Things To Do In SW Florida

By Sam Kemmis | NerdWallet

Traveling during peak season can be a drag. Visiting Europe in the summer, for example, means contending with higher prices, tight availability and throngs of fellow travelers.

That’s why many savvy travelers choose to vacation during “shoulder seasons” that lie between peak season and low season — spring and autumn for many destinations. Yet remote work and overcrowded peak seasons have increased the popularity of these shoulder seasons.

Take the Jersey Shore, a popular seaside destination in New Jersey, for example. This coastal region has seen a significant increase in visitors during the fall months, with October through December occupancy rates in 2023 up by as much as 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a 2024 report from AirDNA, a short-term rental analytics firm. And it’s not the only place that’s getting more visitors outside of peak season.

As many destinations see more tourists spill into the shoulders, what’s the best way to avoid these offseason crowds? read more

NASA announced Friday it was forgoing the planned October launch of a pair of Mars-bound satellites on what was supposed to be the first launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral.

Blue Origin in turn announced it was moving up what was supposed to be its second flight and that it was now targeting November for New Glenn’s debut.

NASA stated the decision was made because of the chances of a delay could lead to cost increases for the mission dubbed ESCAPADE, which stands for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers.

Blue Origin set to test fire New Glenn stage at Canaveral launch pad

A big deciding factor was the hurdle of having to unload fuel from the satellites if Blue Origin missed the launch window or other factors caused a delay, NASA stated in a release.

“This is an important mission for NASA, and it’s critical we have sufficient margin in our prelaunch work to ensure we are ready to fly a tight planetary window,” said Bradley Smith, NASA’s Launch Services Office director. read more