Rough surf, strong currents expected on Central Florida beaches this week through Easter weekend
Beach safety teams along the coast of Central Florida are waving the red flag warning that surf and rip currents are extremely strong, and the conditions are expected to stick around through the Spring Break week and Easter weekend.
Travel spikes with new pandemic-era air travel record, TSA says
All rights reserved)Travelers stand in line at a TSA security checkpoint at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Temperatures dropped into the single digits this week as snow shut down air travel and grocery stores. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Anyone who has flown recently is in good company as Sunday set a new record with the highest number of air travelers since the coronavirus pandemic began. AdClose to 10 million people have flown in the last week as spring break continues for students across the nation. The trend is worrying health experts because only 15.5% of the population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Threat to public safety: Police say Miami spring break partying โcouldnโt go on any longerโ
MIAMI โ Pointing to over 1,000 arrests in one of the nationโs top party spots, Miami Beach officials warned Sunday that the unruly spring break crowd gathering by the thousands, fighting in the streets, destroying restaurant property and refusing to wear masks has become a serious threat to public safety. AdA military style vehicle was seen rolling down the palm-tree lined Ocean Drive as outnumbered Miami Beach police officers struggled to disperse the raucous crowds Saturday. Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said he has trouble sleeping at night, worried about the out-of-control parties. Several said it was time for a new marketing campaign to help rebrand South Beachโs as a party city, pointing to the small handful of arrests in nearby Fort Lauderdale over spring break. Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost when the pandemic first erupted last year, canceling spring break and forcing beach closures across the Sunshine State.
Viral video shows Florida spring breakers helping handcuffed man escape from police cruiser
Florida spring breakers have gone viral in a video after helping a handcuffed man escape a Clearwater police cruiser. The video shows a crowd of spring breakers surrounding a police cruiser on the beach. Asad has been charged with aiding prisoner escape and resisting arrest without violence. Adam Asad, 18, of Oldsmar is the suspect who helped a handcuffed prisoner to escape on the beach. He faces two charges -- aiding prisoner escape and resisting arrest without violence.
Spring break crowds leave Walt Disney World reservations booked up
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Walt Disney World will be a very busy place for spring breakers starting next week. Reservations are available at select parks for theme park ticketed guests and resort guests beginning on March 20. On Sunday, Walt Disney World reopened Blizzard Beach for the first time since it closed last year. AdThe water park is operating in alignment with the health and safety measures implemented throughout Walt Disney World Resort such as enhanced cleaning, temperature checks and physical distancing. Disney's Blizzard Beach reopened March 7, 2021, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Want to rent a Lamborghini at Orlando International Airport? Better reserve one fast
ORLANDO, Fla. โ The white Lamborghini Huracan roared one more time in a parking lot at the Orlando International Airport before โFast Robโ rolled it onto a flat-bed truck and drove it back to Miami. A customer flying in from New York ordered it to be delivered at the airport for when he landed. MPH Club is based in Miami but Rob said the Orlando office is growing quickly and demand over the next few weeks is high. Of those who want to travel, Orlando remains one of their top destinations.โCronk said spring break travel could restore hotel occupancy in Central Florida to December levels. โCompared to last year (spring break) we were looking at 10-12% occupancy in early April,โ Cronk said.
Spring break visitors starting to return to Brevard, but not in pre-pandemic numbers
Itโs almost like pre-pandemic spring break, says Thompson. Another sign that spring break tourism is rebounding is the passenger figures at Orlando International Airport, traditionally one of the nationโs busiest airports during spring break. AdSoft national numbersNationally, however, spring break tourism demand remains soft. Despite the nationwide progress on COVID-19 vaccines, spring break travel intentions actually appear to be dropping. The 12.4% who plan to travel for spring break is down from 16% the week prior, the poll by Destination Analysts found.
UCF moves spring break to April followed by remote learning
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ The University of Central Florida is preparing for the spring semester as more cases of COVID-19 are being reported in Florida and around the U.S.To help curb the spread of COVID-19 school officials will be moving spring break back a month. โTo help limit the spread of COVID-19, we will be rescheduling spring break from March to April 11 to 18,โ Vice President of Student Development and Enrollment Services Dr. Maribeth Ehasz said. Students will be able to start registering for spring classes on Nov. 2 as scheduled. School officials will continue to require face coverings and physical distancing while on campus. The school said it is ready to pivot to more remote learning if necessary.
Florida schools offer free meals to students during extended coronavirus closures
Thankfully, the state and school districts have enacted free meal pickup programs providing at least two meals a day for all students across the state. But we canโt let Floridaโs children go hungry in the meantime,โ Department of Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in an email. โThatโs why weโre activating our Summer BreakSpot locations, to offer families an alternative way to find healthy, nutritious meals. Families can go to any pickup site, their child does not have to be a student at the school. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6โฒs coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Brevard County beaches stay open during current state of coronavirus
COCOA BEACH, Fla. โ In response to the growing number of coronavirus cases in Central Florida, Brevard County government officials said Monday said the county wonโt close its beaches. At this point, if Cocoa Beach closed, Ryan Calmont, of Poinciana, and his family, said they wouldnโt know what to do. Instead, Space Coast beaches, restaurants and bars became the substitute for the spring break some cruisers originally planned. While the beaches are open, Brevard County is still advising to listen to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to avoid large crowds. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6โฒs coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.
Coronavirus fears cause drop in travel as students prepare for spring break
ORLANDO, Fla. โ With students across Central Florida getting ready for spring break next week, airline companies say coronavirus fears are leading to a dramatic drop in travel demand. Officials with Delta Airlines said the company expects as many as a third of seats to be empty this month on flights within the U.S. On Wednesday, travelers at Orlando International Airport said they had discussions about the risk of coronavirus before deciding to board a flight. โThereโs always a concern when youโre flying that youโre going to get sick,โ traveler Theresa Maksymow said. On Tuesday, Delta Airlines released a video that showed cleaning efforts being made to keep passengers safe.
9 inexpensive ideas for your spring break staycation
Spring break is right around the corner, and you may be dreaming of a fun family vacation -- but what if a full-fledged vacation is not in the cards or the budget? Spring break is typically right around Easter, which is seen by many as a time of renewal. An Easter morning hike would be a great way to kick off your day, so lace up your shoes and soak it all in. Spring break is a great time for a movie marathon, so queue up your favorite streaming service or break into that stack of DVDs. Hosting a staycation is a great way to spend the Easter break, especially if you can keep the kids entertained and happy.
No matter what youโre into, youโre bound to love one of these 7 vacation ideas for spring break
Spring break is a great time to cut loose and celebrate the end of winter. Thereโs a reason why destinations such as Mexico and Fort Lauderdale are so popular for spring break. If youโre going to a popular spring break destination, make your travel arrangements now, as accommodations might sell out. If you're looking to do something really different for your spring break, why not escape spring altogether with a trip to the Southern Hemisphere? From lounging on the beach to skiing to volunteering, these seven spring break ideas offer fun for people of all ages.