I feel it’s about time to listen to some excellent news about Florida. The previous couple of months has been tough on the sunshine state. First Hurricane Ian tried to blow southwest Florida proper off the map and inundated giant swaths of the state with heavy flooding. A little bit over a month later Hurricane Nicole tried to sneak one final late-season punch onto the Atlantic shores.
In case you take heed to overly dramatic information you may assume the entire state of Florida is hurricane battered and fully underwater. However We simply spent a month touring by the state, and we are able to inform you that’s simply not the case. Florida and the individuals who name this place residence are resilient.
On this put up and video, we’re going to take you on somewhat highway journey to point out you that the solar is the truth is nonetheless shining in Florida.
We’ve got a week-long highway journey deliberate to take a look at a number of underrated gems alongside Florida’s north and mid-Atlantic Coast. The humorous about this journey is it bought rescheduled twice, due to the hurricanes, nevertheless it truly labored out higher than we might have even deliberate, however extra on that later.
The 2022 hurricane season was tough on Florida and it might need you questioning… Do you have to plan your winter and spring break journeys to Florida this 12 months? – Nicely the reply is easy – Sure!
Hurricanes occur yearly and yearly Florida rebuilds again higher. The folks listed here are resilient. Certain Hurricane Ian was a foul one, however the space that was broken to the purpose that might forestall a visit is small. The areas that also want extra time to rebuild are primarily across the Fort Myers area. They are going to want a bit extra time but to get well.
Nevertheless, the remainder of the state is prepared for you – and Ft. Myers received’t be far behind! Don’t consider it? We simply spent a month touring the state and we’ll present you that the solar continues to be shining in Florida!
On this household highway journey, we’re going to discover St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral, Coca Seaside, and Vero Seaside with a number of enjoyable stops alongside the way in which. Hop within the minivan, sit again, buckle up, and benefit from the journey as our household of 4 explores Florida’s north and central Atlantic Coast!
St. Augustine
Our first cease is historic St. Augustine, Florida. Based in 1565 – it’s truly the oldest constantly occupied European Settlement within the continental United States. In a variety of methods, St. Augustine doesn’t really feel like Florida to me. Improvement clever the state is comparatively new, however right here in St. Augustine, you might be surrounded by historical past.
There’s a centuries-old Spanish fort, historic wood buildings, and exquisite structure courting again to the day of railroad constructing tycoons. On prime of that, there are some nice seashores and plenty of native appeal – it’s onerous to not like St. Augustine.
St George Road
We’re going to begin on probably the most well-known avenue within the metropolis which is St. George avenue. Lined with historic buildings now repurposed into outlets, museums, and among the metropolis’s greatest eating places. A stroll down this avenue might take you the higher a part of the day if you’re up for exploring the outlets and lingering on the cafes and eating places.
St George Inn
On this journey, we’re staying within the coronary heart of the motion on the St. George Inn to benefit from our days within the metropolis. Our home windows and balcony overlook the historic St. George Road and we’re simply steps away from the entire points of interest, outlets, and eating places.
We’ve got a household go well with with a pleasant kitchen and lounge to unfold out which is a should when touring with younger youngsters. The St. George Inn has a number of room varieties and for those who’re touring with a household that is the place to remain!
Castillo San Marcos
On our first full day, we crammed up at breakfast set in a stupendous courtyard of the st. George Inn and tried our greatest to maintain the youngsters from leaping within the grand fountain. With some meals and low in our system, we headed to certainly one of St. Augustine’s most important points of interest the 300-year-old fort, the Castillo San Marcos.
Constructed within the 1600s by the Spanish, the Castillo was constructed to guard the town and essential commerce routes. All through the centuries it modified palms a number of occasions between the Spanish, British, and the USA till it was decommissioned in 1933, a number of years after it acquired Nationwide Monument standing.
