Dear Warm Weather Destinations:

I think I speak for all Northeasterners when I say that we’re sick of hearing about the snow that has been disrupting our lives for months on end. Enough already, we get it. And our Instagram followers get it – just try counting the number of snow pictures on my feed. I’m done.

As we close out what could be the coldest February on record, I roll my eyes at each of your invitations to come warm up on your sandy beaches, rooftop cabana bars, and all manner of outdoor, well-above-zero delights. I’ve been craving these things for months now.

What I do want is a cure to my maddening case of cabin fever. Even when the snow isn’t falling, the frigid temperatures are keeping me locked indoors and quickly running out of Netflix options. No, I didn’t think it could happen either.

My suggestion? Remind me that there’s more to your destination than warmth. I can get that anywhere (except for, you know, here). Don’t get me wrong, I’m craving a warm getaway. But when you don’t diversify your destination marketing message, travelers might as well spin the wheel and choose their vacations blindly.

Now is the time to get travelers off their couches and into your destination’s active lifestyle. Show us kayaking, hiking, walks through the greenery that we haven’t seen for months. Consider underdog Super Bowl advertiser Visit Ecuador. There’s no question that at least one third of the people watching that spot on February 1 were up to their knees in snow, but the ad said much more than “come visit our tropical climate.” It said come explore, have an adventure, and get moving. Now. And that’s just what I wanted to hear.

Listen closely, destinations. We don’t need to be reminded of the snow and the cold. We need to be reassured that there’s an alternative. Diversify your destination marketing message, and you could be it.

Sincerely,
A Fed Up Northeasterner