The beauty of this elegant building is timeless, and offers visitors a glimpse into Old Florida. Today this historic site is recognized as a National Natural Landmark. If you’d rather not backtrack to Tallahassee, we encourage you to slow travel and book an overnight stay in the park at the Wakulla Springs Lodge.Įdward Ball purchased the lodge and springs in 1931, and after renovation, reopened in 1937. You can spend an entire day here relaxing on the small beach or playing in the crystal clear water. There is an admission fee of $6.00 USD per vehicle. It’s a straight shot of 17 miles from Tallahassee and takes less than half an hour to get there. Head due south from Tallahassee on FL 61 to Wakulla Springs, officially known as Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. After you’ve spent a few days in Tallahassee enjoying its charms, it’s time for a quick road trip to one of Florida’s most scenic springs along the Gulf Coast. There’s history, the arts, excellent restaurants, and a few quirky and fun venues in the city. In the meantime, here are our favorite Florida road trip ideas to get you started, in every part of the state - leisurely Florida scenic drives, backroad byways, and Florida day trips we hope you take soon.įLORIDA ROAD TRIP #1: Tallahassee to Wakulla Springs and Big Bend Scenic BywayĪs the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee is also without question one of the best stop-overs in Florida as well. In fact, Florida’s immense size and diversity offers travelers two time zones, four USDA hardiness zones (8-11), two climate zones (tropical and sub-tropical), over 65,000 square miles and 1,200 miles of coastline on both the wild Atlantic and the tranquil Gulf of Mexico.Īdd in countless cuisines, over 14,000 years of recorded history, and colorful culture to keep you dancing from Destin to Duck Key, and you’ve got enough Florida road trips to keep you busy til you send the kiddies off to college and move here yourself!
High culture and low, Florida’s got a lot to love. Michelin stars and Gulf Coast seafood shacks on the same Gulf Coast road trip? Yep, that too. The food in Florida is worth traveling for. Nature near Disney World? It’s just a short drive away.Īwesome cuisine outside the tourist zones? Oh heck yeah. Whether you’re a nature lover, beach lover, foodie, history hound or culture buff, there’s something for everyone to do in Florida, and a road trip that’ll please just about everyone. Truth be told however, there’s a little nature, treasure, and paradise in every part of the Sunshine State -one reason why Florida road trips are such a good idea and a great way to slow travel the state. The Nature Coast, the Paradise Coast, the Emerald Coast, or the Treasure Coast - these are but a few of the unique Florida coasts to visit.