We spent the morning exploring all of the nooks and crannies of the outdated fort, however our favourite half was on the higher stage. Right here, alongside lengthy with nice views of St. Augustine, there have been cool outdated cannons to see and turrets to cover in the place the youngsters pretended they have been pirates.
Fountain of Youth
One other Spanish relic value marveling at in St. Augustine is the Fountain of Youth. Within the sixteenth century, the age-old rumor of magical water that might reverse getting older and treatment illness grew to become standard amongst explorers. One particularly, Ponce de Leon grew to become fastened on discovering this legendary water supply.
This website is claimed to be the precise touchdown website of Ponce de Leon. Since he’s not round anymore I’m unsure the magic water labored, however there’s a ton of historical past to take a look at whereas visiting the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park.
In addition to the sip of mineraly water right here it’s also possible to get a glimpse again in time into the lifetime of the early settlers and explorers. Across the website, there are buildings and displays of things discovered right here that are from almost 500 years in the past. That is additionally considered the positioning of the primary Christian Missions in what’s now the USA.
For the youngsters, there are tons of peacocks to see and feed in addition to some kid-focused archeological displays. Atlas was satisfied we have been going to search out treasures right here and he nearly to pry him away.
Trolley
All aboard the most effective methods to cowl a variety of metropolis in a short while, the well-known inexperienced and orange St. Augustine Tolley. The Outdated City Trolley Excursions St Augustine
The children liked the journey and we bought a narrated journey and some minutes to sit down and simply watch this charming city go by. It was a enjoyable technique to see the town and it’s actually one of the best ways to see the town.
Museums
In case you didn’t get sufficient historical past strolling across the streets of St. Augustine, don’t fear there are many top-notch museums as effectively. One of the noteworthy is the Lightner Museum which is housed in what was as soon as Henry Flagler’s grand and opulent Alcazar Resort.
Inside you’ll discover a huge and big selection of items on show based by the writer and collector Otto C. Lightner. The constructing itself is definitely worth the go to however the artwork and displays push it towards to the highest of the checklist of locations to go to whereas in St. Augustine.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
One other should in St. Augustine is a climb up the attractive black and white striped traditional lighthouse. From the highest of the lighthouse, you possibly can see Anastasia Island state Park and the Outdated City within the distance.
For nautical nerds, there are additionally a number of displays on the lighthouse and maritime historical past overlaying from Ponce de Leon to the present day – and every part in between.
Seashores
For somewhat break from the entire historical past and tradition of St. Augustine, we spent a while simply enjoyable on the seashore. On prime of the entire historical past that yow will discover right here, there are some nice stretches of sand as effectively. In any case, it’s nonetheless Florida – and no journey to the sunshine state could be full with out a while on the seashore.
Aligator Farm
We completed up our time right here with a go to to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoologic Park. Inside we discovered actually a whole lot if not hundreds of Alligators. Atlas and Isla love seeing the entire gators and different animals. In addition to the entire Alligators there are many primates from all over the world, unique birds, and different reptiles. This place is a should for those who’re touring with youngsters or animal lovers.
This hurricane season didn’t focus its wrath on St. Augustine, the town noticed some harm, however nothing that might hinder a go to to this historic gem.
House Coast & Cocoa Seaside
Subsequent up on our highway journey is a spot that’s been on our radar for some time and we lastly determined to make it occur. From St. Augustine, we set the GPS for Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Seaside to an space of the state often known as the House Coast. It bought it’s title from being the house of NASA’s launch website for human house journey. Right here, simply inland from the sandy shores, you’ll discover the Kennedy House Heart the place the Apollo 11 mission launched on its technique to the moon in 1969, and lots of different well-known missions earlier than and after that one. Nevertheless, rockets aren’t the one factor that this place has going for it – there are additionally some nice seashores in addition to many different nice spots to take a look at.
