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Check out the latest news about Florida’s Scenic Byways.
- May
17
2012 - May
17
2012Downtown Sarasota Craft Fair
Looking for something to do on the Tamiami Trail – Windows to the Gulf Coast Water Scenic Highway? Why not check out the Downtown Sarasota Craft Fair on May 19th – 20th, 2012.
- May
1
2012 - April
30
2012 - April
25
2012Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway Video
Make sure to watch part 1 and 2 of the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway’s video.
- April
17
2012 - April
17
2012Courtney Campbell Improvments Coming
Article reprinted with permission from Patch Media
Click here to read the original article
A 5.3 mile stretch of the scenic highway will be repaved, some sidewalks and a multi-use trail will also be added during the nearly year and a half project which starts April 22.
By Jared Leone
Photo Credit Jared Leone , Clearwater.Patch.com
One of the area’s scenic highways is about to get a facelift.Crews will be repaving a part of the Courtney Campball Causeway, adding sidewalks to a portion of it and a multi-use trail starting April 22. The $8.4 million project is expected to be finished summer 2013.
Work to repave the 5.3 mile portion of the Courtney Campbell Causeway between the Pinellas County line to Rocky Point Drive will take place at night from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Drivers should use caution as some of the road could be rough and uneven during the work. There also could be lane closures.
The work also includes:
- Repaving the access road on the north side of State Road 60 from the Pinellas County line to Rocky Point Drive. The road could be closed during some of this work.
- Adding a five foot sidewalk on the north side of the road between Bay Harbor Drive and the Westin Resort.
- Building a 12 foot wide multi-use trail on the south side of the road between the west end of Ben T. Davis Beach and Bayport Drive.
- Replacing traffic signals at Ben T. Davis Beach and the boat ramp with hurricane resistant poles.
- Replacing guard rails along that section of road.
- April
12
2012 - April
3
2012 - March
28
2012BYWAY DAY 2012
Contact: J. Travis Johnson
407.875.8950
jtjohnson@transystems.com
April 6th , 2012
FLORIDA TO CELEBRATE ANNUAL
BYWAY DAY
Tallahassee– On April 6th, citizens throughout the State of Florida will celebrate Byway Day. This event is designed to highlight Florida’s 26 state designated Scenic Byway routes.
Visitors to Florida will be greeted at the State Welcome Centers at I-10, I-95 and I-75. In addition, state byways will hold other special events, festivals and tours.
Designated Byways are selected for their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and/or scenic qualities. From the Panhandle to the Florida Keys, Florida is home to a variety of these routes, including the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, which was recognized by Reader’s Digest in 2005 as one of its “Most Scenic Drives in America” and is the only All-American Road in Florida.
Trips along Florida’s Byways can range from a short scenic experience along the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail to a day long trek along the Big Bend Scenic Byway. Any trip along a Florida Byway will be memorable for travelers of all ages and interests. Capture Florida – Experience a Florida Scenic Highway!
For more information about the events taking place on Byway Day, please call J. Travis Johnson at (407)875-8950.
____________________
The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. The program is a grass-roots collaborative effort established to help recognize, preserve and enhance selected roads throughout the United States. Since 1992, the National Scenic Byways Program has funded 2,832 projects for state and nationally designated byway routes in 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
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- March
26
2012 - March
23
2012 - March
16
201220th Annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival
20th Annual Pelican Island Wildlife Festival
Saturday, March 17, 2012
10:00am – 5:00pm
Riverview Park — Sebastian, FloridaFree Parking. Free Admission. Free Activities.
All the event activities at Riverview Park are free, except for kayaking and boat tour activities. The pontoon boat tours to Pelican Island are a suggested donation of $15.
All proceeds from this event supports the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The most recent project supported by PIPS is the new Joe Michaels Overlook, opened in 2009 and dedicated in May 2010.
For more info., visit www.firstrefuge.org
- March
8
2012All – American Road Vintage Cruisers Show Mar. 31 – Apr. 1
Our Annual Island Fest is shaping up to be better than ever this year! We invite you to bring your vintage vehicle and enter our 2nd Annual All-American Road Vintage Cruisers Show. The show runs both days; you may choose to participate either day, or both days.
