#FlyWashington Magazine Spring 2020 | Page 18

SPRING BREAK 2020 BY GENE SUTCH Get ready for Spring Break and fun in the sun, as you leave the winter blues behind. Before packing your sandals, beach towel, and tanning oil, and heading to the airport, tick through this list of travel tips for your trip: • Download the DC Airports App for travel information at your fingertips and to enhance your travel experience • Research events going on while you’re there and buy tickets in advance for places you know you want to see • Map out your trip with things that you plan to do each day and check local transportation options • Easily book flights, rental cars, and hotel rooms on the DC Airports App or at FlyDulles.com. Bundle and save up to 60 percent on hotels; prepay and save on rental cars; and get 25 percent off parking when you book your travel • Fly nonstop from Washington Dulles International or Reagan National airports to Fort Myers or Sarasota and map out your journey with a rental car as you hop between baseball games, beaches, and everything Florida has to offer A favorite Spring Break destination is Florida, with its beautiful beaches on the east and west coasts that offer stunning views, warm sun, and a relaxed atmosphere. Daytona Beach is known for its party atmosphere, while Sanibel Island offers a more relaxed getaway. Other fun beach destinations include Fort Myers, South Beach in Miami, Panama City Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Cocoa Beach. BEST WAYS TO SPEND SPRING BREAK IN FLORIDA FLYWASHINGTON.COM 16 SPRING 2020 While spending Spring Break in Florida, you can also enjoy Spring Training baseball where the Grapefruit League is the spring home for 15 Major League Baseball teams, including the 2019 World Series Champion Washington Nationals. The Houston Astros are in West Palm Beach, the New York Yankees in Tampa, the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, and the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota. If you fly into Sarasota, don’t miss the Ringling Museum of Art and nearby beaches. There is nothing quite like the open and relaxed environment and the opportunity to see established and rising stars work out and play baseball, with the possibility of meeting players and getting that cherished autograph. Even the casual fan will enjoy soaking up the sun while watching the national pastime with a cool drink. If you fly into Fort Myers, start out by enjoying the beaches and shopping along the sunny Gulf Coast. You can also check out the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, both located in Fort Myers. Next you can take your rental car to see a host of Major League Baseball teams, starting with the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, and Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, then, take the scenic drive to Tampa to see the New York Yankees, and Clearwater for the Philadelphia Phillies. While in Tampa, be sure to see a movie at the historic Tampa Theatre — an absolute work of art and home to the 1,400-pipe Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, originally installed to accompany silent films when the Tampa Theatre opened in 1926. Other popular destinations within driving range are Disney World and Universal Studios in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. Next, it’s just a 2½ hour drive from Kissimmee to West Palm Beach, where you can enjoy the beautiful beach and see the World Series Champion Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros in their shared Spring Training home park.