Sundown on the seashore
We made it into city simply in time hit the seashore at sundown and it was one. The children performed within the sand whereas we waited for the solar to sink behind the little seashore city of Cocoa Seaside. Because it did the sky lit up in purples and pinks, regardless that on the east coast the solar doesn’t set over the water the final rays of the solar bounce round and make some sky magic anyhow.
As the sunshine light we sat right down to what could be certainly one of our favourite meals in House coast and of this little highway journey actually. We had dinner proper on the seashore at Coconuts, a neighborhood favourite open-air spot in Cocoa Seaside. every part was good, however the stand out was the Tuna Nachos.
Whereas we ate we might inform the entire city was a buzz concerning the Artemis launch try, army planes have been flying round, and other people have been excited.
Artemis Rocket Launch
We had been attempting to time our journey up with this rocket launch for some time now, however after being rescheduled twice, we’d kinda thought that it simply wasn’t going to occur. The primary launch makes an attempt again in August and September have been scrubbed on account of engine points and hydrogen leaks after which Hurricane Ian set issues again even additional.
We truly had our automotive all loaded up and we have been prepared to move out the door at 5 am the day the Ian hit, and evidently we scrubbed our mission two. We then rebooked every part attempting to see the launch once more after which it turned out that we have been going to be within the house coast on the mistaken days. Lastly, whereas we have been road-tripping round Florida we discovered that the launch bought pushed to our first day in Cape Canaveral – speak about fortunate. The one down aspect it was set for 1 am.
We sat up listening to the chatter from the NASA command heart for hours, ready, and hoping it was going to go. When the night time began it appeared like issues have been going to set it again once more and that we have been destined to overlook this launch.
However then at virtually 2 am, the announcement got here that the launch was a go! We rushed downstairs from our lodge the Cape Canaveral Hampton Inn to the car parking zone, which had surprisingly good views of the launch from proper exterior the room. Our little astronauts weren’t as much as see this second in historical past – which is simply too unhealthy as a result of Atlas actually loves all issues house.
Kennedy House Heart
The subsequent morning, recent off the excessive of seeing a rocket launch into house and somewhat brief on sleep we headed to the Kennedy House Heart, which is the place the rocket took off from only some hours earlier. Of all of the issues we did in House Coast, this was a giant hit with everybody.
Only a few steps in and we have been greeted with a set of big rockets from all intervals of house exploration in what is named the Rocket Backyard. The children liked this space and even bought to hop in a reproduction spacecraft filled with buttons and switches to faux for a couple of minutes that they have been astronauts.
All over the place you flip contained in the Kennedy House Heart there are interactive displays the place you possibly can follow issues like your house shuttle docking expertise or faux to pilot a ship by Outerspace!
The quantity of big life-sized house tools parked on website is so spectacular and provides you an actual really feel for the historical past of house exploration. Even for those who aren’t an enormous house geek, you actually need to place this place in your bucket checklist.
There may be additionally an enormous indoor playground which in fact is house themed. It is a good place to get the youngsters transferring and it’s a variety of enjoyable for each mini astronauts and children which are on Outerspace overload.
We even bought to have a snack with an astronaut which Atlas nonetheless to today talks about. We spent the entire day right here and I do know for a reality we didn’t see all of it!
We actually loved our time right here in Cocoa Seaside and the entire house coast – however we completely didn’t plan sufficient time right here. We left quite a lot of stones unturned – however we all know we will certainly be again right here ahead of later.
Vero Seaside
With historical past and house checked off of our checklist, it was time for some rest time on the seashore. So we headed one other couple of hours down the coast to Vero Seaside. Everybody we talked to appear to essentially love this little seashore city, so we determined to test it out for ourselves. On our technique to our remaining cease, we had a number of stops deliberate earlier than we planted our toes within the sand.
LaPorte Farms
First up was LaPorte Farms residence to an interactive zoo stuffed with animals from all over the world. This little gem within the city of Sebastian is a enjoyable 5 acre non-profit farm that’s a variety of enjoyable for youths. Right here you’ll discover every part from cockatoos and chickens to Zebras and Zebus. We made pals with the entire animals by feeding them by hand. There are many displays and it’s a enjoyable technique to spend a day with youngsters and animal lovers.
