Florida Coastal Town Named the Best by USA Today
Florida is packed with delightful small towns, which makes for quite a fun road trip when you’re driving around the state. Now, one Florida coastal town has been named one of the best and most enchanting in the country by USA Today. What’s extra special about this particular list is that it was voted on by actual travelers. So, the towns that made the top 10 are favorites from traveler experts and actual visitors, making this a real-life tally of the best small towns in America. Let’s get into this special Florida coastal town and why it’s one of the best.
USA Today Highlights Florida Coastal Town
A new list is out from USA Today listing the best coastal towns in America. They did a similar study on small towns and actually divided the list into specific areas of the country. So, they have different lists for the Midwest, Northeast, South and out West. I think it’s a fantastic way to highlight different small and coastal towns in America, by focusing on their specific regions. Another benefit is that if you want to take a road trip to a beautiful small town, you can just find the list that pertains to your area more than the others and would requite a shorter road trip.
The lists of the best small and coastal towns in America are part of USA Today’s “10 Best.” As for methodology, they state, “Our travel experts select the top 20 nominees in contests covering food, lodging, destinations, travel gear, things to do…the list goes on. Then it’s up to you to make the final decision by casting your vote.” So, the list begins with some choices cultivated by travel experts, and then, the readers pick their favorites. For the small town features, travel experts picked towns with a population of fewer than 25,000. Then, they had readers vote for those towns.
So, which Florida small town was ranked the best in all of America? It’s Stuart, Florida, which came in at No. 1 on the tally. Of the area, USA Today notes, “Part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, with the impressive Roosevelt Bridge to its north, is the under-the-radar town of Stuart. Walk along the St. Lucie River at Flagler Park or Shepard Park, both great spots for picnicking, fishing, or otherwise relaxing. The Stuart Heritage Museum, Road to Victory Military Museum, and restaurant-lined downtown Stuart are all among the local attractions.” Another Florida town, Key West, was No. 3 on the list. I think it’s fantastic to see this beloved Florida coastal town get national acclaim from USA Today.
Secret Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation
1. Try to Negotiate Your Lodging
Did you know that hotel fees can be negotiable? Fidelity.com points out that, “You may be able to negotiate the online price by calling a hotel directly, or asking if they have any discounts for students, government employees, or members of certain groups, such as AAA.” So, don’t settle for that price you see on your laptop. Try to do better. It’s a secret tip that can pay off bigtime.
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2. Get Smart with Your Lodging
Did you know some hotels that are virtually the same, including the same brand, can be cheaper just a few miles apart? As a general rule, hotels that are near the airport are more expensive. So, you can look at the hotels you want to stay at and their multiple locations in the area for the best rate. “Some hotels that are under construction may rent rooms at a discount, which is a great option if you can deal with the noise,” Fidelity.com points out.
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3. Snack Your Way to a Cheaper Trip
Going out to eat on vacation can be one of the most exciting things about the trip. But, if you want to save on cash, skip a few meals out and opt for healthy, hearty snacks. Pack (or buy at a local store) some protein-rich snacks, like protein bars and meal bars, and limit your dining out. You can still enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer, just not as much of it. This is a way to stay fit on your trip, too. A lot of people don’t think of this tip, so it’s a bit of a secret.
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4. Timing is Everything
You’ve heard it so many times in life: Timing is everything. That’s true for travel, too. Research to find the least-busy times to visit your destination. If you travel during those downtimes, you’ll save big. While this is a common tip, something people forget is that every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, be specific for your travel spot.
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5. Travel with a Friend
If you’re thinking of traveling solo to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go cheaper by traveling with a friend. You two can share lodging fees. Also, sometimes there are more deals and discounts for those traveling with multiple people. I always do this when going to a big music festival, if it’s far away. I’ll usually meet my friend there, and we share lodging costs. It also makes the trip more fun.
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6. Find Free Spots to Travel
Look for some free attractions in your travel area. Chances are, they won’t be as packed as the big-named places, too. You can still visit some of the popular landmarks. But, if you add a trip to a national park or free museum to your itinerary, it will save you some cash.
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7. Max Out Your Memberships
Are you a member of any random groups? You might have travel deals just waiting for you. Check everything, from your college alumni membership to your credit cards, for travel discounts. You may be surprised what you find.
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8. Don't Get Picky
Say you just want to get out on a fantastic trip, but you don’t really have a place in mind. That’s actually a good thing. Take an hour to look at flight specials happening right now. If you aren’t picky on where to travel, chances are you’ll find a great rate on airfare and lodging somewhere. Once you find the most reasonable place to travel, then you can start looking at what to do when you’re there.
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9. Go Popular
This is a bit ironic, but often times, the most popular tourist destinations are also the cheapest. That’s because there is a lot of competition for all those travelers. So, big-named destinations like Orlando, Florida, or Las Vegas, Nevada, tend to have really good travel deals. Go popular, or go home.
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