The “Taste of Islamorada” will be held on Sunday, drawing huge crowds. There’s lots of excitement on Saturday, too; music on the beach and our Smoked Fish Dip and Isla Marauder Rum Punch contests. We are only steps away from the bay, making this one of the most beautiful show locations in Florida.
The show features all makes and all models, including custom designs (cars, trucks, rat rods, motorcycles, etc.). We have room for everyone, and the show is visible from US 1 – Florida’s first and only “All-American
Road.”Entry in the show comes with special discount restaurant tickets for dinner Saturday night, and a bracelet for half price beer at the show. We invite you to help us make this new show one of the best in the country. Your suggestions are welcome.
Awards and dashboard plaques will be given on both days.
If you need discount lodging information, please call the Chamber at 305-664-4503 ask for Kim or Judy.
Judy Hull
Director
Islamorada Chamber of Commerce - March
8
201221st Annual Island Fest Sure To Be A Hit
For Immediate Release
Contact Info:
Judy Hull
Executive Director
Islamorada Chamber of Commerce
305-664-450321st Annual Island Fest Sure To Be A Hit
Island Fest is back and it’s better than ever! Head out to Founders Park on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1st, for the 21st Annual Florida Keys Island Fest and enjoy the Islamorada Chamber’s best event yet! From 10 am to 5 pm daily, artists, musicians, classic cars and much, much more will transform the park into a fun-filled, family destination you won’t want to miss!
The Arts & Crafts show will feature the very best of both local and national artists including everything from paintings and sculptures to jewelry and fine crafts. No art festival would be complete without a commemorative festival poster, this year’s poster will be available for sale and the artist will be on hand to sign the posters in booth number one.
Returning again this year is the All-American Road Vintage Cruisers Car Show, featuring pre-1975 cars, trucks, motorcycles and rat rods. The show will be on both Saturday and Sunday, and will be visible from US-1, Florida’s first and only official “All American Road”.
In addition to renowned artists and antique car collectors, an array of talented musicians will also take part in Island Fest, appealing to music lovers of all genres from blues to reggae. “The Florida Keys have always been known as a mecca for the performing arts, and Island Fest is the best place to experience that first hand,” says Judy Hull, Executive Director of the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce. “We’re really quite lucky to have so many gifted people sharing their talents with us.”
We’re not done yet! The kids will have a blast at Island Fest, too! They can enjoy flying kites, painting the dolphin statue, building sand castles, hula hoop decorating and contests. Your taste buds aren’t forgotten at this event either! Saturday’s culinary event features a tantalizing smoked-fish dip contest, and on Sunday, don’t miss the popular “Taste of Islamorada,” a delicious competition showcasing the dishes of many local restaurants. And the ever-popular “IslaMarauder” Rum Punch contest will be back again this year, too.
Featuring music, art, food, classic cars and fun, the 21st Annual Florida Keys Island Fest offers something for everyone! Plan to spend Saturday and Sunday, March 31 & April 1, at Founders Park, MM 87 Bayside. Show times are from 10 am to 5 pm both days and admission is free. For more information, call the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce at 305.664.4503.
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- March
5
2012Remembering Ross Allen
Ross Allen wrestles an alligator in the water. Seminoles play and work at Silver Springs. Francis Osceola wrestles an alligator on land. A woman wears a boa constrictor. A boy shops for a snake, and after rejecting an indigo snake, purchases another. Ross and his son Tom wrestle a 20-foot anaconda in the water. A rattle snake is milked. The film then shows the rest of Silver Springs, including Bartlett’s Deer Ranch, Carriage Cavalcade and Prince of Peace Memorial, and ends with synchronized swimming. The film features underwater photography. Produced by Guided Tours; sponsored by Silver Springs.
- February
21
2012 - February
14
2012 - February
14
2012 - February
3
2012Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway 2012 Kickoff Picnic
Come have fun!
