Some states are starting to reopen and with that MMGY Global CEO Clayton Reid predicts that road trip travel will have an early rebound for Memorial Day weekend as the Travel Intention Pulse Survey with the U.S. Travel Association’s findings indicate that 68 percent of consumers feel safe in their cars and 40 percent in parks.
According to Reid, “We see in our data that people feel safest in their cars and in a travel environment in which they can control their surroundings. This could mean some significant short-haul trips over Memorial Day to parks and other outdoor attractions. We think trip volumes over Memorial Day will be a significant sign of where traveler confidence sits today and how much demand will return over the summer.”
Here, we have gathered a selection of U.S. destinations that have opened up before the holiday to kick-off the summer season with a Memorial Day road trip while safely social distancing from the comfort of your car that you can share with your clients.
St. Pete/Clearwater
Dreaming of sunshine and sand between your toes while still safely social distancing? This Memorial Day, regional travelers can head to St. Pete/Clearwater, FL where beaches officially reopened to the public on Monday, May 4. With social distancing rules implemented across all 35 miles of white sand beaches in the destination. To emphasize this ongoing effort to provide clean and safe beach environments, the Visit St. Pete/Clearwater team created a dedicated webpage about Tips for Visiting Responsibly in St. Pete/Clearwater. In addition, the county sheriff’s department created a way for beachgoers to check the capacity of specific beaches in real-time with a Capacity Dashboard. The dashboard is live on weekends and maintained by the 300+ deputies placed at access points across the 35 miles of beaches. Check before departing and if a spot is full, try under the radar spots like Madeira Beach and Indian Rocks Beach. As always, the primary focus is to keep the communities and visitors safe and healthy now, so all can enjoy the infinite brighter days ahead.
Where to Stay: On St. Pete Beach, stay at The Don CeSar also known as “The Pink Palace.” On Clearwater Beach, guests can stay at The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. Both have prime beachfront locations and their own private beaches, ideal for social distancing.
The California Coast and The Meritage Collection
West coast residents can revel in the sun-soaked sights of the California coast as they embark on a road trip from San Diego to Napa, and a pit stop in Huntington Beach.
The trip begins with an evening at Estancia La Jolla where 10 acres of garden-like grounds provide a tranquil retreat. Guests can hike a trail from the hotel down to the beach, enjoy contact-less in-room dining and even book a Wellness Suite complete with a mirror and fitness equipment to stay healthy on the road. The next morning, a meander up the coast ends at the beachfront Pasé Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach. A dip in the pool (at a safe distance, of course) and a leisurely walk along the beach will fill the day, while a “Safe and Sounds” concert series can be enjoyed from the room’s private balcony in the evening—complete with bites and champagne bottle service to the room.
For the final leg, a drive up the famed Highway One will provide endless scenery and pit-stop opportunities. Landmarks along the way include Hearst Castle, Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur, The Golden Gate Bridge and more. The journey ends at
The Heritage Resort, where strolls through the accompanying vineyard, bites from an on-site food truck, and sips from the resort’s nine tasting rooms await. Bonus: each room comes with a complimentary bottle of Trintas Cellars wine, and dogs are welcome as well at all three resorts so all family members can embark on the fun together.
Stays at Pasea and Estancia can be booked now; The Meritage Resort is accepting reservations starting June 1.
Greater Palm Springs
Greater Palm Springs is a quick road trip destination for a change of scenery. Famed for the wide open spaces and natural beauty of the desert, the region offers endless outdoor activities options to relieve the serious cabin fever we’ve all been experiencing.
And though the summers can be toasty, a 2.5-mile trip up the famed aerial tramway takes guests to the top of Mount San Jacinto, which offers a climate that’s often 10 – 30 degrees cooler, making for the perfect spot to spend a day hiking any of the 54 miles of trails and taking in the vista of the desert valley.
BBQ Roadtrip in Texas
Memorial Day weekend presents the perfect opportunity to embark on aa BBQ road trip and enjoy the cuisine throughout Central Texas, while learning about Texas history through delicious bites. A long weekend is the perfect amount of time to experience one of the four regions of Texas BBQ all while taking part in the celebration of National Barbecue Month throughout the month of May.
Some of the stops along the way include:
- Austin
Start in the state capitol, which just so happens to be one of the best BBQ cities in the country. Order from Franklin’s BBQ ahead of time and beat the line, try the Tex-Mex BBQ tacos of Valentina’s BBQ, or head east for the smoked meats of Micklethwait Craft Meats, one of Texas Monthly’s Top 10 Best BBQ joints in the state. - Lockhart
The “Barbecue Capital of Texas” is an irrefutable right of passage, with notable restaurants inclusive of Kreuk Market Smitty’s Market and the originalBlack’s BBQ. - Driftwood
A scenic route through the Texas Hill Country leads to the home of the original Salt Lick, known for world-class barbecue cooked over an open flame. And if you’re still craving the delicious BBQ bites after the weekend road trip, check out Travel Texas’ list of BBQ To-Go, featuring some of the best BBQ joints which are currently shipping nationwide.
For more future booking opportunities, visit #AmazingDaysAhead.
