Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Clermont 
Parkesdale Farm Market, Plant City 
The Wheel at ICON Park, Orlando 
Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales 
Hillsborough River State Park, Thonotosassa 
Weeki Wachee Aqua Adventures, Spring Hill 
Weeki Wachee Springs, Spring Hill 
Egmont Key State Park, St. Petersburg 
Rainbow River, Dunnellon 
Silver Glen Springs, Ocala 
Coquina Beach, Bradenton
What is Domestic Tourism? Domestic Tourism is when residents of a country travel or visit different areas within the same country. A simple example: I scheduled time off from my job and instead of booking a flight to Italy, I will take a trip to any destination in the Unites States. In this case, Florida. What can you do? I got you covered. Continue reading so you plan ahead your day at a Beach, Springs, Historic Sites, Gardens, kayaking, horseback riding or dinners, etc… my examples are very “nature outdoorsy“, but that’s just me. There are many things to do in Florida for every family member and every budget. You just should do a little research and see what you would like to do, how far you’re willing to go and how much you’re willing to spend.
So how can YOU start domestic tourism? It’s very easy – GET UP and GO SOMEWHERE. Get out of the routine. Make memories that will last a lifetime. Take pictures and videos that you will see a couple years later and feel happy about them. Remember, you only live once. When you start Domestic Tourism, you can begin within your own city and state and then start traveling to other states. This actually applies to anyone around the world.
After you decide where you want to go, your new best friend should be Trip Advisor, Company’s Website (if applicable), Google and Youtube. I always read and watch videos of the places I’m planning to go. I know I’m not the only person that likes to know what to expect when going on a long trip. These websites help you learn about fees, maintenance, opening hours and the do’s and don’ts.
Once you are comfortable choosing your location, establish a date that works best around your schedule, you want to get the most out of your vacation. Especially if you’re choosing busy months like June or July. The best days are weekdays because everything is less crowded. You should avoid weekends, if possible. Due to personal experience going through these areas, I can guarantee that you will have a more intimate experience the earlier you arrive. You can pick better spots and get that wonderful picture without a crowd in the background. A week prior to your trip, start looking at the weather. This will help to see if you need to reorganize your list of places you want to go and have that wonderful plan B. It’s very important to understand that some parks are closed due to unexpected thunderstorms, with that said, if you see a Thunderstorm warning at 1:00 PM, have a Plan B.
Establish a budget of how much you will like to spend. For example, take into consideration the following: Admission Fees + Snacks or Lunches + Gasoline + any additional item you will like to have for your trip (goggles, floats, special shoes) + Car Rental (If any) + Airbnb or Hotels if you are planning on staying overnight or a couple of days in the area. Car Rentals are very important to consider if you’re from out of State. The fees tend to fluctuate with demand so try to plan for the months were the demand for tourism is at its lowest, taking into consideration the weather. With that said, If you are planning to be out in the sun, remember to use your SPF and/or Bug Spray.
There are plenty of places to visit, but I usually visit areas near Central Florida. There are many famous springs and tourist locations that I enjoy the most. That being said, I will be sharing a list of Destinations I have visited in the past year that are within 1 or 2 hour distances from Central Florida, depending on which mayor city you’re visiting. Each and every one of them make me feel like a real “tourist” and very enthusiastic to reach my destination.
Kindly see below the list of the places I have visited and their respective websites for additional information.
- Parkesdale Farm Market, Plant City
- Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde
- Hollis Gardens, Lakeland
- The Wheel at ICON Park, Orlando
- Madame Tussauds at ICON Park, Orlando
- Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
- Weekie Wachee Park, Spring Hill
- Weekie Wachee Water Adventure, Spring Hill
- Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Clermont
- Keel & Curley Winery at Keel Farms, Plant City
- Hillsborough River State Park, Thonotosassa
- Egmont Key State Park, St. Petersburg
- Clearwater Beach, Clearwater
- Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon
- Silver Glen Springs, Ocala
- Coquina Beach, Bradenton
- Florida Famous Theme Parks
I hope these tips and list are very useful for you. I know not everyone enjoy’s being outside in nature. However, sometimes it is great to disconnect and be in touch with mother nature. It can give you so much peace and recharge that energy we loose in the day by day routine. Which I believe is something necessary in these tough days.
Lastly, during the pandemic/Covid-19 days, always try to keep the CDC guidelines. Please follow the 6 foot distance rule from other families, wear the mask whenever possible and if your health permits it, wash your hands, take hand sanitizer and go as early as possible to avoid being in big crowds.
Thank you so much for reading this post. Feel free to reply and recommend new places for me to visit.
Kind Regards,
Jaileen
“There is no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this.”
