We will be in St. Augustine in March and never been to that area. We will stay in or near Old Town for a few nights but what else is in easy driving distance to explore and stay. We like nature, quiet and good restaurants. By the way, we are flying in and our of Orlando so if there is something on the route that is interesting that would be okay too.

St. Augustine, FL has everything on your wish list: nature, quiet and good restaurants. It's also off the radar for most tourists.

A few links:
http://www.staugustine.com/visit/
http://www.visitflorida.com/St_Augustine
http://www.getaway4florida.com/

Coming from Orlando, you would want to drive I-4 to I-95 and exit at SR 207. If you go this route you will save time but not see much of anything except interstate highway. If you want a more leisurely and scenic drive, take US 17-92 north to Deland (home of Stetson University) and then follow US 92 to Daytona Beach. At that point, if you wish, you can proceed east to SR A1a and follow the coastline north to St. Augustine. You may also want to explore Tomoka State Park, three miles north of Ormond Beach.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/tomoka/default.cfm

Regardless of how you travel, try to visit Fort Matanzas National Monument, about 2+ miles south of SR 206 on A1a. Most tourists miss it and perhaps the others can't find it. It can be tricky to locate, but it is quite interesting.
http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm

Let me know when you are ready for the restaurant recommendations. I have definite likes and dislikes, and I'll tell you why.

In St Augustine, be very careful on the walkway at the waterfront in the area of the fort. We had dinner and were walking back to the car when my sister fell into a hole and broke her ankle. We hadn't walked in that area and didn't realize there were so many holes in the walkway.
Upon our return to the hotel we were told this is a frequent happening in that area. Maybe it is repaired by now but I doubt it.
It ruined our plans for a week long vacation in Florida - instead we drove home the next day after a long night at the emergency room.

Across the bridge from St. Augustine is Anastasia Beach State Park--unspoiled white beach goes on and on. Worth the short drive.

For another spot that has nature and history and would be an easy drive, try Amelia Island. Can drive up the coast from St. Aug to Jacksonville beach area (just under and hour), then take a brief car ferry. More beaches, plantation resorts, quiet, good restaurants, history.

Seconding Vic's suggestions of Fort Matanzas National Monument.

In drafting the first response to you, I failed to mention Blue Spring State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm in Orange City.

If you are driving up US 17-92 from the Orlando area toward Deland, Orange City is just south of Deland and Blue Spring is just a couple of miles west of 17-92 off of French Avenue. While Blue Spring is known as a winter manatee refuge, it is uncertain whether or not any will remain there past March 1st. You can call the park to find out if any manatee are "in" on the day you plan to drive by. Even if they are not there, it is a beautiful place just to visit. In any event, I think you would like it!

You all are amazing. Thank you so much for the useful tips. And yes when it get's closer to March I will be asking about restaurant opinions. There are some posts already on that subject.

OrlandoVic, Thank you--Blue Springs State Park sounds great. I'm going to stop by there later this week when I get off the autotrain in Sanford. Do you have any restaurant suggestions for the Orange City area? Probably still be there at lunch time.

Orange City is a very small town and certainly not known for haute cuisine. There are some fast food restaurants on Saxon Blvd., just west of the I-4 exit. Your best bet, tmagyari, would be to grab an early lunch at a cafe in Sanford's historic district on East 1st Street (east of US 17-92. Take a look here for more info: http://www.ci.sanford.fl.us/media/pdf/historic.pdf

so it is closer now to our trip to St. Augustine and looking for your favorite restaurants. There are some posts on the site already but thought I would get updates. thanks

From a previous post of mine:

Here are my restaurant recommendations, based solely on my personal preferences... and 19 years of enjoying their cuisine:

For Lunch

Café Alcazar (25 Granada St, Saint Augustine, FL 32084-4387) is a true hidden gem…and is definitely off the main tourist path. It is a small restaurant located in what was once the deep end of the world's largest indoor swimming pool, now the Lightener Museum building. The food is quite good (I love their curried chicken salad.) and the atmosphere is absolutely unique and very conducive to conversation. They don't take reservations and only serve lunch. I should also mention that they are somewhat pricey. If you have trouble finding them, you can phone them at 904-824-7813. Check out their Trip Advisor reviews: http://tinyurl.com/5qlvrq

For Dinner

Old City House http://www.oldcityhouse.com/
Outstanding breakfasts and dinners. Located just steps away from the Casa Monica.

The Raintree http://www.raintreerestaurant.com/

The Reef http://www.thereefstaugustine.com/index.html?
The food is very good, and the ocean views are even better. Be sure to arrive before sunset (or for Sunday brunch) for best views. Request a window table when making your reservation.

Saltwater Cowboys
(My personal favorite for ambiance and value combined)
http://www.saltwatercowboys.com/

Gypsy Cab Co. http://www.gypsycab.com/

Creekside Dinery http://www.creeksidedinery.com/rest.html

Le Pavillion http://www.lepav.com/

And, for a special treat...you should try Collage http://www.collagestaug.com/ It is strictly a special occasion restaurant, but if you like good service, warm & relaxing ambiance and a creative, eclectic menu, this restaurant is a wonderful experience. They do everything right!


Honorable Mention

O'Steens
(Perhaps the best shrimp in town. ZERO ambiance, no reservations, reasonable prices)

http://tinyurl.com/2qtxgd

Barnacle Bill's
(Very good shrimp, reasonable prices, family atmosphere)
http://www.barnaclebillsonline.com/

Bistro de Leon http://www.bistrodeleon.com/
Many people rave about the place, but I am quite ambivalent about Bistro de Leon despite having dined there twice. The food can be quite good, but not consistently so. Decide for yourself.

You'll notice that I did not mention the Columbia restaurant. IMO, their food is good, but not as good as any of the other restaurants I have mentioned. Also, it is somewhat of a tourist trap and one of about 6-8 other Columbia's around the state. This may qualify them as a chain restaurant. I know a lot of people eat there, but the other restaurants I have given you are all better.

_______________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Hi Everyone,
I got some great tips on another thread from Vic. I would like to mention that we went in search of Cafe Alcazar but it is no longer. They closed down and after asking, I was told they may reopen under new management in a few months.
We did eat at 95 Cordova in the Casa Monica Hotel. It was delighful. The atmosphere alone was extraordinary so it was surprising that the food was so good. I would eat there again in a heartbeat. Another place we dined was Le Pavillon. Aside from the fact that Vic recommended it, on two separate occasions, other locals suggested it as a place to eat. That kind of word of mouth carries alot of weight in my book. We were not disappointed.
I would like to mention the Hot Shot Bakery on Granada St near Flagler College. I wish I had found that place sooner in the trip.