This year, Halloween in South Florida is going to look a little different. Halloween falls on a Saturday this year and although as of the time of this writing, most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, many South Floridians are still abiding by CDC guidelines. According to the CDC, there is still a risk of virus spread at holiday celebrations. They recommend avoiding high risk activities like traditional trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treat events and indoor haunted houses. Luckily, you have many other options that are much lower risk. VW South Florida is happy to help you plan a spectacular spooky celebration!

There are several drive-through haunted houses available this season:

Haunt Drive at Tree Tops Park in Davie is available October 8th through November 1st. Tickets are available for a contactless drive through experience. From the comfort and safety of your own vehicle, you can drive through immersive scary scenes. Actors will approach your vehicle, but will not touch it. The total experience lasts about 40 minutes. There are add-ons available, a “family friendly” version and an “extra bloody” version. Click here for tickets.

The Horrorland in Miramar at Miramar Regional Park is an immersive and interactive drive through in which you become the hero of a horror movie happening around you in real-time. From October 1st through October 31st, you can pass through seven differently themed passages and experience multiple horror scenes including zombies, monsters, ghosts, killer clowns and more. The experience lasts about 35 minutes. Click here for tickets.

If you’re up for a road trip, Orlando has announced a new haunted attraction called The Haunted Road. In this immersive drive-thru adventure, participants will follow Rapunzel’s journey as she leaves her tower and enters a “world of disarray”. This attraction will be open from September 25th through November 7th on Lake Pickett Road. They also offer a more family friendly version.

Another Orlando-area attraction is called Scream N’ Stream. Here, they are offering a family-friendly drive along with contactless candy for the little ones as well as a scary drive through haunt in the middle of the night. Nighttime creepy airboat tours are also offered. This attraction takes place on the property of Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. The drive-thru haunted house is approximately 20 minutes long, the family-friendly trick or treating takes about 15 minutes and the airboat tours are about 20 minutes.

Other low-risk activities include family pumpkin carving, decorating the house, enjoying a scary-movie night, a household scavenger hunt or a virtual costume contest with friends and neighbors. Small group and outdoor activities are considered “moderate risk” by the CDC. Pumpkin patches, outdoor costume parties and one-way trick-or-treating is reasonably safe as long social distancing is achieved. Extra hand washing and and use of hand sanitizer is also recommended.

VW South Florida wishes you and yours and happy, safe and healthy Halloween. If you’re interested in a new Volkswagen with a not-so-scary payment, check out our current offers or find a location near you.

Usually, Labor Day weekend is a prime vacation weekend. After the start of a new school year here in South Florida, the long weekend is a welcome respite for many. But 2020 is different. Travel is hampered; masks are required; several of our favorite relaxation spots are closed or limited. Don’t give up, though! Here are some ideas for a fun-filled Labor Day weekend in South Florida...

Let’s start with the basics - at home activities:
You’ve probably already done or considered doing many of these items, but just in case you haven’t - or you needed a little reminder - there are plenty of fun, family-friendly, at-home activities perfect for a long weekend.

1) Puzzles. Everyone loves puzzles. Set up at your dining room table and make it a family event. A big puzzle can last all weekend. Or, if you’re on your own, consider a book of crossword puzzles or Sudoku.

2) Play a musical instrument. There are thousands of YouTube videos out there. Dust off that old flute or guitar. Or order a beginner’s instrument online and teach yourself a song or two.

3) Read a book. A good book will keep you busy turning pages all weekend. Couple it with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee and snuggle in for a relaxing read.

4) Write letters. When was the last time you received a letter in the mail? Surprise a family member with a handwritten letter or reach out to an old friend with the written word.

5) Create. Knit, paint, sculpt or build. You have crafts lying around the house, don’t you? Pick one up and let your inner-artist out. Make something on your own, or a start a larger project with your family.

6) Go on a virtual tour. So many places are offering virtual tours during quarantine. Visit the Sistine Chapel, the Natural History Museum of London, Big Bend National Park or the Cincinnati Zoo. Or visit a theme park, online... Walt Disney World and Legoland both have virtual tours available.

7) Build an obstacle course. Inside or outside. Go wild! Use pillows and furniture to create a crazy maze that you have to crawl through and jump over. Time yourself. Race your family.

8) Start a book. Write a song. Make a movie. Get your creative juices flowing. This is something you can do on your own or with your family. Who knows? Maybe you’ll go viral!

9) Binge watch. Whether it’s Netflix, Hulu or another on-demand service, a long weekend is the perfect time to curl up and binge an entire series.

