Ride Away on A1A Scenic Drives and Rides on the Byway

Map 1:

Sights along the “Two County Cool Breeze Ride Away”

• * Depart St. Augustine Beach on CR-A1A (A1A Beach Blvd) and proceed south on SR-A1A, past Crescent Beach at SR206 and Fort Matanzas National Monument.
• Favorite stops at Oasis and Jacks BBQ.
• * At the Fort step back into the 17^th century with free ferry rides to the outpost garrison across the river.
• * Continue south, past Matanzas Inlet, the last remaining natural inlet in Florida, and Summer Haven where the ocean is newly meeting SR-A1A.
• * Next slow down through the Town of Marineland, home to the world’s first oceanarium and new Dolphin Conservation Center. Walk the boardwalk at the River and Sea Preserve and look for dancing porpoises atop the observation tower.
• * Travel two miles south to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and see geologically unique coquina outcroppings along the beachfront.
• * Further, south on SR-A1A discover “The Hammock” with its trails winding through Bings Landing/Mala Compra Plantation Greenway, which creates an extensive river-to-sea experience.
• * Take a brief stop at nearby Varn Park providing coastal seclusion for sea turtle nests.
• * Continue south to on SR-A1A to Beverly Beach and Flagler Beach, providing fantastic ocean views from the road and where endangered Right Whales may be spotted offshore. Favorite stops are the Iron Boot and Finn’s.
• * In Flagler Beach, trek around the town center for a truly unique Old Florida Experience and stop by the Welcome Center and learn about the best eats in town.
• * At SR-A1A and SR-100, visit the Flagler Beach 806-foot pier, a popular fishing spot for more than 80 years. Strut along the boardwalk flanked with Harley’s whose owners are having fun.
• * Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is just south of there, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. You have arrived when you spot the round blue water tower at the south of town. Favorite stop is the Snack Shack.
• * From there, proceed south along SR-A1A into Volusia County and make a right onto Highbridge Road in Peninsula State Park, part of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail.
• * When the road ends, turn right (North) onto John Anderson Highway, home to the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, featuring a historic plantation sugar mill.
• * Proceed north to Moody Boulevard turn left (East).
• * At SR-100 and Old Kings Road, turn right (North), and ride the early route of kings. The road, circa 1763, was the first major road construction project in the nation.
• * Just off of Old Kings Road before reaching US 1, visit the sleepy old oaks of Princess Place Preserve, once home to a Russian Princess.
• * From Old Kings Road, turn right (North) and cross Pellicer Creek heading past Faver Dykes State Park just inside the St. Johns County line, a short distance from I-95.
• * Traveling north, note the many wood acreage of the Matanzas Preserve until you reach SR-206 at DuPont Center.
• * Turn right (East) to head toward the ocean along SR-206 passing the Moses Creek Conservation Area. Cross the Matanzas River (ICW) entering Crescent Beach and turn left (North) onto SR- A1A.
• * Travel north along SR-A1A to arrive back at St. Augustine Beach, bearing right at CR-A1A (A1A Beach Blvd).
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  Route Option #2 - North Corridor Coaster
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Map 2:

Sights along the “North Corridor Coaster”

• * Depart St. Augustine Beach on CR-A1A (A1A Beach Blvd) and proceed north through Anastasia State Park, where visitors can experience the “Real Florida” with bird-watching and shell collecting.
• * Turn right (North) at the intersection of CR-A1A (A1A Beach Blvd) and SR-A1A.
• * Travel north past the St. Augustine Amphitheater and St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, where visitors can climb 219 steps up the 1870s lighthouse tower for 360 fantastic photography of the ocean, river and Cities. Nearby is the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, founded in 1893, a birding enthusiast’s delight and one of Florida’s oldest zoological parks.
• * Proceed northbound to the Bridge of Lions (now under renovation), a ride over more history into the heart of heritage from five flags into the City of St Augustine.
• * Turn right (North) onto Avenida Menendez along the sea wall and see the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (fort), the oldest remaining European fort in the continental United States.
• * Proceed north past Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum and the Mission de Nombre de Dios (large cross) to Sebastian Ave.
• * Turn right (East) and then left (North) at Magnolia Avenue for a sweet ride through draping canopy oaks in front of the Fountain of Youth.
• * Proceed north to May Street (SR-A1A) and turn right (East) onto the Vilano Causeway and Usina Bridge. Scenic views are beyond describing – oceans, estuaries, rivers, inlets, and islands all in view for miles.
• * Turn right (South) at the traffic light where Coastal Highway and SR-A1A dog-leg to buzz The Vilano Town Center where you will see an Old Florida Main Street, Bell Tower and Fishing Pier. Proceed east after the roundabout and then north to reconnect with SR-A1A (Coastal Highway).
• * Proceed north along Coastal Highway leaving Vilano Town Center.
• * Travel four miles and pass Surfside Park, Nease Beachfront Park and South Ponte Vedra Park – all have great beach access for quick scenic strolls.
• * Travel 2 miles northward spot the Gate Station at Guana Road – entrance to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR).
• * Take a left (West) at Guana Road and stop to visit the Educational Center Museum, where there are whales, turtles, birds and plants on display. Come back later for the hiking and canoeing experience.
• * Travel further north to Guana River State Park, with beautiful coastal scrub and soaring sand dunes.
• * Turn left (East) at Meckler’s Road and follow the roundabout at Palm Valley Road westward over the Palm Valley Bridge to CR-210. This is the Nocatee Parkway (don’t speed – two county jurisdictions love to give tickets).
• * Follow the parkway back to U.S. 1 and then turn left (South).
• * Proceed south to the edge of the city where the Spanish Soldiers stand at the St. Augustine City Gates and turn left at Fort Mose Historic State Park, the first free black settlement in the United States.  From there, stop at the vintage 1927 carousel at Davenport Park on the right at the May Street intersection entering San Marcos Ave. 
• * Travel south past the Huguenot Cemetery across from the Castillo, past the City Gates onto Avenida Menendez, circle Constitution Plaza, and proceed east to the ocean over the Bridge of Lions.
• * Follow SR-A1A south to SR-312 and turn left (East) onto CR-A1A Beach Blvd and follow the path to the ocean and St. Augustine Beach.

