Hanna Park in Atlantic Beach is nice
with 2 plazas that overlook the ocean, salt- and
fresh-water fishing, bicycle trails, a
nature trail, picnicking, and camping.
For a meal, try Papa Joe’s Grill or the LTD (Barbecue
LTD), one of the local favourites. In Jacksonville
Beach (actually Ponte Vedra) you will find two great
resorts, the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club (call 800.234.7842)
and a Marriott Resort. Either will provide you with
a great vacation opportunity – and lots of great
golf!
For accommodations suggestions, click on Fernandina
Beach, Jacksonville, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach,
Jacksonville Beach, or Ponte Vedra.
Stay on A1A to St. Augustine.
St. Augustine to Daytona Beach
St. Augustine one of the oldest
cities in the United States, which makes it a great
vacation destination. There is a lot to see and do
here including the Old Town, the Castillo de San Marcos
National Monument, the Lighthouse Museum of St. Augustine,
Lightner Museum, the Mission of Nombre de Dios, and
the Spanish Quarter. And – this is just the beginning
as you will find just about everything here from an
alligator farm to a wax museum. Click here for details
on our Daytona
car rental location.
The city is also filled with lots of wonderful restaurants.
The Creekside Dinery, Raintree, the Rosenhof, and
O’Steen’s. You can also spend the night in town with
a choice of some very nice inns and B&Bs, along
with a good choice of motels. You can also camp in
the Anastasia State Recreation Area.
Stay on A1A south to Daytona Beach. Along the
way you will find several state parks and recreation
areas and several fine beaches. Also, many good seafood
restaurants.
Marineland is a favorite overnight for most
people. Just north of there you can visit the interesting
Fort Matanzas National Monument, the beautiful Washington
Oaks State Gardens, and Marineland of Florida, one
of the oldest oceanariums in the states. You can stay
here and get an ocean-view room which is fantastic.
There is also a camping area. If you have a little
more money, you might want to stay at the Harborside
Inn Palm Coast Resort which offers some great golfing,
along with all of the other beach area activities.
Although not located on the ocean, it is on the water
– the Intracostal Waterway. All of the rooms here
have a view of the marina or the waterway. This
area is great for families!
Titusville to Melbourne
The Titusville area is best known
for the Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral
National Seashore. You will want to plan on a
day to visit the center. Try the Dixie Crossroads
for lunch. Click here for details on our Melbourne
car rental location.
Cocoa and Cocoa Beach (www.cocoabeachchamber.com)
are also good destinations for vacation fun. You may
enjoy the Historic Cocoa Village self-guided tour.
Try the Pier or Heidelberg for dining.
Melbourne to Fort Pierce
In Melbourne ( you can visit the
Brevard Zoo and the Florida Tech botanical Garden,
which features rare and exotic palms. Have lunch at
Conchy Joe’s Seafood in the old Oleander Hotel. Campers
can choose either Long Point or Wickham Park.
In Vero Beach you can visit the McLarty Treasure Museum
and the Sebastian Inlet State Recreation Area, which
is bounded by the Indian river and the Atlantic Ocean
and offers swimming, surfing, skin diving, along with
fishing and boating and picnicking. They also have
tent and trailer camping. One of the best accommodation
here is the Doubletree Guest Suites Resort, which
is located on the beach.
Continue south to Fort Pierce. If you are passing
through Grant in February you may enjoy a stop at
the Grant Seafood festival.
Miami to Naples
Take I-95 north to I-75,
Alligator Alley or the Everglades Parkway, and head
west across The Everglades to Naples.
Or, for a better view of the Everglades, take US41
west out of Miami and follow it to Naples. Along 41
you can stop and visit the Miccosukee Indian Reservation,
Everglades City, and a couple of interesting parks.Click
here for details on our Miami
car rental locations.
If you take I-75, when you reach FL29
you may want to turn south and visit Everglades City.
Making the journey across this section of Florida,
the book Hidden Florida Keys and The Everglades would
be a help, especially if you plan to try and see some
of the Everglades area.
Everglades National Park is the only subtropical
preserve in North America. It contains both temperate
and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass
prairies, mangrove and cypress swamps, pinelands,
and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine
environments. The park is known for its rich bird
life, particularly large wading birds, such as the
roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and
a variety of egrets. It is also the only place in
the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side
by side. Click on The Everglades for travel guides,
brochures, and money savers to help you plan your
visit.
Crystal River to Tallahassee
In Crystal River you may want to
look for the over 100 springs at King’s Bay or visit
the Crystal River State Archaeological Site. Leaving
Crystal River you finally leave the shoreline. When
you reach Otter Creek you should take the side trip
to Cedar Key. Click here for details on our Tallahasee
car rental location.
Cedar Key ( is now a fishing area with a few motels
and an interesting inn, the Island Hotel. You may
want to overnight here. While here you can visit the
Cedar Key Historical Society Museum and the Cedar
Key State Museum. Try the Captain’s Table for a meal.
Back on US19 north your next stop will probably
be in Perry ( the home of Forest Capital State Cultural
Museum and the Cracker Homestead. Also, it is here
at Perry that you will turn west on US98 if
you want to continue your shore-side drive along the
panhandle of Western Florida. If not, just stay on
19 north to Tallahassee.
Tallahassee ( the capital of Florida, is host to several
things to see and do beginning with the Alfred B.
Maclay State Gardens. This is a wonderful gardens
and you should not leave the city without seeing it.
Other places you would like to see with things to
do would include:
the First Presbyterian Church
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
the Art Gallery at Florida State University
the governor’s’s Mansion and the State Capitol
the Museum of Florida History
Natural Bridge State Historic Site
Old Capitol Museum
St. Marks national Wildlife Refuge
Tallahassee Museum of History & Natural Science
As this is a very large city, you will find ample
places for overnights and dining. And, if you are
only going to eat one meal here, make it lunch at
Chez Pierre on Thomasville Road where you can enjoy
homemade soup followed by French pastries. And, for
an overnight in the area, my preference is Edward
Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. The lodge there is
wonderful – and like stepping back into time. The
dining room is also very good. And, while you are
there, you can enjoy the springs and some interesting
swimming.
