AARP Hearing Center
State Route A1A in Florida is a north-south highway nearly 340 miles long that runs along the east coast, spanning almost the entire length of the state from just below the Georgia border to Key West. Among the best road trips in the country, it offers something for everyone because it cuts through serene beaches as well as some of the state’s busiest and most popular cities.
A particularly charming section of A1A is a 72-mile stretch known as the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway. This part of A1A has a slower pace – it’s mostly a two-lane road – but that makes it a great place for a leisurely drive. The byway offers relaxing beaches, state parks, historical sites, and some of the least congested and unspoiled areas on A1A.
Here are some of the highlights you don’t want to miss if you’re coasting along the Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway.
Ponte Vedra Beach
Located near the byway’s northern tip, Ponte Vedra Beach is among the road’s most upscale sections. Known for its premiere golf courses, luxurious estates and fine dining, the area also boasts stunning ocean landscapes dotted by sand dunes, along with great kayaking spots. Explore the fascinating ecosystems and exotic wildlife contained within the more than 70,000 acres of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. Your canine family members will enjoy a visit to dog-friendly Mickler's Landing, which is known for its pink sand and abundance of sea turtles.
St. Augustine
Sometimes referred to as “America’s oldest city,” St. Augustine is more accurately described by history buffs as the site of America’s first continuous European and African American settlement. One thing’s for certain: This is a city with a rich history. Wander along brick-paved streets lined with buildings that have stood for hundreds of years – including those found within the Oldest House Museum Complex (adults: $12.95; 55-plus: $9.95) – or tour Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (adults: $15), the oldest surviving masonry fort in the continental United States. A few blocks off A1A is Ponce De Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park (adults: $19.95; 60-plus: $17.95), which has become a popular attraction (and photo opportunity) for tourists visiting the area. Need a break after all that walking? Catch some shade under the branches of “Old Senator,” a sprawling oak tree near downtown St. Augustine that’s believed to be more than 600 years old.