Mel Fisher Treasure Museum
We couldn’t go to Florida’s Treasure Coast and not using a cease to Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum. Of the entire stops on this complete highway journey, this museum was the cease that shocked me probably the most. I’d heard of Mel Fisher, however I actually had no concept of the tales and the sheer quantity of treasures he and his crews truly discovered. His most notable discover was The Atocha, a Spanish shipwreck that had 40 tons of gold and silver onboard when it went down. When Mel’s staff discovered it in 1975, the treasure was valued at over 450 million {dollars}.
I imply, simply have a look at this bust with gold chains hanging from Mel’s neck. Contained in the museum, they actually have a 5lb gold block the place the gold itself is value not less than $50,000 that they allow you to maintain. Nevertheless, the actually attention-grabbing half is that Mel Fisher and his staff solely discovered about half of the Atocha’s treasures. A big a part of the ship is believed to nonetheless be on the market. Important finds are nonetheless being made in the present day. And if you’re in search of a carer change, they’re hiring full-time divers to search for treasure in Key West proper now.
ELC – Environmental Studying Heart
One other enjoyable cease for youths is the Environmental Studying Heart or ELC because the locals name it. Right here we discovered 65 acres of pristine Florida wilderness. There may be an intensive system of trails and boardwalks that carry you between completely different ecosystems and displays on the property. Boat rides may also be organized to discover much more of the Indian river and the character that surrounds the ELC.
MeKee Botanical Gardens
One in every of our favourite stops across the Vero Seaside space was the McKee Botanical Gardens. Moving into these lush gardens was like strolling straight into the jungle – you realize if the jungle was finely manicured with coy ponds and stuff. However significantly simply have a look at this place. We most likely would have spent even longer right here if we didn’t stumble onto the tremendous enjoyable child’s space full with splash pad, and effectively – we proceeded to get fully soaked – which lower our go to somewhat brief, however undoubtedly a worthwhile cease. It was time to move to our remaining cease, the seashore – and to the lodge for some dry garments.
Vero Seaside
Our remaining cease in Florida was truly the primary place we noticed any noticeable results from any of the hurricanes in 2022. Wanting down on the seashore it kinda seemed like somebody took a number of big scoops of sand away, and proper after Hurricane Nicole there was some highway harm that washed away half of the highway alongside the shore.
How a lot did it impression ou journey? under no circumstances. The seashore continues to be attractive, the sunsets are nonetheless gorgeous, and from a vacationer perspective life was good, truly, it was higher than that – life was fairly nice.
Kimpton Vero Seaside
After a busy week touring alongside Florida’s Atlantic Coast, it was time to settle in and chill out on the beachside Kimpton Vero Seaside Resort. Our room was effectively appointed with a spacious residing space with loads of room for all of us. The lounge lead out to a balcony overlooking the pool with views of the ocean making the proper spot for morning espresso or a glass of wine after the youngsters have been down.
As soon as we bought right here it was a bit onerous to go away – however that was pleased with us. The Kimpton has two onsite eating places, a spa, a pleasant pool, and naturally – the seashore. One other bonus it was inside strolling distance of different close by points of interest, purchasing, and eating.
Of the entire enjoyable issues we did on this highway journey, among the greatest recollections have been simply having some household time taking part in within the pool – splashing round and studying to drift and soar off the sting like little daredevils. The Kimpton Vero Seaside was the proper place to finish an action-pack journey.
And similar to that our Florida highway journey is lights out like a child that performed too onerous within the pool.
We hoped you loved touring alongside Florida’s Atlantic coast with us and exploring the entire historical past, stunning seashores, and the actually out-of-this-world actions. We additionally hope we confirmed you that the solar is shining in Florida and it’s prepared to your subsequent household trip!
