Go on a Spring Break holiday in Florida

Florida is a top Spring Break destination in the USA. Find out which spots are perfect for your sunny holiday and the ESTA needed for travel.

Spring Break is a famous holiday experience in the USA. It is generally associated with college students celebrating the coming warm weather by heading off to a beach destination and enjoying some fun in the sun.

No state in the USA better encapsulates this holiday period than Florida. It just so happens that March and April are the last two months of the dry season in Florida. Most native Floridians still find the water at this time too cold to take a dip but for folks from up north, this is possibly the perfect time of year to travel to the Sunshine State.

For a fun-filled adventure to Florida, you need an ESTA to get there. An Esta is a travel authorisation that allows you to travel to the USA. The ESTA is much easier to apply for than a typical visa. While you are waiting for your ESTA to be approved, you can decide which Florida destinations would be the perfect place for a sunny getaway to experience Spring Break.

For a relaxed beach holiday

Some of the most pristine beaches in Florida are those on the Emerald Coast. The Gulf Coast of Florida offers a more relaxed alternative beach experience to the Atlantic Coast. The beaches on the Emerald Coast are famously crystal clear, with warm water, smooth white sand, and a generally relaxed attitude towards everything.

Destin is not exactly the most recognisable name outside of Florida, but many natives know that their beaches are legendary. One of the top local beaches is Norriego Point, located at the western tip of Holiday Isle. This is a unique spot because one part of this beach faces the Destin Harbor, while the other site faces the Gulf of Mexico. The unique location of this beach creates calm water that is perfect for swimming. It is an ideal spot for scuba diving because of the clear, calm nature of the water off shore.

Fishing is also a very popular activity in Destin. Crab Island is the top spot to fish in Destin. Crab Island is a shallow sandbar that is big enough to fit hundreds of fishing boats, filled with everything from beginners to seasoned fishermen. The shallow water offers a beautiful view of different kinds of fish and sea life. The only way to get to Crab Island is by boat, so it is quite a unique and special experience to either rent a boat yourself or be ferried by a private boat.

A sea side oasis

For those who can’t decide between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, there is a cosy little hideaway nestled in between the two large cities that provides the best of both small town Florida, and Metropolitan South Florida. Hollywood Beach is the perfect spot to people-watch, catch some rays, and stroll down their famous boardwalk.

The Hollywood Beach Boardwalk stretches along roughly four kilometres along the shore. It’s the perfect spot to rollerblade, bike or simply stroll along and enjoy the ocean breeze, with the beautiful Atlantic and plenty of quaint shops, cafés and restaurants. From massive hotels and resorts such as the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, to quaint mom-and-pop seafood restaurants, and even a few local dive bars, there’s never a shortage of things to do in Hollywood.

Hollywood Beach is located just north of Miami and the infamously luxurious Aventura Mall, and just south of downtown Ft. Lauderdale. This makes it the perfect spot to spend a few days in an unpretentious beach-side oasis, while still being able to check out everything South Florida has to offer, such as museums, art galleries, fantastic shopping centres and cultural touchstones like Little Havana.

Good ol’ Key West

There is a reason Key West is as popular as it is. There is no shortage of things to do there, from snorkelling, sailing, kayaking and fishing to museums and even national parks. Yet something about Key West urges you to both enjoy every moment to its fullest, and take a deep breath and soak it all in.

Duval Street is the liveliest part of Key West, brimming with souvenir shops, fine dining and nightclubs. Street vendors sell coconuts to drink out of, while the Key Lime Pie is the dessert of choice. Though a bit touristy at times, it is impossible to deny the charm of Duval Street and its Bourbon Street ambiance.

Just off the bustling centre streets, there are many natural parks and calming nature to explore. Many consider Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park to be one of the prime spots to picnic in the Keys. Known by locals as the perfect place for sunbathing, hiking, fishing and history. The sand is a bit rocky but once you are in the water, it is truly one of the most ideal spots for snorkelling in Florida.

An ESTA for a Florida holidayApplying for an ESTA is the easiest travel authorisation to attain to travel to the USA. The ESTA can be applied for online quickly and is much more affordable than a regular visa. Most travellers meet the requirements of the ESTA, eliminating the need to visit any embassies or consulates. If you decide that your sunny holiday is worth repeating, the ESTA is valid for two years, which means you can make another trip to Florida, or another part of the USA. There are plenty of sunny coasts throughout the USA, so two years gives you a chance to visit more than one.