10) Backyard camping. Sometimes you just have to get out of the house. Set up a tent, string some lights, enjoy some barbecue and roast some marshmallows. Backyard camping gives you a change of scenery without missing the comforts of home.

And if you actually DO want to leave your home, here are some fun South Florida ideas for getting out of the house Labor Day weekend:

1) Drive through zoo. Lion Country Safari sits on nearly 600 acres of natural area in West Palm Beach and is home to nearly 1000 animals. Drive through the four-mile safari and check out lions, giraffe, zebras, rhinos and ostrich.

2) Go fishing. There are unlimited places to cast your rod in South Florida. Whether it’s the Everglades, local beaches, public parks or canals, you can find a peaceful place to park and enjoy a day near the water. Visit takemefishing.org to find a public place near you.

3) Paddleboarding, kayaking or canoeing. No matter where you are in South Florida, you’re somewhere near the water. Spend a day getting some sun and exercise.

4) Take a drive. Go exploring. Cruise down A1A in Fort Lauderdale or Ocean Drive along South Beach. Head west to the Everglades and take in a sunset. Follow some roads you don’t normally travel and discover new places nearby.

5) Airboat tours. Speaking of the Everglades...consider an airboat tour. Speed through the mangroves and count the alligators. Many companies allow private tours, too.

So no matter what you choose to do this Labor Day weekend, stay safe and healthy! If you’re planning a road trip, a local drive or even a drive through a zoo, make sure you’re comfortable. Consider a new Volkswagen Tiguan, Atlas or Atlas Cross Sport. These German engineered SUVs are roomy and comfortable and filled with all the tech to make your drive enjoyable. Visit a dealership near you for local offers. And have a great Labor Day!

The all-new 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is now available at your local Volkswagen dealerships. If you don’t need the extra row for 7-passengers in our original recipe Atlas, you might want to consider this sporty, spunky, stylish 5-passenger option. It’s still plenty roomy, has tons of cargo space, is loaded with tech-forward equipment and is less expensive than its slightly bigger sibling.

The first thing you’ll notice about the all new VW Cross Sport is its bold styling. With its aggressive grille and sloping roof line, it’s a stylish showstopper of an SUV. The interior is similar to the original Atlas, but sports an updated steering wheel and stitched door panels. The second row is a roomy bench, with plenty of legroom for even your tallest occupants. In any Atlas, including the Cross Sport, you’ll never lack cargo space.

Every new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport comes with a touchscreen infotainment display with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Volkswagen’s Car-Net connectivity app gives you access to remote start and real-time vehicle data. With the Cross Sport, Car-Net connectivity is complimentary for five years. The technology package includes automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a bigger touchscreen. Wireless charging is also available. Touchscreen audio and navigation technology aside, the Atlas Cross Sport is also loaded with the newest safety tech. Enjoy driver assistance features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Assistance, an Overhead View Camera, Park Assistance, Park Distance Control, Front Assist with Forward Collision Warning and even Rear Traffic Alerts. It’s also the first Volkswagen vehicle to offer both dynamic road sign display and Traffic Jam Assist.

When it comes to performance, the Atlas Cross Sport has an optional 4MOTION® all wheel drive with Active Control - giving the driver access to four different driving modes. Snow mode, on-road mode, off-road mode and off-road custom mode are all available to ensure the correct amount of power when and where you need it. Customers can also choose between a 2.0L 4 Cylinder engine with 235HP or a 3.6L V6 engine with 276 HP. And, when properly equipped, the Cross Sport can tow up to 5000 lbs.

So if you’re interested in a roomy, stylish, family SUV with tons of tech and safety features, shop a Volkswagen dealership now! The all-new German-engineered Atlas Cross Sport is in stock and on sale. Check out our special offers or contact a dealership near you to take a test drive and experience it for yourself.

Summer’s almost here and after being cooped up for weeks, a road trip sounds fantastic! You don’t have to travel far to enjoy an unforgettable vacation. VW South Florida put together some ideas for fun summer Florida road trips. This trip takes you from your home here in sunny south Florida up the east coast, across northern central Florida and finally ends in a small town in northwestern Florida. Go ahead, launch Google Maps and take a virtual ride with us!

If you’re looking for natural wonders: crystal clear springs, coral reefs and caves, head up the east coast and hit Hobe Sound first! There you’ll find Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island, a barrier island with white sand beaches and limestone formations. You might even catch a glimpse of sea turtles. Guests of Blowing Rocks Preserve enjoy swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving - so pack your gear, or you’ll have to rent some when you arrive. You can also hike photo-worthy trails and learn about their conservation efforts at the education center.

