient that we live where the rest of the world vacations.
Sticking at home isn’t so bad, after all. Florida is home to more than just Disney and Panama City.
We took a look at some cheap and close destinations for your scaled back spring break.
Clearwater/St. Petersburg
The beaches: Clearwater is regularly rated as one of the whitest beaches in America, and Fort Desoto in southern Pinellas County was rated by Dr. Beach as the best overall beach in the country. Desoto is a perfect mix of backwoods camping and tropical paradise, and it’s on the site of a Civil War fortification, if the history nerd inside of you is interested.
The downtown scene: Downtown St. Pete might not look like much from the outside, but it’s full of unique dive bars and concert venues that give life to the otherwise sleepy town. Directly across the street from Tropicana Field, Ferg’s Sports Bar serves as a great post-baseball game drinking hole. Bishop Tavern is a regular hangout spot for celebs and out-of-town athletes, and it’s become known as one of the best bars for drink specials downtown.
The State Theatre and Jannus Landing are well-known venues in the music world, and despite their small, roomy sizes, they still pull in top names in rock and hip-hop.
What makes it unique: The Gulf Coast is known most for its great bars and restaraunts that line the water and truly give Pinellas County its “beach bum” attitude. Salt Rock Grill on Indian Rocks Beach is just one of many along the coast that fishermen’s boats pull right up to after a long day and dump off their fresh hauls.
St. Augustine
The beaches: Obviously, the beaches aren’t the main attraction in St. Augustine. But for the record, the city’s beaches are surprisingly nice for northeast Florida. It seems in the rush to Cocoa and Jacksonville, the beaches of St. Augustine have remained calm and quiet.
The downtown scene: History is the key word in downtown St. Augustine. St. George Street, marked by its trademark coquina stone pillars, is a gateway to ancient artifacts. The Colonial Spanish Quarter, Cordova Street and Castilla de San Marcos are must-see for even the casual history buff.
What makes it unique: Clearly, the history of St. Augustine is the city’s most well-known trait.
St. Augustine is also home to one of Florida’s best up-and-coming music festivals: Harvest of Hope.
What began last year with appearances from Girl Talk, The National, Against Me! and Less Than Jake is continuing this year with The Mountain Goats, Broken Social Scene, Anti-Flag and Billy Bragg. The festival is a benefit for a unique cause, as well: migrant farmworkers.
Sarasota
The beaches: Once your feet touch the powdered sugar-white sand on Siesta Key Beach, you’ll know the trip was worth it.
You can wade out into the water for a while before it gets deep, snorkel on the sandbars, walk along the shore at sunset, get some food at the snack bar or play some games of volleyball on the sand courts.
The downtown scene: At the heart of Siesta Key Village, Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill has loads of food and drink specials, themed nights, live music and DJs.
Nearby, the popular Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar has a large selection of seafood and, more obviously, a huge menu of affordable, frozen drinks.
What makes it unique: Whether you’re into marine life, arts or soaking up the sun, Sarasota has something to check out.
It has the bars and nightlife but for a more cultural experience, spend a day at the Ringling Museum of Art along Sarasota Bay.
Or check out Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium’s sharks, manatees, sea turtles, dolphins and more than 100 other species, plus check out the work they do at the sea turtle, dolphin and whale hospitals.
Miami
The beaches: There’s nothing like South Beach. Sure, it’s not the “True Miami” as CSI and Rick Ross portray it, but South Beach is the mecca for great food, beautiful people and a dash of culture not to be found anywhere else in the country.
The downtown scene: Downtown Miami, specifically South Beach, is not as crazy as the stories may lead you to believe.
It’s a bit worn down and it’s extremely expensive.
Check out Dolphin Mall, a great outdoor shopping plaza that lines the beach.
What makes it unique: What doesn’t make Miami unique?
The weekend of spring break, Miami is hosting the World Golf Championship at Doral.
It’s home to Dwyane Wade and the Heat, it’s got great Cuban culture (and some classy cigar shops) and it’s where you’ll find some of the most obscure — and expensive — fashions in the country.
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