There are hundreds of miles of Floridian fun to be had on a road trip to Miami from Amelia Island on the Georgia border. There really is an endless amount of stuff to do along this route, and what attractions you hit up will depend upon what your road trip goal is. Are you on a family road trip? A girls-only getaway? A bro-cation? Or are you solo-traveling the East Coast of Florida?
Regardless of your style of tripping, here are a few of the must-stop, must-see, must-visit places down Florida’s Highway A1A, from Amelia Island to Miami. Sorry, we’re skipping I-95 and choosing the scenic route for this trip. Oh, and no golf courses or retirement villages on this trip, just old-school Floridian charm. Highway A1A is a two-lane highway that will take you along the shore most of the way.
Amelia Island, Florida 32034, USA
Starting in Ameila Island head south to Jacksonville Beach. Jacksonville is a super long beach that has fishing piers, volleyball, lots of boating and you can even see dolphins there.
From Jacksonville hit up the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. This was where Ponce de Leon thought he had discovered the secret to immortality. He had searched all over Florida, believing that the Floridian springs and lagoons would hold the key to eternal youth.
Next we head to downtown St. Augustine, which is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in America. Thus, it’s considered the oldest city in America. Having visited St. Augustine several times, I can attest to everything you’ve heard about it: It oozes historic charm, has a bar or pub on every street, and has some of the quirkiest and nicest people you’ll have the good fortune to meet. There’s loads of places to stay, including lots of bed and breakfasts, like the The Old Powder House Inn.
And you’ll definitely want to head out on the water, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better charter boating company than Schooner Freedom Charters.
If you’ve got the cash, indulge yourself and stay at Casa Monica Hotel, it’s a luxury hotel where Presidents and Kings and Queens have all stayed. JP Henley's is my favorite bar to drink at.
Next head down to Daytona Beach for some people-watching, and red cup beer-drinking, and make a quick detour in Orlando, if you feel so inclined.
Disney World is actually a pretty fun place to spend a few days.
Then head out to the Space Coast and experience the amazement that is Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. There’s so much to do here, including visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex I highly recommend taking the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour and learning all about America’s spacefaring heritage.
Afterwards, hit the beach! I suggest Cocoa Beach and pay the obligatory visit to Ron Jon Surf Shop, which sees about 2 million visitors a year, and the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. Warning, because Cocoa Beach is pretty popular, parking is a problem. Another great beach to hit up is Vero Beach. Vero Beach is part of Florida’s Treasure Coast. There’s also a historic downtown to visit, with lots of shops, restaurants and art galleries.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 41, Titan III Rd, Cape Canaveral, FL, US