Meet the Scenic Sumter Corridor Advocacy Group for this fun-filled picnic… Food and Drinks will be provided. Bring the whole family, friends or anyone who may want to learn about our organization and the Florida Scenic Highways Program.
Bring your lawn chairs and if you have a favorite outdoor game, bring it along. Volleyball, Corn Toss will also be available to play. Bring your boat or fish off the dock!
To register call Diane at the Chamber – 352.793.3099
Location:
Marsh Bend Outlet Park off CR 470
3100 CR 413
Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538When:
February 11, 2012 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm - January
10
2012Group promotes lagoon sites to share Brevard scenery
by Susanne Cervenka, FLORIDA TODAY
A routine has developed for the “Grammy and Girls” days that Carole Decker and her twin granddaughters spend at Pineapple Park.
The trio eat a picnic lunch in the park, frolic in the playground, grab a couple books at the adjacent Eau Gallie Library and walk to the end of Eau Gallie Pier.
“I did that one time I brought them here, and now it has become a regular thing,” said Decker, of Melbourne. “This is a special place where I bring them.”
Now one group is hoping to entice a larger audience to enjoy Pineapple Park and more than 50 other sites that sit along the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway.
After working for more than a decade to preserve sites along the route, the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway Coalition is turning its focus toward promoting those sites.
“We hope to have not only international visitors and people from out of state, but also in-state and local residents to get off the interstate and take a look at the great scenery and the great experience on the Indian River Lagoon,” said Tim Ford, president of the coalition, which is made up of individuals as well as public and private organizations that have interests along the byway.
The Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway runs from the Canaveral National Seashore to Wabasso and includes sites along the barrier island and the mainland. Florida designed the area as a state scenic highway in 2000 and the U.S. Department of Transportation declared it a national scenic byway in 2002.
Scenic byways are chosen because they have one or more archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and scenic qualities.
“The Indian River Lagoon has all of those features,” Ford said.
The coalition will still keep up its preservation efforts, which have included projects to remove invasive Brazilian pepper trees, purchasing significant sites and restoring them.
But the coalition also recently printed a new glossy brochure about the byway that will be in hotels, chambers of commerce and welcome centers, Ford said. A grant from Florida Department of Transportation paid for the first 2,500 brochures and the Tourism Development Council funded another 2,000.
The public also will see coalition representatives at community events, touting the byway and recruiting new members. The coalition recently received its non-profit status, which allows them to raise money to pay for promoting and maintaining the byway.
Putting attention on the byway itself has an economic development benefit for the region overall, said Ford, who also is the administrator of the Bayfront Community Redevelopment Agency in Palm Bay.
“It provides tourism. It gets people to the area,” he said. “It may be somewhere they stop and say, ‘Maybe I want to start a business here or I want to move here.’ ”
- January
3
2012Thank you Mariano!
We would like to send out a special thank you to Mariano Berrios for his years of service as the State Scenic Byways Coordinator. Mariano has been instrumental in his years leading the state program and his touch has left a lasting and indelible mark of success for Florida’s reputation in scenic byways. Although he isn’t going far, maintaining his role with the Noise and Air Quality Programs, Mariano will be missed!
- January
3
2012The Florida Scenic Highways Program is pleased to announce and welcome Jeff Caster as the new State Scenic Highways Coordinator!
In January 2012, Jeff Caster will take over the role of Florida Scenic Highways State Coordinator, replacing Mariano Berrios who has been serving this position for many wonderful years. Currently, Jeff’s role within the Florida Department of Transportation, Environmental Management Office, includes program management for Landscape Architecture, Roadside Management, Visual/Aesthetics, Highway Beautification Grants, and the Wildflower Program. Jeff has great interest in conservation and management of natural resources and scenic beauty, which makes him a perfect leader for the FSHP. Jeff has worked in partnership with the FSHP for many years and has presented at the last two Florida Scenic Highways Statewide Workshops.
Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Community Development from Purdue University, a BS in Landscape Design from Florida A&M University, as well as a Masters of Landscape Architecture from Cornell University. Originally from the “Garden State” (New Jersey), Jeff has lived in La Florida (land of flowers) for over 30 years. He is a lifelong conservationist and Florida Registered Landscape Architect.
