FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The snowbirds are gone, and now we locals in South Florida can take a deep breath and enjoy the many reasons we live here. That usually includes summers with fewer crowds and lower prices on hotels, attractions, theme parks and restaurants. However, this year may be different.
There’s a new trend on the horizon: Summer may no longer be our slow season. Thanks to the pandemic, many from other states have moved here permanently, which explains the persistent post-season traffic congestion. And people who postponed cruises are now taking them, creating demand at restaurants and other attractions that would normally be desperate for visitors around this time.
Since business owners are not as incentivized to offer discounts as in the past, summer specials may be harder to come by. Still, there are establishments that want to promote their open status and demonstrate that they survived the worst of COVID-19. Some of these discounts are for Florida residents only, while others are open to anyone who walks through the door. Check out our sampling of creative offerings, which include family outings to historic sites and hotel packages to help you build a sandcastle masterpiece.
