Things to do / Travel Guide
If you love tall palm trees, lots of birds, and large vistas of beaches and water, then almost any drive along the long coastline of South Florida can be considered scenic. There are, however, three particularly scenic routes which you can travel along to take in some special sights.
State Road A1A travels most of the length of the eastern coastline of Florida. As most of the road travels parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, you can see many beaches, marinas, and parks along the way. Starting from the south heading north, in Miami Beach you'll be treated to the sights of the historic and colorful Art Deco District. Then you'll pass by Haulover Beach Park. Up the road is Hollywood Beach with its broadwalk. By John U. Lloyd State Park, the road veers inland. You'll be back by the ocean again in Fort Lauderdale, and then you'll get to Deerfield Beach and the Deerfield Beach Pier, a great place to swim and fish. Proceeding north, you'll pass through Boca Raton and Red Reef Park. Finally, you'll get to Palm Beach, where you can see The Breakers and many beautiful mansions. You should allow at least a half-day to enjoy this approximately 100-mile-long route. Allocate a full day if you want to be able to make stops along the way for an up-close look at some of the sites.
Another South Florida scenic drive begins as you head south out of Miami on Hwy. US1, following the signs to the Keys. First you'll get to Key Largo and beautiful and popular John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. About 20 miles down the road, you can catch performing sea creatures at the Theater of the Sea. After passing through Marathon, in the Middle Keys, you'll get to the famous Seven-Mile Bridge, which will give you an unparalleled, fantastic, wide-open view of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Once across the bridge you'll reach Bahia Honda State Park, which features one of the most gorgeous beaches in the entire United States. You pass through Big Pine Key and the National Key Deer Refuge on your way to Key West, the terminus of the scenic drive. Also known as the “Conch Republic,” Key West is the most southern point in the continental U.S. As this route is about 150 miles long, you should give yourself at least half a day to make stops and enjoy the view along the way. Once you're in Key West, you'll want to stay and experience the carnival atmosphere, with vendors and street performers present, during the beautiful and dramatic sunset.
A different scenic route traverses the inland area of South Florida. The area between Miami and the Southwest Gulf Coast mostly consists of the famous swamp region called the Everglades. The Everglades stand in stark contrast to the rest of coastal Florida. From Miami heading west, start out on State Route 41, called the Tamiami Trail. Along the way out to the Gulf Coast, you'll pass by the Everglades National Park, Shark Valley, Miccosukee Indian Reservation, Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades City, Collier-Seminole State Park, and finally head into Naples. While this route is only about 50 miles long, you should still allow at least a half-day to stop and enjoy the sites along the way. Give yourself a full day if you also want to explore the Naples area at the end of the drive.
|
|
|