Travel the Portfolio: Sun Seekers
February 25, 2026
When winter won’t quit, go where it’s warm
Thirty-six inches of snow to date in Providence. New England buried. Pennsylvania digging out. When winter refuses to let up, the smartest move isn’t another layer — it’s a change of scenery.
If you’re staring at snowbanks and wondering when you’ll feel warm again, here’s your answer: head south. These Newport-managed hotels in Jacksonville Beach, Brunswick, and the Orlando/Sanford area offer ocean air, blue skies, and the kind of energy shift that only comes from stepping off a plane into sunshine.
Hampton Inn Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront
Beachfront mornings and poolside afternoons
The first thing you notice in Jacksonville Beach isn’t the sand. It’s the light. It’s brighter here. Warmer. Even in February, the Atlantic throws back a soft shimmer that makes you instinctively exhale.
The Hampton Inn Jacksonville Beach Oceanfront sits directly on the sand, and the pool deck feels more like a coastal retreat than a hotel amenity. The heated pool with its waterfall feature hums in the background while the warm whirlpool becomes the unofficial thawing station for anyone who left snow behind. Steps away, oceanfront at Tides Beach Bar & Grille, tiki-style energy meets beachfront dining. You’re not inside looking out. You’re outside, salt air moving through, drink in hand.
Golf cart and bike rentals make exploring the shoreline easy. And yes, pets are welcomed, because winter escapes are better when the whole crew comes along.
On Tuesdays, Seawalk Pavilion fills with the Jax Beach Farmers Market. Fresh citrus, handmade jewelry, global street food, live entertainment. It feels like the town showing up for itself. By late March, Spring Fling adds music and culture to the same stretch of beach, and if you time it right, The Players Championship brings a polished edge to your coastal weekend.
Here, February doesn’t feel like survival. It feels like an upgrade.
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Jax Beach Farmers Market (Every Tuesday)
A weekly Seawalk Pavilion favorite with local vendors, food, and a true community feel. Winter hours are 3–6 p.m. (Nov–Feb) and summer hours shift to 3–7 p.m. (Mar–Oct). More Details.
Spring Fling Festival (March 28, 2026)
A full day of Florida music, culture, and food at Seawalk Pavilion. Official Site.
The Players Championship (Feb 28–Mar 1, 2026)
If your crew wants to add a marquee sports weekend to the beach escape, this one’s nearby and nationally known. Event Info.
Hilton Garden Inn Brunswick, Georgia
Golden Isles sunshine with midweek energy
Brunswick moves differently. The air feels softer. The light filters through Spanish moss instead of skyscrapers.
You can bike under live oaks in a T-shirt while friends back home are scraping ice off windshields.
Hilton Garden Inn Brunswick makes evenings easy. Live entertainment every Wednesday gives the week a pulse, and daily chef’s specials mean dinner doesn’t require planning. It’s full-service without feeling formal. And it’s pet-friendly, which matters when your travel companion has four legs.
Brunswick is the gateway to St. Simons and Jekyll Island. Lighthouse views. Wide tidal flats. Long stretches of quiet shoreline. March brings CoastFest to the waterfront, a celebration of Georgia’s coastal heritage, and recurring harbor markets that invite slow wandering with coffee in hand.
It’s the kind of place where winter doesn’t end dramatically. It simply fades away.
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Home2 Suites Brunswick, Georgia
Built for longer sunshine stays
If the cold has worn you down, Home2 Suites Brunswick is where you stretch the thaw into something longer. Suites give you room to unpack, settle in, and live for a few days instead of just pass through. It’s ideal for extended stays, project work, or anyone who prefers a little more breathing room.
A heated indoor pool keeps the routine intact, and the well-equipped gym makes it easy to stay balanced while everything outside feels lighter. It’s practical without being sterile. Flexible without feeling temporary. And yes, it’s pet-friendly too.
In Brunswick, you don’t rush. You ease.
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CoastFest (March 21, 2026 | Mary Ross Waterfront Park)
A major coastal celebration with exhibitors, live entertainment, hands-on experiences, and family-friendly fun. Official Info.
Brunswick Harbor Market (recurring Saturdays | Mary Ross Waterfront Park)
An open-air market with food, craft, and specialty vendors, perfect for an easy warm morning. Event Listing.
Comfort Inn & Suites Orlando Airport Sanford
Brand new, sunlit, and steps from touchdown
Sanford is the clever way into Florida. You land at Sanford International Airport, take the hotel shuttle, and within minutes you’re in warm-weather mode.
The new Comfort Inn & Suites Orlando Airport Sanford feels fresh and open, with a beautiful outdoor pool, grilling area, and generous sun deck that makes February feel like a cheat code. It’s the kind of place where you unpack quickly and head straight outside.
And if your plans include a cruise, this is where logistics become effortless. GoPort transportation runs from the hotel to Port Canaveral, connecting you to Carnival and other departures without stress. It turns a pre-cruise night into part of the vacation instead of a separate task.
Sanford’s brick-lined downtown, the RiverWalk along Lake Monroe, and easy access to Orlando attractions round it out. It’s relaxed, but it’s smart.
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Comfort Inn Orlando Sanford North
Comfort, convenience, and a welcoming stay
Comfort Inn Orlando Sanford North puts you in a sweet spot. Close to I-4 and Lake Mary, near downtown Sanford, and within reach of Orlando without sitting in its center.
Nearby, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens offers a subtropical experience that feels distinctly Florida. The Sanford RiverWalk glows at sunset. Craft breweries occupy restored storefronts. March brings the Pints n’ Paws festival downtown, adding just enough energy to make a weekend feel like an event.
This stay is refreshed – well positioned. In February, that combination feels exactly right.
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Sanford Pints n’ Paws Craft Beer Festival (March 28, 2026 | Historic Downtown Sanford)
A signature Sanford event and a fun reason to plan a weekend around the city. Event Info.
City of Sanford Events Calendar
When Winter Feels Endless
Sometimes travel isn’t about discovering somewhere new, it’s about rediscovering how good it feels to be warm. To sit outside. To see blue sky. To trade heavy coats for sandals.
If the snow keeps falling where you are, we invite you to stay with us and let sunshine, salt air, and warm hospitality carry you through the rest of winter.
