driving from NO to St. Petersberg Florida
Jan 6th, 2013, 04:28 PM
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driving from NO to St. Petersberg Florida
We will be driving from NO along the coast and down the east coast of Florida.( only about half way down.) Neither of us have ever been here ; time is not an issue ,we can take as many days as we want. Is there much to see along the Pensacola coast and can anyone help with a driving route ( perhaps there is only one? lol), and suggest towns etc. After 2 weeks in NO we are looking for small towns, nice scenery, good food and a relaxed time.
thank you for any ideas you might have.
Pat
thank you for any ideas you might have.
Pat
Jan 6th, 2013, 08:20 PM
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If you are going to St. Petersburg, do you mean you will be driving down the WEST coast? Otherwise you will be going out of your way.
Pensacola has the National Museum of Naval Aviation, an old (and tall) lighthouse, several historic forts, and the Blue Angels flight team (which might be practicing when you visit), all at the naval air station southwest of town. Definitely worth a visit.
The downtown area has a number of small but interesting museums. More info is available at http://www.visitpensacola.com
If you want the slow but scenic route, take US 98 headed east from Pensacola, cross one bridge to Gulf Breeze, and then cross a second bridge to Pensacola Beach and take SR 399. If you head west, you can detour to visit Fort Pickens, another historic (and scenic) fort http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm
Head east on 399 to Navarre Beach and cross back to the mainland (you won't have a choice). Continue on US 98 east until you get to CR 30A (there's a sign for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park), and take it along the gulf. Also in the area is Eden Gardens Sate Park (north of US 98, off CR 395) — http://www.floridastateparks.org/ede...ns/default.cfm
CR 30A joins US 98 again in Rosemary Beach. In a couple of miles you will be in Panama CIty Beach. You can stay on US 98 or take the slower (not sure how much more scenic it is) Front Beach Road, which is by the water, until it rejoins 98.
US 98 will hen take you to Port St. Joe, where you can turn off on SR 30A. You might want to detour off SR 30A to visit Cape San Blas, a favorite of several Fodorites. Heading east on 30A, you will reach Apalachicola, an interesting and scenic little town. At Eastpoint there is a bridge to St. George Island (SR 300), another Fodorite favorite.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, near Crawfordville, is a bit of Old Florida that you might enjoy. Tallahassee is not far from Wakulla Springs, if you want to spend a day there.
US 98 goes inland from here to about Crystal River, north of St. Pete, because the coast is more muddy than sandy. You could take CR 349 from Old Town down to Suwannee, near the mouth of the Suwannee River. Another detour that might be worth your while is CR 345 from Chiefland to SR 24 to Cedar Key (on the return just stay on 24 all the way back to 98).
At Crystal River US 98 nears the coast again. You'll probably want to take US 19 where it splits from 98 and visit Homosassa Springs State Park (one of several places you can see manatees) http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/
Weeki Wachee Springs (another bit of Old Florida, famous for its mermaids) is just south of Homosassa Springs. http://www.floridastateparks.org/wee...ee/default.cfm
Continuing on US 19 will take you to Tarpon Springs (another bit of Old Florida, noted for its sponge fishing industry) and eventually into St. Pete.
There have been quite a few postings on places to eat and stay along the northern Gulf coast, and you can search the forum for those, but I am guessing people might chime in with their favorites. I am not familiar with the postings about or offerings in the area between Crystal River and St. Petersburg.
Have fun!
By the way, what time of year are you going?
Pensacola has the National Museum of Naval Aviation, an old (and tall) lighthouse, several historic forts, and the Blue Angels flight team (which might be practicing when you visit), all at the naval air station southwest of town. Definitely worth a visit.
The downtown area has a number of small but interesting museums. More info is available at http://www.visitpensacola.com
If you want the slow but scenic route, take US 98 headed east from Pensacola, cross one bridge to Gulf Breeze, and then cross a second bridge to Pensacola Beach and take SR 399. If you head west, you can detour to visit Fort Pickens, another historic (and scenic) fort http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm
Head east on 399 to Navarre Beach and cross back to the mainland (you won't have a choice). Continue on US 98 east until you get to CR 30A (there's a sign for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park), and take it along the gulf. Also in the area is Eden Gardens Sate Park (north of US 98, off CR 395) — http://www.floridastateparks.org/ede...ns/default.cfm
CR 30A joins US 98 again in Rosemary Beach. In a couple of miles you will be in Panama CIty Beach. You can stay on US 98 or take the slower (not sure how much more scenic it is) Front Beach Road, which is by the water, until it rejoins 98.
US 98 will hen take you to Port St. Joe, where you can turn off on SR 30A. You might want to detour off SR 30A to visit Cape San Blas, a favorite of several Fodorites. Heading east on 30A, you will reach Apalachicola, an interesting and scenic little town. At Eastpoint there is a bridge to St. George Island (SR 300), another Fodorite favorite.
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, near Crawfordville, is a bit of Old Florida that you might enjoy. Tallahassee is not far from Wakulla Springs, if you want to spend a day there.
US 98 goes inland from here to about Crystal River, north of St. Pete, because the coast is more muddy than sandy. You could take CR 349 from Old Town down to Suwannee, near the mouth of the Suwannee River. Another detour that might be worth your while is CR 345 from Chiefland to SR 24 to Cedar Key (on the return just stay on 24 all the way back to 98).
At Crystal River US 98 nears the coast again. You'll probably want to take US 19 where it splits from 98 and visit Homosassa Springs State Park (one of several places you can see manatees) http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/
Weeki Wachee Springs (another bit of Old Florida, famous for its mermaids) is just south of Homosassa Springs. http://www.floridastateparks.org/wee...ee/default.cfm
Continuing on US 19 will take you to Tarpon Springs (another bit of Old Florida, noted for its sponge fishing industry) and eventually into St. Pete.
There have been quite a few postings on places to eat and stay along the northern Gulf coast, and you can search the forum for those, but I am guessing people might chime in with their favorites. I am not familiar with the postings about or offerings in the area between Crystal River and St. Petersburg.
Have fun!
By the way, what time of year are you going?
Jan 7th, 2013, 04:08 PM
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Ackislander, I've driven and/or ridden most of that route (from Pensacola to Homosassa Springs) and been to most of the places I listed, although in some cases it has been MANY years ago!
Those I have not personally visited I have at least heard good things about.
Those I have not personally visited I have at least heard good things about.
Jan 8th, 2013, 07:00 AM
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Cranachin has given you wonderful driving directions! We have been that way more than once and loved it. You will pass thru a lot of beach towns. We stayed in Cape San Blas 4 winters and dearly loved it. Once you pass thru Port St Joe, take 30A about 7 miles or so to 30 E and turn right onto the Peninsula. There are rental homes here right on the ocean. You could use VRBO or Google for realty companies. Or if you wanted a B&B stay on 30A to Indian Pass: http://www.turtlebeachinn.com/ From this area you could continue on to Apalachicola and St George Island, etc....
Jan 8th, 2013, 07:03 AM
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Cranachin here is a short report I did a couple years ago: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...as-florida.cfm
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