Ah, September! The weather is terrific. We’re enjoying the last days of Summer. The Labor Day Weekend is on the horizon. It sounds like the perfect time to enjoy a Labor Day Road Trip!
2020 has been an interesting year, hasn’t it? One of the things we are blown away by is the number of RVs and campers we’ve seen on the road. Before the COVID pandemic, we used to enjoy going on cruises a few times a year. But since the cruise industry has practically shut down, we bought ourselves a new motor coach and are exploring the Southeast. What fun!
At Pals Ocala Auto Repair, we have taken great pride in repairing everything on wheels: RVs, horse trailers, light-diesel trucks, Slingshots, ATVs, boat trailers (and the boats on them), classic cars, and all kinds of family vehicles. So, of course, we eagerly became owners of a Recreational Vehicle because we knew our auto repair team would be able to service it without any problems.
But road trips have been on the upswing this Summer, and it makes a lot of sense. Being cooped up in our homes is challenging, and as a result, the drive to get outside and hit the road is a reachable goal for many people of all ages whether they are working or not.
That is why we thought it would be fun to provide a few road trip ideas for Labor Day weekend. This way, you can savor the adventure and excitement of this popular Summer holiday.
St. Petersburg Beach -- About a 2-hour drive Southwest from Ocala, St. Petersburg Beach is in the Tampa Bay area. The warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico are delightful and St. Pete Beach is one of our favorite weekend getaways. It’s a short trip, the people are friendly, and the food is fantastic. One of our favorite places to visit is the Dali Museum, which reopened with strict COVID safety protocol in July 2020.
Multiple Orlando Theme Parks -- Only a little over an hour away, Orlando offers so many theme parks to choose from. They are all following COVID safety protocol, and Disney is still one of the happiest places on earth. One of our favorite destinations is Universal Studios because we love the Harry Potter section of the park. Of course, the Star Wars part of Disney World is fantastic and so are all the other new rides.
Palm Beach -- If you like seeing the Atlantic side of the Florida peninsula, Palm Beach is a beautiful place. If you go southeast on the Florida Turnpike, it’s less than a four hour road trip. Be sure to bring extra hand sanitizer and wear your masks with you to Palm Beach. Because it is such a popular destination, that area has seen an increase in COVID cases lately.
Cape Coral -- Only about 3.5 hours south of Ocala on the Gulf side of the Florida peninsula, Cape Coral is a gem of a community. Quiet, peaceful, and family friendly, you can go kayaking, see manatees, and enjoy their perfect weather. For those of you with campers and RVs, there are several RV park resorts available. Be sure to make your reservation sooner than later!
The Florida Keys -- If you have more than 3 holiday weekend days to play with, we recommend a road trip to the Keys. Key West is our favorite destination, but we also love Islamorada and Marathon Key. The whole drive is spectacular and unforgettable, driving over all those bridges between the island chain; enjoying the views of the Gulf and Atlantic waters merging together. If you can take a road trip down to the Keys for at least a week, that’ll be a fun trip.
Before you head out for your Labor Day road trip, we invite you to get your vehicle an oil change and a safety inspection. We’ll let you know if we see any issues before you hit the road so you lower the risk of a breakdown ruining your fun.
By the way, Pals Ocala Auto Repair supports local charities with a dedicated amount of proceeds from each auto repair we perform. One of the non-profits we support is the Arlene Liner Teaching Ministry. Arlene is a gifted teacher and healer who teaches in classroom and conference settings, and assists in church leadership training. Some of her teachings include:
- Spirit, Soul, and Body
- Healing a Broken Heart
- Establishing a Prosperous Soul
- Healing School and Healing School Training
When you choose Pals Ocala Auto Repair, you can feel confident we’ll take good care of you and your vehicle, provide great advice about Labor Day Weekend road trips, and support local non-profits within our community.
Please, schedule an appointment with us at Pals Ocala Auto Repair. We are open Mondays - Saturdays, and are conveniently located at 2821 SW College Road, Ocala, FL, 34474. We look forward to taking great care of you and your family fleet of vehicles!