Jeff is a member and past president of the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, a member of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Landscape and Environmental Design Committee, and a member of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Technical Committee on Environmental Design. Jeff served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at Florida A&M University, School of Architecture, from 1997-2007. He is passionate about Florida Wildflowers and is a founding member of the Florida Wildflower Foundation, serving as the Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Florida Wildflower Foundation. He has worked for the Florida Department of Transportation since 1993.
Please join us in welcoming Jeff to his new role!
- December
5
2011Pensacola Firefighters Recognized for Helping Clean Up Scenic Bluffs
The Pensacola City Council presented the city’s Beautification Award Thursday night to members of the Pensacola Fire Department who have participated in the Scenic Bluffs Beautification Project.
Volunteers from the Fire Department have participated in numerous clean-up and beautification efforts along Scenic Highway during the past three years, helping to create impressive vistas of Escambia Bay, as well as a safer environment within the 42-acre Bay Bluffs Park.
“Cleaning up Scenic Highway and Bay Bluffs Park has been my mission since I came onto Council,” said City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese. “The Pensacola Police and Fire Departments have been behind that effort 100 percent. Scenic Highway and the Bay Bluffs are a treasure for all of Pensacola to enjoy.”
Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, who was not at the council meeting, later thanked the firefighters for their efforts.
“The men and women of the Pensacola Fire Department are committed to this community,” Hayward said. “Their volunteer efforts have made a significant impact along Scenic Highway.”
Members of the Fire Department who participated include David Poss, Chris Eadler, Mark Snyder, Rick Simmons, Phillip Hoffman, Nate Edler, Joe Glover, Gabe Fernandez, Matt Schmitt, Max Hoffman and John Bartholomew.
- November
7
2011Florida’s Open Roads Beckon Motorcyclists
By Frances Robles, VISIT FLORIDA
Ocean views, sugar-cane fields, wildlife and year-round access make for the ideal motorcycle experience.
For motorcycle enthusiasts, Florida breaks the rules.
Sunshine State roads aren’t known for death-defying twists and turns, and we prefer to keep things at sea level.
Yet there’s a reason Motoryclist magazine ranked the zip from the Everglades to the Keys as one of the 10 best in the country: From beautiful ocean views to sugar cane fields and alligators, Florida boasts spectacular scenery best seen from the seat of a cruiser.
“People like Florida, because it’s year-round riding,” said Bill Belei, founder and editor of MotorcycleRoads.com, a site that ranks and reviews open roads around the country. “Bikers are like Canadian geese: They head south. Certainly in the winter, people love to head south and ride through the winter.”
“There are three things that make any road better than average for a motorcyclists: scenery, twisties and back roads appeal.” –Erik Barthel, OpenRoadJourney.com
Florida’s roads also are in good condition and usually offer riders plenty of places to stop and relax. There are enough side roads to avoid the dreaded interstate, and a number of hidden gems are tucked in state parks.
Whether you’re the rider who wants a smooth road to take you from lunch spot to tavern – or looking to avoid humanity all together – Florida has the right ride and plenty of shoreline.
“From our perspective, you ride in Florida primarily for the scenery,” said Frank Strouse, who runs motorcycleroads.us, another road-listing site. “Riders live to avoid the interstate, which we kindly refer to as ‘super slab.’ It’s just a boring ride.
“The thing about riding a motorcycle that you don’t get riding in a car is, you’re out in the open. You get
all the smells and all the sounds you don’t get in the car. That adds to the beauty, particularly when there is plenty of ocean.”Motorcycleroads.us lists 135 motorcycle roads statewide, from short rides just a few miles long to the 125-plus mile journey through the Overseas Highway to Key West. His site ranks the Overseas Highway route to Key West as No. 1 in the state. The two-lane highway has stunning hues of water on both sides for much of the ride.
“You feel like a seagull,” said Bill Andrews, an avid motorcycle enthusiast and former photographer for the American Motorcyclist Association. “It’s just a gorgeous ride. There’s emerald water and blue skies, plus you can island-hop. You stop at small town fishing shacks along the way and find something new every time. I never tire of it.”