Next stop on your trip up the coast would thrill any prospective astronomer: Merritt Island. Merritt Island is home to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, a major tourist attraction. You could meet an astronaut, enjoy the automated thrills of the Shuttle Launch Experience or explore their interactive displays. You can train like an astronaut in their simulator and take a bus tour through restricted areas. There’s a rocket garden and even an IMAX Theater. If you’re not excited about space, you might prefer the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. This wildlife conservation park is home to 21 endangered species and you’re sure to catch a few alligators.

Continue heading north along the coast and turn inland a bit to visit Ocala National Forest. Just an hour north of Orlando is a forest with more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs and the world’s largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest. It’s ideal for hiking and camping and is known for all kinds of water activities. Here you can find Juniper Springs, off State Road 40 and Alexander Springs on Lake County Road 445. These crystal clear springs are a constant temperature of 72 degrees year round and snorkeling is allowed at both. At these springs, guests picnic, paddle, swim and bird watch. It would be a fun and relaxing stop during your memorable tour of Florida.

We’re not done yet! Just 45 minutes northwest of Ocala’s National Forest is Devil’s Den! The Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring in North Central Florida is a collapsed cave over an underground spring. It’s a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Many extinct animal fossils dating back to the Pleistocene Age have been found in this cave. They are now on display at The University of Florida's Museum of Natural History. You must either snorkel or scuba dive to enter the cave, but once you’re beneath the surface, you’ll experience a beautiful new world. Devil’s Den offers lodging, an RV park, swimming pools and picnic areas so there’s plenty to do when you’re not in the caves.

If you’re looking for something a little more physically challenging, make a stop at Torreya State Park in Bristol. At this 13,735 acre Florida State Park, visitors can experience biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, tubing, paddling and picnicking. There is lodging available as well as campgrounds. This park features 150-foot high bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River, hiking trails with beautiful views and a museum.

Another hour northwest, and you’ll reach Florida Caverns State Park. Enjoy an underground adventure with caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites decorated with colored LED lighting. Entertaining and knowledgeable tour guides take you through winding pathways in colorfully lit caverns that are always a cool 65 degrees. You might encounter bats, mice, snakes and frogs but it’ll be worth it!

Finally, we come to the end of our northward trek through Florida. The final stop of our tour is just a half hour west of our previous stop. Falling Waters State Park is in a small town in northwestern Florida called Chipley. Falling Waters Sink is a 100 foot deep, 20 foot wide cylindrical pit. A small stream flows into it, dropping 73 feet to the bottom. It’s considered Florida’s highest waterfall. There’s a beautiful park with a small pond for fishing and swimming area. It’s a terrific place for picnics with gorgeous landscapes and helpful staff. Regroup and refresh in Chipley after a successful road trip.

If you’re contemplating a road trip this summer, you may want to upgrade your ride. Consider a new Volkswagen Atlas or Atlas Cross Sport. The 7-passenger and 5-passenger SUVs are loaded with convenience technology, comfortable seating and the some of the biggest available cargo spaces. Take a look at our current offers or visit a dealership near you.

These are unprecedented times: social distancing, a toilet paper shortage and a full scale global shut down. But even though we’re all self-isolating, in many ways, we’re closer than ever. In this shared crisis, everyday heroes are the ones making the difference: the health care workers and first responders, of course. But also the grocery store stockers, online teachers and delivery drivers. At VW South Florida, we just wanted to remind you that some of those everyday heroes, your neighbors and friends, are working right now at a Volkswagen dealership near you.

Our sales and service departments are still open, ensuring everyone who needs reliable transportation has reliable transportation. Our cleaning crews are working diligently to keep every facility sanitary and safe. Our lot porters and drivers are picking up and delivering vehicles for service or home deliveries so customers don’t have to risk leaving their homes. And our lending partners are ensuring fast, easy credit approvals online and by phone. Everyday heroes are changing oil and replacing tires, making sure other everyday heroes can get to where they’re needed most.

Volkswagen is also pitching in to help with unprecedented offers like 0% APR financing for up to 72 months; that’s no interest for 6 years. And, if you’re concerned about being able to make your monthly payments - we’re offering to defer payments on new purchases for up to 6 months! That’s no interest for six years and no payments for six months on most new Volkswagen models. Plus, all new 2020 VW vehicles come with two years of complimentary maintenance, so keeping your vehicle in its best condition isn’t a financial burden.

As a country, we’ve survived many catastrophes; as individuals, we’ve overcome personal adversity. What makes it easier, is having someone to lean on. Your Volkswagen dealerships of South Florida are here to help in any way we can. Stay safe and healthy and reach out to us if we can help.

