Here Are FL Best Bets For Labor Day Weekend Travel

FLORIDA — Hit the road, Jack, for the last time this summer. Just expect a lot of other Jacks and Jills to join you on Florida's beaches and at its theme parks this Labor Day weekend.

As summer comes to a close, travel volumes around Labor Day are anticipated to remain high despite the current coronavirus surge, said AAA spokeswoman Julie Hall.

After remaining at home last year during the pandemic, travelers are eager to get out and about. That means 42.9 million Americans are expected to be on the roads this Labor Day weekend.

That weekend trip to the beach or Walt Disney World shouldn't be postponed due to high gas prices. The national gas price average decreased by 2 cents as of Sunday, the cheapest price since early July. Because nine oil refineries were in the path of Hurricane Ida, average gas prices were back up on Monday morning but by only 1 cent in Florida, according to AAA.

While the delta variant is bound to keep many Floridians close to home, a TripAdvisor survey showed 31 percent of Americans have plans to travel over the holiday, not much less than the 35 percent who traveled in 2019.

Over the summer, AAA Travel bookings were up 11 percent over 2019 levels.

“Whether and how you travel is a very personal decision. By and large, people who were planning to travel are still taking their trips, while being mindful to take precautions to protect themselves and others,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel.

For those seeking to get away, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated Americans can travel domestically with little risk, but the CDC advises unvaccinated residents to stay home.

The CDC also recommends residents check the protocols when traveling out of state. Unlike Florida where vaccination passports are banned, some destinations require proof of vaccination.

Regardless of the destination, the CDC advises residents to always wear masks in public indoor spaces.

As for flying, taking the bus or boarding a train, masks remain a requirement of the Transportation Security Administration. This includes inside airports, on airport shuttles and inside train and bus stations.

"We are currently spending considerable time and resources reminding people to follow the federal mask mandate," said Adam Bouchard, Tampa International Airport's vice president of operations. "We appreciate everyone's efforts to be in compliance with the mask mandate and to ensure the health and safety of all our passengers, guests and employees."

Travelers wondering how to find hotels that are abiding by CDC protocols can visit AAA.com/Diamonds and look for hotels with AAA’s Best of Housekeeping badge, awarded to the top 25 percent of Diamond-designated hotels for cleanliness.

As for where to go this Labor Day, some families are opting for more secluded getaways, like one of Florida 175 state parks, where they can enjoy the outdoors without a lot of people around. Others are opting for more popular, and more crowded, venues, such as the major theme parks, all of which require visitors to wear masks.

The website Tripping rated the top 10 Labor Day travel destinations in Florida:

1. St. Petersburg

Find family-friendly attractions, as well as fun in the sun over Labor Day weekend with a stop at the Shine St. Petersburg Mural Festival, which features masterpieces on display from local artists. Visit the newly opened St. Pete Pier or treat the kids to a day of swimming at Fort De Soto Park.

2. Tampa

Tour the Tampa Museum of Art, hike the trails of Alafia River State Park, explore the shops of the SoHo district and go wild with the animals at Busch Gardens, The Florida Aquarium or Zoo Tampa.

3. St. Augustine

Enjoy the charm of Florida’s oldest city by exploring the Art Walk in the downtown area, live music in the Plaza de la Constitucion and ghost tours of the Old Jail.

4. Key West

Love beer? The annual Labor Day Key West Brewfest offers more than 200 varieties of ales and beers. Walk off those beer calories with a hike through John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, go snorkeling and enjoy the music at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and Sloppy Joe’s Bar.

5. Destin

Visit Destin Labor Day weekend for the Baytown Art Walk, live music at the Harbor Walk Village and a fireworks spectacle at the Destin Harbor.

6. Miami

Visit Miami over Labor Day weekend for the annual Miami Spice food festival. Stop by the Miami Seaquarium, hike Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and take a leisurely stroll through the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

7. Panama City

Take a snorkel tour or dolphin tour, search for shells on Shell Island, roam the paths at St. Andrews State Park or enjoy the restaurants and shops in Panama City during the Labor Day weekend.

8. Amelia Island

Tour the Amelia Island Museum of History or walk through the historic district to view the Victorian-style homes. Spend the day kayaking with rentals from Amelia Island Kayak Excursions or search the beaches for shark teeth.

9. Orlando

What's not to like about Orlando? You've got your choice of Disney World, SeaWorld, Epcot and Universal Studios.

10. Pensacola

Pensacola is home to the Gulf Coast Summer Fest, so you can join the locals at Community Maritime Park for some live jazz music then soak up the sun on the Pensacola Beach Pier or stop in for lunch at a beachfront restaurant on the pier, such as Jaco’s Bayfront Bar and Grille or The Oar House.

Related story: Attention TPA Fliers And Guests: Masks Are Still Mandatory While Traveling