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Florida Resort Named One Of Best Tropical Spots For Under $200

Pier at the beach in Key West, Florida at sunset.

Here is what the Maldives, Grand Lucayan Bahamas, and Key West have in common. In addition to being picturesque vacation destinations, they all have resorts with rates starting at only $200. USA Today's 10BEST recently named the best tropical island resorts that are budget-friendly, and a Key West, Florida destination made the list.

10BEST broke it down, stating, "It's often cheaper to stay at one of these all-inclusive waterfront properties abroad than it is to pay for a three-star hotel at home. Key West is in some great global company with this recognition. In addition to the aforementioned locations, resorts in the Dominican Republic, Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Greece and Australia were named. In fact, only the Royal Kona Resort in Hawaii joined Key West as locations in the United States to make the list.

Here Is What You Need To Know About This Key West Resort

Located at 5950 Peninsular Avenue, the Ocean Edge Resort and Marina is designed to be a great tropical escape. "At Oceans Edge, we’ve revived the days when the Keys felt like the edge of the Earth," they state.

This tropical destination is also a 165-slip marina that is open every day. They allow you to pull up your own boat or reserve one there. Other activities include water sports, bike rentals, yoga classes, movie nights, and golfing.

In regards to those great rates at this tropical Key West resort, "You’ll find the best rates in September, but they’re pretty reasonable other times of year," 10BEST explains. U.S. News and World Report also highlights March through May being great times to visit Key West. This is due to the hotel rates and decreased crowds.

Room types include an ocean view king, a balcony queen, and two-bedroom suites. In addition, their current deals section has an offer for a fourth night free and 25% off under the "trick or suite" promotion.

Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country

According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.

A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.

The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.

Florida Bridges

In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.

"American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity," Mr. Hudson explains.

What's fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America's feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade

Let's take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa

Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

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Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys

This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.