Get Off The Beaten Path In Florida
While Florida has long been a top getaway for Canadians, Dana Young, President & CEO of VISIT FLORIDA, says the sunny destination offers many off-the-beaten path things to do that even seasoned visitors may not know about.
From an underwater sculpture park off of Walton County to seahorse and dolphin shaped reefs, some of these lesser known gems are featured on Season 2 of the successful docuseries Wanderlust: Florida.
During a VIP pre-screening event held for Wanderlust: Florida in partnership with Baxter Media, Young said Season 1 was a “massive success,” keeping Florida top of mind as a vacation destination while Canadians were unable to travel. Season 1 was viewed more than 11.7 million times on broadcast alone, outperforming estimates by 79 percent.
“Canada continues to be a very important market for Florida,” says Young. “Through the expansion of our Wanderlust: Florida docuseries, we have the opportunity to continue educating Canadians on Florida’s diverse experiences to keep them coming back year after year.”
The second season, which will consist of two 18-minute-long episodes, launches Feb. 20 at 10:00 p.m. ET on The Weather Network and will take viewers on a scenic road trip through Northwest Florida with stops in Tallahassee, Panama City Beach, South Walton and Pensacola.
“Season 2 shines a light on some of Florida’s many amazing hidden gems,” she says. “Even in a destination they already know so well [there’s lots to discover].”
Although they “don’t have a crystal ball,” Meagan Lowe, Public Relations Director at VISIT FLORIDA, told PressToday that the numbers are “looking very good” in terms of reaching pre-pandemic levels of Canadian visitors soon. The last quarter of 2021 saw three-times as many Canadian visits as the previous one.
As part of the launch of season 2, VISIT FLORIDA is also announcing the Wanderlust: Florida contest, running through to March 14, that will give two winners the opportunity to experience the destinations and activities featured in season 2 of the docuseries. Viewers can enter online every day for a chance to win one of two prize packages, including roundtrip flights for one winner and up to three guests, accommodations, car rental and various activities in Pensacola and Panama City Beach. The prizes will be valid until April 1, 2023. Click here to enter the contest and to discover filming locations for the docuseries.