To avoid the highway doldrums on the way to the Keys, take Card Sound Road and stop at Alabama Jack’s for lunch. You won’t see much water in Key Largo, but the joy begins in Indian Key Fill and continues for miles. Head south and don’t stop till you hit the water.
Andrews also suggests the ride from Naples along Tamiami Trail. Look out for gators and turtles along the way.
He also likes A1A heading south from St. Augustine to Ormond Beach, an oceanfront ride that’s largely condo-free along the shore.
“What this road lacks in ‘back road’ appeal and twists and curves, it makes up for in ocean scenery taking you past many great Florida beaches,” said Erik Barthel of OpenRoadJourney.com. “Ride it north through Guana River State Park (Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve) to get the best that this road has to offer. This is by far one of the favorite roads of our members.”
Rich Proia, owner of American V Twin gear shop in Orlando, likes Route 27 to Miami through Central Florida.
“It’s nice riding – sugar cane fields and lots of lakes,” Proia said. “There’s nobody out there except you and the alligators.”
Here are other recommendations from the experts:
The Ozello Trail Ride: “A short but sweet nine-mile motorcycle road on the Gulf Coast of central Florida, and riders love it for the curves,” Belei said. The trail, also known as County Road 494, snakes west from U.S. 19 and bends north. Mullet jump in the salt marshes; deer and turkey thrive in the oak hammocks. The dozens of curves makes this a biker favorite, but look out for the 35 mph speed limit.
Route 98 from Pensacola to Crystal River: This nearly 400-mile ride offers sweeping vistas of the Gulf of Mexico. Known as the “Forgotten Coast,” the Apalachicola Bay is one of the highlights. Some of the developed areas have stop signs, so hit those areas at lunchtime – when you’re looking to slow down for a bite to eat.
The Sugarloaf Mountain Ride (Belei’s site describes this as a favorite among central Florida Motorcyclists): “With its hilly inclines and tight corners, Sugarloaf Mountain offers a dramatic change of landscape from the normally flat terrain of Florida.” He says the scenery becomes more wooded and sparsely populated at the northern side of Lake Apopka, but “the real ride begins on Old Country Road 561, which is situated on the western side of the lake. This road and Old Country Road 455 make a nice loop around Sugarloaf Mountain, complete with winding curves and rather steep inclines for Florida. Atop the mountain you can look to the east and see Lake Apopka, as well as the Orlando skyline on the distant horizon.”
Scenic Route 13 near Jacksonville: This 38-mile ride goes along the St. Johns River from Fruit Cove to Spuds.
Route 441: Bikers recommend Holopaw to Belle Glade, a 112-mile ride past Lake Okeechobee. This makes a great scenic alternative to the Florida Turnpike.
The Green Swamp Tour: Routes 33 and 50 northeast of Tampa circle the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, an official Florida protected area.
County Route 42, Summerfield to De Land: This ride skirts the Ocala National Forest.North of Land O’ Lakes, using 41 as a base point: The final road is really a couple of roads pieced together for a nice day ride. Great scenery, back roads appeal and some nice curves to lean the bike through a bit.”
Next up is Lake Lindsey Road off US 41 to S. Istachatte Rd and County Rd 39, which Barthel describes as “another great little back road offering good scenery and that off-the-beaten-path feel.”
The first exit to take is Ehren Cut-off – a good old fashioned back road with some nice sweeping curves to lean that bike through a bit. “Expect to see a lot of horses and cows,” he says.
“Why are these the best? There are three things that make any road better than average for a motorcyclists: scenery, twisties, and back roads appeal,” he added. “The first two are pretty obvious, the third is the reason you ride – to get away from it all and escape to something that’s not cookie cutter or McDonalds like. You can’t find that on a highway.
“If you find a road that hits all three, you’ve got nirvana.”