The Super Bowl is almost here! And it’s almost, literally, here! This year’s Super Bowl LIV (which means 54) takes place right here in Miami on February 2nd at the Hard Rock Stadium. While we don’t know who the final teams will be just yet, we do know that Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing at halftime. And we have details on some of the key activities surrounding the big game.

Super Bowl Opening Night is Monday, January 27th at 7:10PM in Marlins Park. Opening Night is when players and coaches from both teams will be in the same place, at the same time, talking to the media and smiling for cheering fans. There will be interview sessions and appearances by the cheerleaders and team mascots. Take pictures and get free autographs from NFL players. There will even be an opportunity to win prizes, including tickets to the big game!

Super Bowl Live is a free fan-centric event that runs from Saturday, January 25th through Saturday, February 1st. It will feature a Tailgate Town, cooking demonstrations, fan activities, sponsored booths, live music, dance performances, water shows and other fun football spectacles. Super Bowl Live will take place at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. For detailed hours of operation, check out the Super Bowl Live page.

Visit the Miami Beach Convention Center for the Super Bowl Experience - an interactive theme park offering games, football clinics, merchandise and autograph sessions. Tickets are on sale now and include all games and attractions; prices vary depending on the day, but range from $20 to $40 for adults; kids are FREE! You can purchase tickets through ticketmaster.com.

It’s the biggest sporting event of the year and it’s here - in South Florida! Celebrate with a new Volkswagen, perfect for tailgating, like the new, 7-passenger Atlas! Check out our current offers or visit a Volkswagen dealership near you and score a great deal!

New Years Eve is right around the corner and there are plenty of celebrations right here in South Florida. You still have time to join the party! Check out these local events:

For hot Miami fun, check out Miami’s “Under the Fireworks” New Year’s Eve. Join 300 other South Florida partiers on one of Florida’s largest mega-yachts, The South Beach Lady, for a premium buffet, open bar, live DJs and a view of the fireworks from the water. This VIP event runs from $250 per person to a Platinum VIP ticket for $299. They also have group rates. Check VIPNightLife.com to get your tickets.

Another VIP Event you might be interested in is The Gale Rooftop NYE Party! Called a Top-Tier Rooftop event, you can take in the views of South Beach and the annual fireworks show from the top of the Gale Hotel on Collins Avenue in South Beach. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, live DJ, a 5-hour open bar with the friendliest bartenders in town and a champagne toast. Tickets are about $180. Visit eventbrite.com for details.

In Ft. Lauderdale, check out the Balcony Las Olas for their 2020 Masquerade Party from 9pm til Midnight. With three bars, an open-air rooftop, balcony bar, big screen TVs and dining, this party is going to be grand! Tickets include premium open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne toast, live DJ, balloon drop and more! There are $99 General Admission tickets and $149 VIP Reserved Tables. Las Olas will be a beautiful place to ring in the New Year! Visit thebalconylasolas.com to purchase tickets… and don’t forget your mask!

The W Fort Lauderdale is throwing a futuristic event called Tomorrowland 2020. They’re touting “hypnotic visuals” and “electrifying live entertainment”. The W is located right on Ft. Lauderdale beach, so a great view is guaranteed. Enjoy 4 DJs, live music, gourmet food, a balloon drop and futuristic entertainment. It starts at 9:30 and has multiple ticket tiers from $75 per person to group experiences for over $4000. For more information, check out the eventbrite.com event page.

Ring in the new year at PGA National in Palm Beach at their New Year’s Eve Gala. This resort has put together room packages as well as single ticket purchase options. Their party includes a cocktail reception, multi-station dinner buffet, unlimited open bar, a live band with dancing and a midnight balloon drop. Kids are even welcomed! Plus, there’s an after party! Tickets start at about $280 for adults and around $200 for kids. Members get a 20% discount. More information at pgaresort.com.

Looking for something fun and FREE? Head down to the Keys this New Year’s for the Key West New Year’s Eve Celebration! There are ball drops, conch-shell drops, high-heel shoe drops and a pirate wench drop across Key West. People party in the streets and you can participate for free! There’s a sunset celebration with performances by magicians, jugglers and artists as the sun sets in Mallory Square. Choose to enjoy dinner at one of a dozen nearby restaurants. And party ‘til the sun comes up. Tons of information at mallorysquare.com.

Regardless of where you go or what you do, be safe! Don’t drink and drive! And have a Happy New Year, from your friends at VW South Florida! And, hey, if you want to start the new year in a new car, check out our current offers or visit a location near you!