Top 3 Spots to Enjoy a Weekend Away from Miami

Miami is lovely – but when you spend months and months looking at the same palm trees, a change of pace is welcomed. Consider these top 3 spots to enjoy a weekend away from Miami.

Naples – 2 hours away from Miami

Just two short hours across Florida’s southern tip is Naples. West coast luxury awaits. It’s a glimpse into the Gilded Age of a hundred or so years ago, with affluent snowbirds in luxurious mansions on grand estates. Channel your own inner millionaire with a reservation at Naples Grande – think oversized suites and lavish balconies. Just up the way is a lovely not-so-frequented beach. Naples still sports its port, so even though you’ll have plenty of boutique shopping to occupy your time, you’ll also get to treat yourself to some fresh seafood afterwards. The Crayton Cove Dock is a local favorite.

St. Petersburg – 4 hours away from Miami

This next place has an affectionate nickname – St. Pete, a.k.a St. Petersburg. It’s so relaxed, it perfectly captures Florida’s essence. Enshrined with beautiful beaches around the Gulf of Mexico, this Florida town beckons you to shed any cares as soon as you arrive. If the over four-hour drive didn’t relax you, head over to Paradise Grille for some great food, drinks, and live acoustic music. From there, set up home base at Caldesi Island State Park, one of St. Pete’s best beachfront spots. On the other side of the city, indulge your artsy side at the Dali Museum or the Imagine Museum.

Marathon – 3 hours away from Miami

The Florida Keys are a staple tourist spot, and unfortunately, somewhat over-visited. That said, skip the Upper Keys and instead head to Marathon. Here in the Middle Keys, fishing and sunbathing are sports and one of the best places for both is at Bahia Honda State Park. Stroll through history at Adderley House, where you can learn about the life of Bahamian laborers who lived here while building the oversea highway in the early 1900s. With little traffic, you can make the Miami to Middle Keys trip in about three hours. After the drive, enjoy your digs at Isla Bella Hotel sitting on 24 acres of prime real estate just before the 7 Mile Bridge.

Honestly, anywhere in Florida feels like an escape – but these are the top 3 spots to enjoy a weekend away from Miami.

Great Vacations Charleston is a truly unique members only travel savings platform known universally for providing top quality vacation discounts, through its partnership with one of the largest travel search engines in the world. Throughout our history, we’ve fulfilled hundreds of thousands of vacation requests to ensure our members travelers enjoy the best experiences worldwide for the absolute best values, as well as avoid common travel markups that can often prevent people from taking full advantage of their once-in-a-lifetime escapades. Best of all, Great Vacations Charleston enables travelers to earn exclusive “vacation currency” that can be redeemed at a later date for additional travel deals, select offers, and other desirable benefits. Great Vacations Charleston takes all the hard work and stress out of vacation planning so that adventure enthusiasts, like yourself, are able to spend less time preparing for their journeys and more time appreciating them!