Looking for a getaway, but worried that it’s not in your budget? There are many exciting places to check out right here in Florida. From day trips, to weeklong stays, there are many little cities to that you’ve never taken to time to enjoy. Skip the expense of plane tickets, hop in your car and explore your own state.
Consider a Florida stay-cation
Looking for a getaway, but worried that it’s not in your budget? There are many exciting places to check out right here in Florida. From day trips, to weeklong stays, there are many little cities to that you’ve never taken to time to enjoy. Skip the expense of plane tickets, hop in your car and explore your own state.
Delray Beach
The downtown area of Delray Beach is full of shops, boutiques and at least 20 art galleries. It’s also the home of the beautiful Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a center for Japanese art and culture with rotating galleries and a monthly tea ceremony. For dining, you won’t want to miss the funky Dada, located on Swinton Avenue in a two-story house turned restaurant/bar.
Downtown Orlando
Orlando isn’t all about Disney and theme parks – there’s a thriving downtown area and a great gay scene! There is a smattering of lakes throughout the area, perfect for romantic strolls; chic Thornton Park which is full of boutiques and restaurants; and for culture, there’s the Orlando Museum of Art and the Orlando Science Center. And let’s not forget that Orlando is the home of the legendary Parliament House and several other hot gay bars and clubs.
Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale has more than beautiful sandy beaches — there’s a fantastic downtown scene featuring Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, Museum of Discovery and Science; and great boutiques, restaurants and bars on Las Olas Boulevard. Shoppers will also appreciate sprawling outlet mall Sawgrass Mills. Head over to Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors for a plethora of gay-owned and run restaurants and bars and popular clubs.
The Keys
As much as we love Key West, there are other Keys that are often overlooked and are a whole lot closer. Key Largo and Marathon are beautiful areas with a lot to offer. Key Largo is the first of the Florida Keys and is home to two state parks, a national park and a national marine sanctuary. Marathon is ten miles long and offers a laidback atmosphere, an annual seafood festival and is a great place for those who are interested in sailing, fishing, diving or snorkeling.
Miami
Miami boasts more than sexy men. It is the home of the World Erotic Museum, the Bass Museum of Art and the exquisite Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. There are several fantastic areas for shoppers, including the famous Lincoln Road. Those who want some Latin flavor will enjoy Calle Ocho aka “Little Havana.” And you never know, you might just bump into one of the “Real Housewives of Miami.”
Naples
Naples is a gorgeous little town known for its shopping and dining area along Fifth Avenue and adorable Old Naples area which is an antiques-lover’s dream. Those who love fresh seafood will enjoy a plethora of waterside restaurants. The Naples Museum of Art features an impressive collection and is three-stories, 30,000-square-feet with 15 galleries. The town also has a few gay bars and gay-owned guest houses if you decide to stay a few days.
St. Petersburg
St. Pete is a completely unique city. Home to the largest Gay Pride in the state, the area has tons of exciting things to do. There’s the phenomenal Salvador Dali Museum, a Saturday Morning Market and Haslam’s, Florida’s largest new and used bookstore. In addition, there are several gay bars, including another location of the legendary Georgie’s Alibi St Petersburg.
Tampa
Not too far from St. Pete is Tampa, which also has a lot to offer. Look through these very pages for ads from the many gay bars in YBor City area, aka GaYbor. New and exciting restaurants are always popping up in the area. Tampa is also the home of Busch Gardens, Contemporary Art Museum at the University of South Florida, The Florida Aquarium and Lowry Park Zoo.
Vacationing close by doesn’t have to be a bore!
These mini-getaways will give you a change of scenery and their close location will make traveling easy on your wallet. For more information, check out www.visitflorida.com
