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Joel Katz

Escape New Jersey Winter Weather at These Top Spots in Florida

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Author Joel Katz
Epcot Ball at Disney World's Epcot Resort in Florida, February 2, 2024

Winter in New Jersey has arrived. I’m already hearing complaints about the cold temperatures and pesky snow, making for unpleasant experiences.

Not everyone feels this way, I enjoy the cold temperatures because I love that, in New Jersey, we get to experience all four seasons. Growing up here I can’t imagine living anywhere else. With friends and family in other parts of the country like Alaska, Arizona, and California who have the same weather year-round, it sounded boring when they shared their experiences living there.

However, I do admit that visiting a warm place like Florida during the Winter presents a nice break from the frigid temperatures. Last February for our anniversary, my wife, Kathleen and I spent a long weekend in Disney World. One of the best reasons for visiting this time of year is the lower humidity. It makes it much more bearable and a great time to escape New Jersey’s cold temperatures.

Real Estate service Palm Paradise listed Disney World as number 7 on their list of best places to visit in the Sunshine State. If you’re looking for some thrills, a trip to Universal Studios or Disney World may be for you. They go all out with holiday decorations and festivities which gave us a good idea of what it’s like to summer in winter.

If Disney isn’t for you there are several other warm spots to visit. These include the amazing beaches of the Florida Keys, or the west coast to see manatees, dolphins, and deserted beaches.

Top Place to Visit in Winter

People who were born and raised in Florida agreed that the top location on their list is Everglades National Park. This is where you can see all kinds of wildlife you can’t see in New Jersey including alligators (no thanks) and manatees.

Key West is another place my family has visited, however, we were there in the summer. It’s second on the list because it can get extremely hot and humid in the summer, making it difficult to fully enjoy all that it has to offer. Winter is an ideal time to visit and explore their charming streets, beaches, and water activities.

Another recommended spot for its less crowded shell beaches in winter is Sanibel Island just off the coast of Fort Myers.

If you’re looking for a Winter break from the Garden State in the Sunshine State you can also look into Biscayne National Park near Miami which is popular for snorkeling, fishing, and boating, Ginnie Springs, Daytona International Speedway, and Kennedy Space Center.

If you’re not aware, the average temperatures for Florida in Winter range from the mid-60s to the low 80s.

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

 

 

2 New Jersey Destinations Among The Best For Solo Travel

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

By The Numbers

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let’s take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

  • Princeton

    Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. “Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777.” The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

    Carnegie lake in Princeton, New Jersey featuring old bridge on the background

    Getty Images

  • Cape May

    “Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park,” Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It’s very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery’s, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.

    Cape May branded Lifeboat on the beach with the ocean in the back

    Getty Images

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