Winter is a great season for making memories. Some of our best memories are often family vacations or getaways with friends and loved ones. They make us happy!
And Happy Starts Here! At SBN—South Bend International Airport.
Right now, is the time to plan your early 2025 vacation or getaway—whether it’s to a warm, sunny beach, a shimmering, sparkling snowy mountain, a challenging golf course, or just a gathering spot made warm with the presence of family and friends. No matter where those places may be—anywhere in the World—they’re easily reached from South Bend International Airport.
Have you been telling your kids since before the pandemic that you’ll be going to the theme parks in Florida? Orlando is the Theme Park Capital of the World. It’s only a short, non-stop flight from SBN. Then it’s ‘choose your pleasure’.
Are you Disney fans ready for the Magic Kingdom or Epcot? Or perhaps movie buffs who can’t wait to get to Universal Orlando? Or, explore the ocean life of the world at nearby Sea World. And everywhere you look around Orlando, there are water parks for the entire family to enjoy, each with their own theme. You could go back to Orlando every year and never be bored! But to go back, you have to go that first time! So, don’t put it off again. Orlando deserves a page in every family’s book of memories.
Another ‘champion memory-maker’ that begins at SBN is your seven-night cruise that leaves from one of Florida’s four major cruise ports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Tampa, all easily reached from SBN.
There are literally dozens of cruise itineraries on more than a hundred cruise ships to choose from. You’ll probably want to consult a travel adviser to help choose the best one for you. Cruises range from activity-packed multi-generational family vacations to Eastern or Western Caribbean ports like Nassau and Cozumel to romantic get-aways for couples that visit unique, small Southern Caribbean islands like Aruba, Curacao and Saint Lucia.
No matter what stage of life, there are cruise ships and itineraries focused on you. Larger ships are floating resorts, with themed ‘neighborhoods’, on-board waterparks and racetracks. Smaller ships are like intimate, boutique hotels, emphasizing a luxurious and personalized experience. In either case, the accent is on service, fun, great food and the beverages of your choice.
Perhaps golf in the desert appeals to you. Bring your clubs and head for Phoenix/Mesa or Las Vegas, non-stop from SBN. Both destinations offer a multitude of attractions after you’ve played eighteen holes. Arizona in late February and March plays host to the Cactus League, Major League Baseball’s spring training games. The stadiums are close enough together that ‘super fans’ often see two games in a day.
While many of us are seeking warm weather and sunshine in Winter travel, we can’t forget about our friends who love the snow—and their skis. The flight schedule from SBN offers more than equal time to snow lovers. With service to the major hubs of Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and Dallas, skiers can reach the best slopes in the nation with one quick connection.
The recent addition of nonstop flights from SBN to Washington Dulles (IAD) offers a range of Winter Getaway opportunities with a different focus than ‘fun in the sun.’ Consider a weekend trip to the nation’s largest and most important museums at the Smithsonian and the National Gallery. Move quickly and plan a December visit to DC to see the city ‘lit up’ for the Holidays in venues and historic sites that exist no where else. Washington, D.C. is a special place whatever the season. And now, it’s more easily accessible than ever from SBN.
While many of our winter getaways involve flying Southward, it’s important to remember that the sixteen non-stop destinations reached from South Bend International Airport allow passengers to reach cities almost anywhere in the world with just one connection. This convenience, coupled with easy, inexpensive parking and a short commuting distance from your driveway are the key elements that make SBN such a valuable transportation resource to our region.
We hope you’ll be able to take advantage of SBN to make some memories with those close to you this Winter, and we hope that makes YOU happy.
Happy starts here…at South Bend International Airport.
