Four Scenic Florida Byways
By David Lukas
Posted November 29, 2007, at 1 p.m.
While the rest of the country drops into a deep frozen slumber each winter, travelers with a fondness for sunshine migrate to Florida like flocks of hungry birds. Sure you can blast southward like a Cape Canaveral rocket ship down the frenetic I-95 freeway, but why not peel off and discover the languid pace and homespun fabric of the small backroad towns overlooked by the interstate. Here are four scenic byways to get your juices flowing for a new taste of Florida.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. St Augustine, Florida
© Stephen Saks. Lonely Planet Images.
Cruising the Coast on State Route A1A
Experience the best of Florida's Atlantic coast on state Route A1A, which meanders along the historic shoreline and barrier islands of northeastern Florida. Hop onto this famous "Southern Passage," just north of Jacksonville at Amelia Island, to witness the only piece of land in the U.S. to have been placed under eight flags of domination. Visit the historic district of Fernandina Beach for a timeless stroll through Civil War-era neighborhoods or cruise south along wild stretches of coast en route to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the nation. If by chance you tire of cobblestone streets and quaint cafés, head over to Castillo de San Marcos, a fantastic example of 1600s Spanish architecture.
Indian River Lagoon Scenic Byway
A little further down the coast, the 150-mile-long Indian River Lagoon Scenic Byway links together national wildlife refuges and barrier island beaches like a string of nature's prettiest pearls. Running around the perimeter of a phenomenally rich estuary, the Indian River byway includes a national seashore, three national wildlife refuges, a state park, museums and the Kennedy Space Center, so you and the entire family will be hard-pressed to run out of places to explore.
The Municipal pier silhouetted against a pink sunset. Naples, Florida.
© Richard Cummins Lonely Planet Images.
Wilderness Travel Through the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway
Travelers in search of Florida's world-renowned tropical wilderness will find some of the state's best examples along the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway, which stretches for 50 miles across the Big Cypress National Preserve. Here, along Highway 41 between Miami and Naples, you will find yourself immersed in a waterlogged world of skulking alligators and towering lichen-encrusted cypress trees full of countless colorful birds. Make the Oasis Visitor Center your first stop to help you understand this complex and remarkable wilderness. If the pace along Highway 41 is too fast for your tastes, take a side spin onto the preserve's 27-mile Loop Road or 17-mile Turner River Loop to fully immerse yourself in some of the Southeast's most pristine landscapes.
Bridging the Gap on the "Overseas Highway"
The 113-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 1 as it leaves Miami and heads south toward the southernmost point in the continental U.S. is called the "Overseas Highway" for good reason. What better name for a scenic highway that is as much a bridge as it is a road? Like a stone skipping into the Atlantic Ocean, Highway 1 connects the Florida Keys with a succession of 42 bridges that terminate at the quirky and lively hamlet of Key West – the former home of Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, not to mention presidents and other celebrities. Closer to Cuba than Miami, Key West and the many other small towns along the highway have, unlike the rest of Florida, a decidedly tropical flavor.
Bio: David Lukas is a professional naturalist who lives just outside Yosemite National Park. He leads nature tours and writes about the plants and animals of destinations ranging from Borneo and Tanzania to Nova Scotia.
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