Your senior has put in the work and is about to make the walk that will become a major milestone in their life. Whether they’re graduating high school or college, it’s time to celebrate them! And what better way to celebrate this life event than by booking a getaway for them and their friends or for the whole family? Here are five perfect last-minute getaways for your graduate.
Orlando, Florida
Formally nothing but orange groves, Orlando, Florida has made a name for itself as the theme park capital of the world. Though, Orlando boasts more than just theme parks as a reason to visit.
Most of us have dreamed of hitting the pavement at Disney World and eating park food and riding rides until we were sick. And if you haven’t gone before or even if you have, a trip to Disney World makes the perfect last-minute getaway for your graduate. But, if Disney World isn’t for you, Universal Orlando Resort is an excellent option for your graduate. It is, after all, the home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a popular favorite amongst its visitors.
If theme parks aren’t quite up your graduate’s alley, visiting SeaWorld might be. Though SeaWorld does have an amusement park, you get added value by seeing beautiful sea creatures, sitting on beaches in the park, and a water park with heated water, which allows it to stay open year-round.
Another big attraction that Orlando, Florida has to offer for your graduate’s getaway is Gatorland. Near the Everglades, this attraction pays homage to the alligator, though it’s not the only animal within the park. Gatorland showcases different types of animals and signature shows, a zip line, off-road adventure, and more.
Your graduate (and you) can even go to Tank America, the only place to drive a tank without joining the military.
With loads of food, beaches, and amusement parks galore, Orlando, Florida has so much to offer your graduate for their graduation trip.
And if you plan on flying, Orlando International Airport offers services for private aircrafts, which include fuel and maintenance.
You can view everything on Visit Orlando and plan your trip today.
New York City, New York
Chances are, New York City is on most people’s bucket list. What better time to visit than for your graduate’s last-minute getaway? From the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building, Central Park to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York City has much to offer your graduate.
Visiting New York City, your graduate will be able to visit all the landmark sites of the Big Apple. They can visit the Bronx Zoo and see the 6,000 animals in the wildlife conservatory. Your graduate can stop by the highest viewpoint in the city at the Empire State Building. There is an interactive museum, and your graduate can even get a picture with King Kong! Baseball fans can visit Yankee Stadium and take a tour, learning about the history of the New York Yankees.
A ride on the Staten Island Ferry is a must! It’s a 25-minute trip with views of the Statue of Liberty, the vistas of New York Harbor, and the Manhattan skyline. And, the St. George Ferry Terminal is only a short ride away from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. There, your graduate will be near different cultural and entertainment destinations.
The One World Observatory is a unique way to learn about New York City. There, you’ll take a SkyPod elevator to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. When there, the See Forever Theater surrounds you with the rhythms of the city before you head out to the observatory. They also offer locals’ favorite foods to eat while there.
They can even watch a show on Broadway, check out the many museums, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and have access to some of the best food offerings!
Another great attraction in NYC happens May 23-29, 2023. It’s Fleet Week. Fleet Week honors the men and women of the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and US Navy. You can see the Parade of Ships, ship tours, and Navy divers showcasing their skills and gear in Times Square. And on May 20 and 21, 2023, The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival is taking place, giving people a taste of food from around the world and entertainment.
If you plan on flying to New York City, Teterboro Airport is the most popular general aviation airport. Teterboro has four FBOs that offer services. These services include fueling, maintenance, and parking.
To plan your trip to New York City, you can visit NYC: The Official Guide.
The Florida Keys
If your graduate loves watersports and road trips, The Florida Keys is the perfect last-minute getaway for your graduate. Comprised of five different locations–Key West, The Lower Keys, Marathon, Islamorada, and Key Largo–there isn’t a shortage of things to do in The Florida Keys, and May is the peak time to visit.
Traveling the Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West, a stretch of 113 miles, is a classic road trip to take. There are a lot of small tourist towns, the seven-mile bridge, and loads of blue ocean to take in. Roll the windows down and take in the salty air and turn up the music for this road trip through The Keys.
Once you find yourself in The Florida Keys, there are a number of water and other outdoor activities that your graduate can participate in–snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing. You can even go on dolphin encounters. The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park covers 70 nautical square miles and offers various ways to view the coral reef, including riding a glass-bottom boat. Also, while there, you can go hiking, swimming, and picnicking.
Bahia Honda State Park is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, even the country. Your graduate will enjoy laying on this beach and relaxing while visiting The Florida Keys.
There are two airports in The Florida Keys that you could fly into: Key West International Airport and Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. Both offer general aviation services, including fuel services.
To plan your Florida Keys Vacation, head over to their website.
Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
Though those of us living in Mississippi don’t really consider heading out to Pennsylvania for many trips, there are a lot of fun things to do in the Pocono Mountains for your graduate.
In the Poconos, there are a lot of resorts and bed and breakfasts to stay at, allowing your graduate a nice and relaxing stay. And since there are over 2,400 square miles of lakes, rivers, and woodlands, your graduate will have a lot of options for outdoor activities to keep them busy. They can pack a lunch, go hiking or biking, and find a beautiful place to picnic. Or, they may want to choose rafting through the rapids to get their adrenaline pumping. On their hikes, they can discover beautiful waterfalls or go fishing for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, or walleye.
Your graduate also has the opportunity to take a train tour through the Pocono Mountains and see historic sites throughout the towns located in the Poconos. If your graduate brings friends or family with them on their trip, playing paintball might be something they’re interested in. They can go golfing, tour a living history museum, or rent an ATV and go off-roading. At one of the many lakes, there are beaches to visit, canoeing or kayaking, and boat tours to partake in as well.
And, when visiting the Poconos, your graduate will only be around 2 hours away from Hersheypark in Hershey, PA.
The Pocono Mountains Regional Airport is only two miles north of Mt. Pocono, and it is open to the public. It has fuel services with 100LL and Jet A, and it has 24-hour self-serve fuel options, and after hour services are available when requested.
For a full list of things to do in the Poconos, check out their website.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia was named one of Travel + Leisure magazine’s “Top U.S. Cities”. There are a lot of fun options for your graduate to experience in Williamsburg. From amusement parks and museums to world-class golf and hiking, Williamsburg, Virginia offers it all.
One of the biggest attractions that Williamsburg has to offer is Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is an amusement park with lots of good food, fun roller coasters, and tours. Busch Gardens has one of the fastest multi-launch coasters in the world–the Pantheon. It travels 73 MPH and features two inversions, four launches, five air-time hills, and a 95-degree drop.
Williamsburg also has a water park, Water Country U.S.A. They have an intense water slide called the Aquazoid Amped. It is 864 feet long, has coiled tubes, a multisensory experience with music, a light show, and special effects.
If your graduate is a nature lover, they would enjoy Freedom Park. Freedom Park is the place of one of the first free black settlements in America and the place of the Revolutionary War Battle of Spencer’s Ordinary. It offers biking and hiking trails. Or, for another nature-seeking place to visit, Waller Mill Park offers some of the best spots in Williamsburg for nature lovers. Your graduate can rent boats there, play disc golf, and fish.
Virginia Beach is only an hour away from Williamsburg, so a day trip to the beach would be a nice addition to any visit!
The Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport offers fuel services for the general aviation community. They also offer tie-downs, maintenance, and other services from the FBOs that service their airport.
To see everything Williamsburg, Virginia offers, visit their website here.
Book Your Graduate’s Last-Minute Getaway
Any one of these destinations would be so much fun for your graduate, and one of these trips would make the perfect gift for graduation. Wherever you go, we hope your graduate has a wonderful time!