Frances Robles is a South Florida journalist who has written about Miami and Latin America since 1993. She lives in Coral Gables.This article was first published on VISIT FLORIDA
- October
31
2011The Stage is Set for the 3rd Annual 30A Songwriters Festival, January 13-15, 2012
PRWEB.COM Newswire
Santa Rosa Beach, FL (PRWEB)The 30A Songwriters Festival announces headline acts for the January 13-15, 2012 event including Indigo Girls, Rodney Crowell, The Bangles, Shawn Mullins, Sam Bush Band and Matthew Sweet. Theses acclaimed songwriters will join more than 120 talented artists from across the country to share intimate moments with friends and fans along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The three-day music festival will feature more than 125 musicians and over 250 performances in venues ranging from intimate listening rooms to spacious outdoor amphitheaters amid a backdrop of brilliant white sand beaches, turquoise waters and stunning architecture.
Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles described the 2011 event as “a series of magical moments unfolding over the course of the long weekend – old friends reuniting, new friendships being born…Large audiences and performers enjoying days and nights of music, storytelling both poignant and humorous, spontaneous jams, Southern hospitality, delicious food and wine.”
The third annual festival, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), presented by Visit South Walton and sponsored by Seaside and 30A.com, has quickly grown into one of the premier songwriters festivals in the country. Representing diverse styles ranging from folk and country to rock and alternative, the 2012 line-up features nationally-acclaimed songwriters and musicians including The Bangles, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Mullins, Matthew Sweet, Indigo Girls, and Fastball as well as David Wilcox, Steve Forbert, Mary Gauthier, Sam Bush, Randall Bramblett, Tommy Talton, Jeffrey Steele, Chely Wright, Chuck Cannon, Corey Smith, David Olney, Davin McCoy, Lori McKenna, Tommy Womack, Kevn Kinney, The Shadowboxers, Larkin Poe, Emily Lynch, Joseph Arthur, Matthew Mayfield, Rachel Platten, Callaghan, David Berkeley, Garrison Starr, Jeff Black, Joe Leathers, Ben Glover, Billy Montana, Chas Sanford, Brian and Karyn White, Greg Barnhill, Forrest Williams Band, Kyle Jacobs, Kelsey Anna, Reed Waddle, Meg Huthchinson, Bridgitte Demeyer, Daphne Willis, Shannon Whitworth, Suzi Ragsdale, Georgia, Ashleigh Flynn, Joanna Cotten, Bryan Kennedy, Matthew Kahler and over 75 more.
“What sets the 30A Songwriters Festival apart from others in the country is, one: we create listening rooms in truly unique beach resort venues, and two: we book musically diverse artists,” said Russell Carter, event organizer and chair and president of Russell Carter Artist Management. “Rodney Crowell and the Bangles have both scored numerous number one hits, but I am willing to say that only at the 30A Songwriters Festival are you able to hear Rodney sing ‘It’s Such a Small World’ and ‘I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried,’ and then run across the street and hear the Bangles belt out ‘Eternal Flame,’ ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ and ‘Manic Monday.’ Rodney will perform with a full band as will the Indigo Girls and Sam Bush. Matthew Sweet will perform “Girlfriend” in its entirety to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the platinum certified album. Audiences who truly enjoy music will not want to miss this event.”
Scenic Highway 30A in South Walton meanders along the Gulf of Mexico through charming beach neighborhoods, including Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, WaterColor, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach as well as state parks and more than a dozen rare coastal dune lakes.
“The relaxed, laid back vibe of the beachside resorts along scenic Highway 30A creates the perfect atmosphere for this world-class event,” said Jennifer Steele, event organizer and executive director of the CAA. “South Walton already celebrates a thriving arts community, which includes a vibrant music scene and an abundance of talented musicians. We are delighted to bring such high-caliber songwriters, performers and up-and-coming artists from around the country to 30A to play for music savvy audiences.”
Proceeds from the 30A Songwriters Festival benefit the CAA. Early bird ticket pricing of $100 for a three-day pass is still available for a limited time. For more information on the 2012 festival, including a full list of artists, venues, accommodations packages and how to purchase tickets, visit 30asongwritersfestival.com. To learn more about South Walton and Scenic Highway 30A, log on to visitsouthwalton.com, 30a.com or sowal.com.
