Driving through northeastern Florida and the
Panhandle provides a perfect balance between wild nature and human
influence. When you think Florida you usually think of all the built-up
areas in southern and central Florida. However, if you skip the northern
parts of the state you'll miss these excellent scenic drives:
Scenic Drives from Jacksonville
If you're planning a trip down to central and southern Florida's
attractions but you want to see some beautiful nature and old-time towns
and attractions on your way south, you can take a detour between
Jacksonville and Flagler Beach (north of Daytona Beach) on the coast.
From I-95 on the eastern side of Jacksonville take Route 202 to
Jacksonville Beach. You'll find yourself on historic Route 1, the first
highway to
travel from all-the-way north - Fort Kent, Maine to all-the-way south - Key West -. On this
stretch
of the highway, you'll pass through St. Augustine, lots of excellent
beaches on the barrier island, and will end up in Flagler Beach, which
boasts old Victorian-style buildings right off the highway.
Northeast Florida Scenic Drives
In the Gainesville area, toward the center of the region, you can take
the Old Florida Heritage Highway. This 48-mile drive, which starts in
Gainesville, takes Route 441, and goes through the historic towns of
Micanopy, Rochelle, Evinston, and Cross Creek. Micanopy claims to be the
oldest mainland
settlement in
Florida, with the first post office opening up in 1826. Old and
respectful Victorian houses and buildings line the streets of these
cities, with Southern charm dripping from the deciduous trees. It was the setting for the Michael J. Fox movie “Doc
Hollywood,” where on his way to some great
position in
California he crashes his Porsche in … well, Grady,
South Carolina. But it was filmed in Micanopy!
Florida Panhandle Scenic Drives
Around the
city of Tallahassee are the “Canopy Roads,” so-called for the lush Spanish Moss overhanging.
Many of these roads feature fancy and tasteful residences that add to
the overall beauty of the scenery. For emphasis on archaeology and
19th-century houses, and the Spanish missions that rose up in the 17th
centuries, drive the Native Trail. If you want to see the area's old
cotton plantations, drive the Cotton Trail Loop. For a calm, enjoyable
drive through a dense pine forest, take the Quail Trail. Give yourself
time to take in the scenery on these loop drives, as, at a leisurely
pace, each one can take up to two hours to complete. A
Canopy Roads map will likely help you navigate the area better.
Pensacola Scenic Drives
In Pensacola, one great drive is to travel the length of Escambia Bay,
where the river bluffs overlooking the bay provide an excellent view of
the surroundings. You can reach Route 10A, which
stretches
from one end of the bay to the other, from I-10, the highway that leads
from Jacksonville all the way to Pensacola. Lining the bay's beach are
large bluffs of red clay, which play off the color of
water to provide excellent views for miles. From where 10A meets the water to where it leaves off is approximately six miles.
