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Miami has direct flights from Raleigh every day and it's not too expensive. If you make arrangements early, you can get tix for $198 round trip. I take this flight all the time. Actual time in the air is only about an hour and 40 minutes or less depending on flight patterns and landing approaches.
2920-
We used to live in Gainesville, FL, and you could bank on some sweet (by upper Southern standards) beach weather in late Feb. just south of St. Augustine, FL --Crescent Beach. Those w/ the very thinnest of blood would say Vero Beach or south, but I'm going w/ Crescent. That's a 'quick' 8 to 9 hour car ride from Durham... (not sure where you're writing from) I-40 to I-95 south a ways and you're there.
I will second Crescent Beach! This was the beach I used to go to in college while living in Gainesville, and I really loved the feel of that little beach town compared to the feel of the beaches where I grew up. I remember going there once when it was cool and somewhat overcast, I think it must have been sometime just before "spring". To this Miami native, it seemed way too cold to get in the water at the time! Not because the water was frigid, but because it was very windy and it was a cool breeze - imagine getting out of the water into that, brrr! However, now that I am acclimated to weather in the 40s and 50s, it might not be too bad... It's all relative!
Crescent Beach is really nice if you're looking for a clean, laidback beach that is still somewhat a secret from the masses of snowbirds that flock to south Florida (or at least it used to be).
St. Pete Beach on the west coast of Florida! If you're planning for late February you should be fine. I was able to go to the beach in late January last year - it wasn't ideal but I wasn't freezing either (I wouldn't have gone in the water though...TOO cold).
I-95 to 301 south to 75 south to 275 south and you're there, 11 hours (long drive but it's worth it! Short plane ride on Southwest)
I live in Orlando. Today, it's going to be 83. I think you will have some warm days in the 80's, but some days 70's. Right now, the water is 62. Some ppl don't mind that, but it should be warmer then. You can take Allegiant air out of Greensboro to Sanford-Orlando for $60 RT, if you start looking now. Then you can head over to the coast which is 40 minutes from there. If you want to be more sure, you may go more south, but I think it will be nice in Orlando then. Actually, the week after starts spring break. There are kids all over and definately in the water. Let us know what you choose.
I'm from Tallahassee, FL and I think the beaches on the Gulf side are way better (prettier water, whie sand beaches) than on the Atlantic side. Direct flights to Tampa are pretty cheap; fly into Tampa and then head to Clearwater or St. Pete. The Ringling and Dali museums in the area are also surprisingly good and a nice diversion.
I'm from Tallahassee, FL and I think the beaches on the Gulf side are way better (prettier water, whie sand beaches) than on the Atlantic side. Direct flights to Tampa are pretty cheap; fly into Tampa and then head to Clearwater or St. Pete. The Ringling and Dali museums in the area are also surprisingly good and a nice diversion.
Actually Allegiant flies right to the St. Petersburg airport (PIE) and I'm glad you guys brought this up, I totally forgot. I need to get down there and soon myself!
Allegiant does not go to Ft. Lauderdale from NC. I just looked. Your choices in FL (from Greensboro, NC) are to fly into Tampa or Orlando or Daytona. Too bad because Ft. Lauderdale is one of my frequent destinations, but then again I'm not really interested in driving to Greensboro to catch a flight when I live 10 mi from RDU.
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It's all relative!
