Ahhhh, vacations. ⛱️ Jessica here. There’s nothing quite like a few days on a sandy beach with a good book to ease the mind. Or, maybe you prefer the cool mountains + loooong hikes and campfires. ⛰️ Heck, sometimes it’s nice to just stay home and tell people you’re on a vacation so they don’t bother you. Whatever works, right?

I like to use up my vacation time exploring new cities. A couple months ago, I took a mini-vacation to Atlanta with some friends, where we ate to our heart’s content, explored until our feet hurt, and took way too many pictures. Just this past weekend, I got to visit family back in California (the place where I hail from) and act like a tourist around town.

As a kid, some of my best vacation memories involve beach house trips with 20+ family members to North Carolina – where all we did was eat, sleep + swim.

In my adult years, I’ve loved my visits to Washington, D.C. and New York City – getting lost in museum exhibits, discovering new restaurants, living off way too much caffeine from coffee shops on every corner, and taking in the busy chaos on the streets.

Brooks Atkinson Theatre | Photo by @jessicakurbatov

District Wharf in D.C. is a #MustDo for fresh seafood + Potomac River views from the pier’s swings, and New York’s Broadway musicals make for the most memorable nights like Waitress, which still has me singing “sugar, butter, flour.”

But now we want to hear from you. Spill your vacation spot secrets.

What’s your destination of choice + why? Is it the mountains? Is it the beach? Is it worth the drive from Lakeland? After all, we live where everyone vacations so it’s always the perfect time to hit the road or hop on a plane.

Question

Responses

Here are some of your recommendations.

“My family visited Asheville, NC this summer and had a great time. The refined beauty and opulence of the Biltmore, the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a thriving arts scene make it a great getaway spot. Oh, and did I mention French Broad Chocolates?? I'll go ahead and say, ‘You're welcome’ since I know you'll thank me later.” – Meredith P.
“The Finger Lakes District of New York State is a relaxing, fun-filled destination. Award-winning wineries line the Finger Lakes, as well as some awesome breweries. You can visit Corning, NY and go to the Glass Museum and stroll Market Street, which is full of boutiques and eateries. Go to Harris Hill and take a Glider Ride. In Elmira, you can visit the college and see Mark Twain's Study that was moved down the hill from Langdon Farm. He wrote several of his books in the study. There is so much to do and the area is gorgeous!” – Debbie C.
“My favorite vacation destination is Anna Maria. It was pronounced "Anna Mariah" by many back in the day. As a child, I stayed with cousins at an aunt and uncle's house on AMI. A few years later, my parents bought that house. We were in a quiet little neighborhood a block from the Gulf and walking distance from the IGA store. There were even peacocks that roamed through the neighborhoods back then! I loved going swimming but my favorite time to go down to the beach was at night. The powdery white sand was cool, and it squeaked as we walked through it. The sound of waves gently breaking and the smell of the saltwater are like medicine to my soul even now. Today the house is gone and rock jetties make it impossible for me to get to the part of the beach I went to years ago but I still love to go to AMI. A big part of my heart is there. And I still call it Anna ‘Mariah’.” - Leslie J.
“London, England is a favorite vacation destination. There are so many places to see, i.e palaces, museums, great places to eat, and shop. My wife and I have been there twice. We’re planning to go again.” – Mike B.
“Vancouver + Victoria Island, British Columbia; Malibu; New Orleans; Cape May, NJ; and Vieques Island, Puerto Rico.” – Thomas L.
“I'm from the UK and every year I travel to Lakeland because the place is amazing.” – Ash F.
“I don't have just one favorite place, but my husband and I have an anniversary tradition where we visit a different state each year – ‘50 States in 50 years.’ We are up to 14 states with a mix across the country - the latest being Washington State and Maryland.”
“A small village in Iceland’s sparsely populated Western Fjords.”
“I visit family. I already live in the best state in the USA.”
“Beach towns”
“Staycation – We can drive just about anywhere depending on how we feel and nothing beats the comfort of your own bed. But South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) is always a good time.”
“The Great Smoky Mountains”
“Gatlinburg, TN + Anna Maria Island”
“Colorado Springs – There’s so much nature to explore and you can’t even drive around without seeing all the natural beauty. Garden of the Gods is a must-see and Pikes Peak!”
“Myrtle Beach, S.C.”
“Israel”
“Delray Beach, FL because it’s got a beach, restaurants, and shops all within walking distance. Plus, they have a free taxi service through an app called Downtowner if you don't want to walk. Another great potential is that from Lakeland you can take the Amtrak to Delray and catch a free downtown bus from the Delray train station to the area where hotels are. Honestly, its a great option for people who don't want to drive a lot. Cranes Beach House is a fantastic boutique hotel with two pools and possible rooms with kitchens. Colony Hotel & Cabana Club has a DREAMY private pool/club on the beach with a pool and lounge area. In addition, you can take the local commuter train to downtown West Palm Beach for even more events, activities, and restaurants. My top picks for restaurants in Downtown Delray are Dada, Rocco's Tacos, City Oyster, and Ramen Lab. Must do: mini-golf with beer at Putt'n Around. They have two different golf courses and fantastic local beers on tap.”
“Cashiers/Highlands, N.C.”
“Asheville, N.C. + Chattanooga, TN”
“New York City is a favorite city, Neptune Beach in Jacksonville, FL and Pass-a-Grille Beach in St. Petersburg are my favorites and for a vacation trip, Ireland is a super destination.”

– LALtoday team (Jessica and Kaylee)