Route Option #3 - Old Grey Eyes Southwest Arrowhead Route

Map 3:  

Sights along “Old Grey Eyes Southwest Arrowhead Route”

• * Leave St. Augustine Beach northbound along CR-A1A Beach Blvd. The road turns into SR 312 and heads eastward over the Matanzas River for scenic views from the Mickler O’Connell Bridge. City and marsh vistas may reveal glimpses of the Roseate Spoonbill, a splendorous pink wonder in flight.
• * At the intersection of US 1 and SR-312, turn left to travel south to Shore Drive. Turn left onto Shore Drive across from the St. Augustine Mall and follow the road to the Matanzas River. Follow Shore Drive southward for several miles passing scenic county parks with boats and splendid photography. Returning to US 1 where Shore Drive ends, turn left (South) to follow US 1 to Old Moultrie Road.
• * Turn right (West) at the traffic signal before the creek and follow Old Moultrie Road northward to SR-312.
• * Turn left (West) and follow SR-312 until it merges into SR-207 and then follow SR-207 westward. Proceed southwest to another scenic corridor, the William Bartram Scenic Highway at the Arrowhead Point (CR-13).
• * Turn left (East) on SR 206 and know that you are traveling the trail of Old Grey Eyes, an Indian Trail Blazer for Florida Governor Grant constructing the Old Kings Road back in the 1770’s.
• * While on SR-A1A in Mid-Anastasia Island, stop at Frank Butler Park East with beach access on the Atlantic Ocean and Frank Butler Park West with access on the Matanzas River offering views of salt marsh, the river and birds. Windswept Acres Park is a stop for stretching your legs on a short trail walk before heading northward on SR-A1A to St. Augustine Beach bearing right onto CR-A1A Beach Blvd. SR-A1A widens from two to four lanes north of Owens Ave.

Route Option #4 - Simply Salt and Seas Route

Map 4:

Sights along the “Simply Salt and Seas Route”

• * Depart St. Augustine Beach on CR-A1A (A1A Beach Blvd) and proceed south on SR-A1A, past Crescent Beach at SR206 and Fort Matanzas National Monument.

Favorite stops at Oasis and Jacks BBQ.

• * At the Fort, step back into the 17^th century with free ferry rides to the outpost garrison across the river.
• * Continue south, past Matanzas Inlet, the last remaining natural inlet in Florida, and Summer Haven where the ocean is newly meeting SR-A1A.
• * Next slow down through the Town of Marineland, home to the world’s first oceanarium and new Dolphin Conservation Center. Walk the boardwalk at the River and Sea Preserve and look for dancing porpoises atop the observation tower.
• * Travel two miles south to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and see geologically unique coquina outcroppings along the beachfront.
• * Further, south on SR-A1A discover “The Hammock” with its trails winding through Bings Landing/Mala Compra Plantation Greenway, which creates an extensive river-to-sea experience.

 * Turn right onto Palm Coast Parkway, where there is a Linear Park just over the bridge. Make a left at Colbert Lane, a left on Moody Boulevard and a right onto John Anderson Highway, home to the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, which features a former plantation sugar mill.

• * Proceed south into Volusia County and make a left on Highbridge Road, part of the Ormond Scenic Trail and Loop. Make a left onto SR-A1A, going north to the Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Favorite stop is the Snack Shack.
• * At SR-A1A and SR-100, visit the Flagler Beach 806-foot pier, a popular fishing spot for more than 80 years. Strut along the boardwalk flanked with Harleys and their owners, who are having fun.
• * In Flagler Beach, trek around the town center for a truly unique Old Florida. Stop by the Welcome Center and learn about the best eats in town. Favorite stops are the Iron Boot and Finn’s.

• * Continue north on SR-A1A through Flagler Beach to Beverly Beach, enjoying the fantastic ocean views from the road and where endangered Right Whales may be spotted offshore.
• *Take a brief stop at nearby Varn Park providing coastal seclusion for sea turtle nests.