Visit Florida - Worth the Drive 2008 - (Page 13) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Scenic 13 5 7 9 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Experience beaches and blooms at this Palm Coast park. Two-fold in its appeal, it combines coquina-shored beach on one side of the road with formal floral gardens on the other, along the Matanzas River. Plan for a spring visit to witness the azaleas and camellias showing off. In winter, watch for pods of right whales from the beach. (386-446-6780, www.floridastateparks.org/ washingtonoaks) St. Augustine Beach Besides cool beaches, this town gives you a 219-step lighthouse to climb, the world’s oldest alligator park and beachside Anastasia State Park, where windsurfing is hot. There’s plenty to do on land, too – hiking, birding and picnicking to name a few. (800-653-2489, www.getaway4florida.com) Historic St. Augustine Go colonial in Old City – no trip to Florida’s northeast is complete without a visit to St. Augustine’s historic district. Take a virtual trip back to a time and place where pirates and soldiers saunter brick streets and blacksmiths and candle-makers demonstrate their craft. Don’t miss Spanish Bakery for snacks made from heirloom recipes. (800-653-2489, www.getaway4florida.com) Marineland Plunge into Marineland, which began as a circa1938 oceanarium and underwater film studio and has evolved into today’s fully interactive Dolphin Conservation Center. Choose from nine ways to experience these amazing creatures first-hand. (888-279-9194, www.marineland.net) Crescent Beach Historic Fort Matanzas, St. Augustine’s “backdoor fort,” often gets overlooked for its more formidable Castillo de San Marcos counterpart. What’s fun about Matanzas is the free boat ride to get there. Guarding the southern entrance to Crescent Beach, the fort introduces a stretch of low-key beaches and fun seafood houses, such as the popular Salt Water Cowboys. (800-653-2489, www.getaway4florida.com) Vilano Beach to Ponte Vedra Beach Stretch Warm up with the Vilano Beach-Ponte Vedra Beach stretch. North of St. Augustine, A1A passes from the barefoot beach feel of Vilano Beach to the groomed golf courses of Ponte Vedra Beach, a resort town south of Jacksonville. Stop at Cap’s for lunch, then hit the beach. (www.getaway4florida.com, www.visitjacksonville.com) http://www.getaway4florida.com http://www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks http://www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks http://www.getaway4florida.com http://www.marineland.net http://www.getaway4florida.com http://www.visitjacksonville.com http://www.getaway4florida.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.