Florida Road Trip: Traveling during the Pandemic

Sunset at sea

With another spike of the corona virus on the horizon, states and countries are shutting down again, for the umpteenth time this year. This means that the glimmer of hope for travel to return to normalcy will again be dimmed. Since the beginning of 2020, people have been forced to become unusually acquainted with their homes and living spaces. Some of us, bitten by travel bugs and suffering from travel fever, have renamed the rooms in our abodes after fictitious travel destinations. Kitchens are exotic locations called “La Kitchena”, outfitted with newly appointed five-star chefs and bartenders. Worldwide, this destination has quickly gained the coveted spot of Most Visited Location for 2020. It attracts the largest crowds because during the quarantine those of us who have not found our calling as cooks are drinking ourselves under the table. The rest of us are simply intrigued by the produce and eateries that miraculously keep popping out of the pantries, fridges, and ovens. La Bathrooma is a close second from La Kitchena and has been awarded the Best Travel Destination for parents who want a moment’s privacy and a quiet get away from their demanding children who are now being home schooled. La Gardena won the vote for the Top Destination for people who want to stay active and engaged in projects out in the sun and open air. Human beings are creative, we adapt easily to change, and there is no doubt that the pandemic has caused us to rethink and redefine such words as “vacation”, “getaways”, and “travel destinations”. Yet, no matter how powerful our minds and imaginations, the psychological toll of being cooped up between four walls is undeniable. It is a fact that nothing quite solves wander lust like actually wandering off, away from the confines of a building, and out into the vast unknown.

So, two weekends ago, my husband and I donned our face masks, packed several bottles of hand sanitizers into our car trunk, and took off on a road trip. Last time we headed up north to the Great Smoky Mountain and this time we headed south to Florida. Here is what we discovered on our outing.

Observe Social Distancing

Our first stop was Sanibel Island, and it was with surprise and great pleasure that we discovered an almost empty beach. There were no more than four (4) groups of people enjoying the strip of beach that we chose. No one used the picnic tables, the groups didn’t intermingle, and a few of us wore masks. What was more encouraging for us, was that this beach was not unique in its sparseness. Most, if not all the beaches that we passed, had only a few people who had dared to venture out to enjoy the pristine waters of Sanibel Island. Social distancing was easy. There was little need to touch or hold on to anything. As we strolled along the sand, we enjoyed the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea breeze, the sand between our toes, the sun on our backs, the cool refreshing waters, and eventually, the sunset over the immense, blue, deeps. Our experience was made even better by the songs of the sea birds and the sighting of sea salps.

The next day we visited the Everglades National Park. The park can be entered from one of the following Visitors Centers: the Shark Valley Visitor Center, the Ernest Coe Visitor Center, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center or the Flamingo Visitor Center. The entrance cost depends on the size of the vehicle and the number of visitors. Due to the pandemic, tickets can be purchased ahead of time, online, to reduce human to human contact.

On our visit, because of the recent heavy rainfalls, many of the trails were flooded and a few roads were closed. Nonetheless, there was enough to see that made for a full and exciting day. We visited the many ponds, walked a few trails, and walked out onto the many boardwalks. For the entirety of our visit, we crossed paths with about four (4) groups of fellow adventurers. For the most part of the day, it felt as though we had the entire park to ourselves.

Next stop was Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach was more crowded than the beaches on Sanibel Island, but even so, it was not crowded to the point that made social distancing difficult. We visited a doggy beach and there were about ten (10) groups on this strip of beach. Each group had more than enough space to enjoy themselves and play with their furry friends. The atmosphere on the Daytona Beach was markedly different from that on Sanibel Island. While Sanibel Island was relaxing and extra quiet, Daytona Beach had a slightly festive air about it. We felt like we were guests at a mini beach party. There was laughter, plenty chatter, the sound of playing children, and happy pets. We even saw a turtle who was busy getting its evening meal and a manatee swam over up to a group of swimmers and greeted them in true Daytona style. As we watched the birds fly over the waters to take their roost, we knew that we made the right decision to get out of our home and come to visit these places.

That said, not everywhere that we visited on our Florida trip was crowd-free. We also drove from Key Largo to Key West. Most of the islands leading up to Key West were uncrowded. However, when we arrived in Key West, we could barely find parking. Not that we wished to park. The crowds on the street was a big red flag for us. The sidewalks were filled with people bouncing into each other. Every few blocks, small groups set up chairs and engaged in cook-outs. It was apparent that an island-wide party was in full effect and it was not Mardi-Gras style because most of the party-goers didn’t bother to wear masks. I witnessed a drunken guy, who in his failure to keep his walk steady, bounced into a skimpily-clad, young lady. The young woman slapped and pushed him in return. I thought a fight would ensue, but both parties continued on their way. Still, the unseen danger continued to lurk behind them. Neither the lady nor the drunken man wore a mask, and all I could think, was that in that one bounce, quick shove, and sharp slap, so much could have transmitted.

We didn’t feel safe to exit in Key West and so we made a U-turn and headed back off the Florida Keys. Yet, that day trip was not a waste. Along the way, we saw a deer, countless green iguanas, and even spotted a snake near the edge of the road. So even though we didn’t get out of the car, there was much to marvel at from behind the windshield.

We have no regrets. My husband and I are glad that we took this road trip. This trip and the other road trips that we have taken in 2020 show that it is possible to safely move around the country if we observe the social distancing rules. Of course, during these times, more than average prudence is needed. We need to stay away from crowded areas, wear our masks, and sanitize and wash our hands as often as possible.

Until next time

Venture Out. Keep exploring. Travel Smart and Stay Safe.

Watch our Florida Road Trip and see for yourself how these beaches and park were.

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(Some of the photos used in this article do not belong to me.)