Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Florida Highway 1
The coast-hugging thoroughfare features miles and miles of beaches interspersed with
fascinating historical sights, from the USA's oldest city to sobering slavery exhibits to
NASA rockets. Glittering Miami provides the big finale.
Why Go
For quintessential Florida sights and experiences, Highway 1 spanning the Atlantic
shoreline is it: Palm Beach's mansions, Ft Lauderdale's yachts, Miami's domino-clacking
Cuban enclave of Little Havana all pop up along the way. Pristine, windswept beaches
harboring endangered birds and manatees? They're here (at Canaveral National
Seashore). Beaches known for hard-partying nightlife and NASCAR racing? Also here
(at Daytona). Delicious seafood shacks and pastel-hued waterfront hotels are every-
where.
The Route
Begin in Florida's northeastern tip at Amelia Island, an upper-class beach-resort town
since the 1890s. From there the road drifts south, past cultural parks and plantations
where you can see how slaves lived. Pull over in venerable St Augustine, founded in
1565, to seek out Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth and the Pirate Museum. Light-
houses, unspoiled strands of sand and surfing hot spots flash by. Moving on you'll come
to the Kennedy Space Center, where shuttles used to launch into the stratosphere. After
that, art-filled West Palm Beach appears among a slew of well-heeled towns. Highway 1
then saves the best for last: Miami. The sexy city offers eye candy galore, from mural-
splashed neighborhoods to the world's largest art-deco district to the young and glamor-
ous locals preening around South Beach.
But let's back up a bit and cover a few basics. The road is actually called Highway
A1A (not to be confused with US 1, the larger, faster version that runs parallel). A1A is
not continuous - there are a few towns where you have to detour onto other roads before
picking up A1A again. Should you want more road-tripping after Miami, hop on US 1,
which becomes the scenic Overseas Highway at Key Largo and dips south to Key West -
a fine way to keep the party going.
When to Go
November to April is the best time, when it's warm but not too hot.
