30

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Florida Keys Aerial view (Trip 5)JUPITERIMAGES / GETTY IMAGES ©

VACATIONERS HAVE FLOCKED TO FLORIDA SINCE THE LATE 1800S, when Henry Flagler built his famous railroad down the coast. The state’s status as vacation paradise was cemented when Walt Disney snapped up a sizeable chunk of it in the 1960s to build his new theme park.

There’s no denying the state’s appeal, and its incessant sunshine and natural beauty make it particularly well suited to road-tripping. The narrow peninsula packs in the hedonistic pleasures, from white-sand beaches to fantasy-fueled amusement parks, with historical monuments, natural wonders and roadside attractions sprinkled liberally along the way.

Florida

31

1 Highway 1 6 daysEmbark on an adventure that runs

the length of the Atlantic Coast.

2 The Everglades 2–3 daysMingle with manatees, alligators,

anhingas and more. Captivating nature awaits.

3 North Florida Backwaters & Byways 5–7 days

Discover the panhandle’s best beaches and the Gulf Coast’s hidden treasures.

4 Doing Disney & More 6–10 daysWalt Disney World is just the

beginning of this experience-driven trip.

5 Overseas Highway to Key West 3–5 days

Island-hop your way towards Cuba through a series of laid-back keys.

#

#

# #

#

#

#

]

]

]

]

\

\

\

ALABAMA

BonSegourBay

Gulf of Mexico

St JosephBay

ApalacheeBay

Apalachicola

Destin

PerryPanama

City

PensacolaTallahassee

MobileVUÓ10

[Ù98[Ù98

FG3

0 200 km0 100 miles#e

32

Florida

444#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

]

]

]

]

]

]

]

]

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

\

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

A T L A N T I C

O C E A N

Dry TortugasNationalPark

CanaveralNational Seashore

BiscayneNationalPark

LakeOkeechobee

SanibelIsland

WhiteSprings

Flamingo

Clearwater

Vero BeachBradenton

Sarasota

Venice

ClewistonFort Myers

Hollywood

KeyWest

Naples

Fernandina Beach

CapeCanaveral

DaytonaBeach

Homestead

St Augustine

New Smyrna Beach

TitusvilleSpring Hill

Tampa

Miami

Gainesville

Jacksonville

Fort Lauderdale

Valdosta

St Petersburg

Orlando

PalmBeach

Key Largo

Marathon

Ocala

HomosassoSprings

EvergladesCity

VUÓ75

VUÓ95

VUÓ75

VUÓ4

VUÓ10

[Ù301

[Ù27[Ù19

[Ù27

[Ù41

FG5

FG2

FG1

FG4

[Ù1

Miami Beach Ocean Dr at dusk (Trip 1)

LUIS

CA

STA

NE

DA

INC

/ G

ET

TY

IMA

GE

S ©

DON'T MISS

Fort George Island Peek into old Florida at this Cultural State Park, one of several historical stop-offs in Trip 1

Flamingo It’s a bit of a trek, but rowing in solitude among mangroves and manatees makes it totally worthwhile. Learn more in Trip 2

Mennello MuseumThis tiny Orlando museum showcases the work of Earl Cunningham and other primitive and folk artists. Check it out in Trip 4.

Indian KeyTo see this abandoned island settlement in all its decaying glory, you have to work for it: it’s only accessible by boat in Trip 5.

African QueenMore than just a roadside relic, the famous steamboat chugs along while passengers re-create scenes from the movie in Trip 5.

33