December is often a month of heavy travel to take a holiday trips, to visit a festive landmark, friends or family. However, Fifty Grande recently published the best places to go in December for a relaxing vacation and two Florida destinations made the list.
"There are more than enough climate zones and far-flung destinations to accommodate every Scrooge, snow bunny and family dinner flight risk," Fifty Grande states.
At this point, most travelers have already made December plans and have tickets in hand for any major trips. Nonetheless, the spontaneous spur-of-the-moment escape is still increasingly popular. What do you look for when the thrill of a quick getaway calls? Ideally, you are heading to a place of ultimate relaxation. In fact, often the climate of the place you seek is opposite of what you are experiencing at home. Therefore, you need a place that offers that variety but is still close enough that you don't have to spend two of the days wrapped up in traveling.
This Fifty Grande report showcases how America has many outstanding options of places like Florida that will do that trick for those looking for a quick December vacation. There are snow-covered places (like Colorado) for those who want a jump on the ski season. Then, there are sunny beaches where you can sip frozen island drinks to completely unwind before you turn the calendar to a new year.
So, here are your Florida options.
Miami ranked number five. Specifically, Art Basel was called out as a unique December event to consider. This year, Art Basel, one of the largest annual art gallery events in the country, takes place December 8-10 in Miami Beach. In addition, there are numerous beachside properties that allow visitors to arrive and stay put for the complete duration of their trip.
Key West then ranked number three. Fifty Grande suggests, "Visit ten native habitat spots along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, including the Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, where you can scuba and kayak to your heart’s content." Key West in December is the perfect blend of excursion and relaxation. You can fly directly to Key West from multiple major cities or fly to South Florida and drive the keys to end up at this ultimate December vacation spot.
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.
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.
