Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer here in the U.S., and it marks the last hurrah of the season with a three-day weekend. Though the autumnal equinox, which is the true beginning of fall, doesn’t occur until September 22nd, the first Monday of September is when most people wish summer’s long days farewell. In Florida, a.k.a. the land of endless summer, the weather doesn’t fluctuate much throughout the year, but this long weekend is still an opportune time to take a mini vacation within the Sunshine State. With so many must-visit destinations in our lovely state, we want to share a few of our favorite spots for you to travel to this Labor Day Weekend.  

Let’s begin along the Gulf Coast, on Florida’s panhandle, where the region known as 30A is nestled. This collection of quaint beach towns, named after County Road 30A, is one of the state’s best-kept seaside secrets. Towns such as Grayton Beach, Alys Beach, and Seaside offer world-renowned architecture, unique shopping, inspired cuisine, and of course, picturesque white sand beaches. Located in between the busier, better-known towns of Destin and Panama City Beach, the tiny towns that dot this historic stretch of highway are off-beat and full of interesting sights- perfect for a memorable weekend getaway! 

Our next Florida destination is Tarpon Springs, in the Tampa Bay area on the west coast of Florida. This city has the distinction of having the highest population of Greek Americans of any city in the United States, and the local culture is heavily influenced by these inhabitants. With an abundance of Greek restaurants and markets that allow the visitor to get a taste of Hellenic traditions, Tarpon Springs offers a unique experience that you would be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in America. The downtown area is situated along the historic sponge docks, where immigrants from Greece found they could dive for sea sponges just like they did in the old country. This sponge-diving continues to the present day, and many souvenir shops along Dodecanese Boulevard sell these natural sponges along with other one-of-a-kind treasures.