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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/10/prweb8915417.htm
- October
17
2011The Top 17 Haunted Roads and Highways in the World
While summer has gone, that doesn’t mean that road trips have to as well. The fall is as good as anytime to jump in your car and just drive. However, if you’re looking for a road trip that involves something other than scenic drives of leaves changing colors, then in you’re in luck, or danger if you dare. Just in time for Halloween, here’s seventeen of the most haunted roads in the world.
- October
3
2011CITY OF HOLLYWOOD IS FIRST TO INSTALL MOBI-MATS – NEW ADA TECHNOLOGY COMES TO THE BEACH
In January 2009 the City of Hollywood received a Department of Environmental Protection permit authorizing the first approved installation of Mobi-Mat RecPaths within the State. Mobi-Mats are semi-permeable mats, meeting the American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements that are designed to offer wheelchair users safe and efficient access to beaches. The City hosted a 2-year pilot project to allow the State’s environmental agency the opportunity to gather data on the ecological impact of this new technology. Four mats were permitted to be located along the Hollywood Beach broadwalk at Tyler Street, New York Street, Johnson Street and Connecticut Street under strict maintenance conditions. The City was required to provide an assessment of the project at the end of each turtle season. The assessment material included documentation of installation, storms, or significant events; documentation of interactions or effects on nesting sea turtles or hatchlings; and documentation of mats’ effectiveness as an ADA access tool. During the last two turtle seasons, no negative interactions were reported and the mats became a popular amenity on Hollywood Beach. The pilot project was successfully completed in January 2011, allowing the City to continue with this project. As the first permit holder in the State, Hollywood continues to set the precedent for cities in Florida and hopes to help spread this program to all of Broward’s beaches along the A1A Scenic Highway. For more information contact Manuel Pila mpila@hollywoodfl.org.
- September
19
2011Oct. 15 Wildflower Symposium at Wekiwa Springs State Park
You’re invited to join the Florida Wildflower Foundation Oct. 15 at Wekiwa Springs State Park’s Youth Camp for a day of education and fun. This year’s event features morning presentations and hands-on afternoon workshops on such topics as nature photography, landscaping with wildflowers, propagation for home gardeners and more. There’s also a wildflower walk with the ever-popular Walter K. Taylor, plant and seed sale, door prizes and silent auction.
Each participant will choose one afternoon workshop. Space is limited – purchase your ticket early to ensure your workshop choice.
Online registration has ended. Cost at the door is $25 for FWF members and $35 for non-members. Become a member of the Foundation today! Click here to view the full schedule. See the list of plants offered by vendors.
- August
18
2011Lake Apopka Area Gets Federal Road Grant
From www.cfnews13.com
Tallahassee – The Green Mountain Scenic Byway is one of the projects getting federal money in Florida.
On Wednesday, the US Dept. of Transportation announced an over $681,000 grant to connect the byway to the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration area. It’s one of the projects getting money from a pot of more than $417 million.
The Green Mountain Scenic Byway is located in east Lake County and west Orange County. The road runs through Ferndale, Montverde, Oakland, and along Lake Apopka at the South Lake and West Orange Trails.
Right now this area is a only open by invitation. The plan is to create several trailheads creating easy access.
Other projects in Florida that got money:
- The I-10 and Marietta Hammond Boulevard Interchange in Duval County
- Designing and constructing the Sarasota County advanced traffic management system
- Removing and relocating the Tamiami Canal Historic Swing Bridge
- Allowing the FL Dept. of Transportation to expand its disadvantaged business enterprise/supportive services program
- Providing construction career day activities for middle and high school students.
- August
18
2011Plans Begin to Replace Pensacola Bay Bridge
Written by Louis Cooper, www.pnj.com
When a new bridge is built to connect Pensacola to Gulf Breeze, it likely will be in about the same place as the existing, 51-year-old span.
And that’s just fine with Gulf Breeze City Manager Edwin “Buz” Eddy — a departure from the city’s previous position.
“Back in 2002 and 2004, the city wanted the state to consider a more comprehensive look at the circulation of traffic from Escambia to Santa Rosa,” Eddy said. “But we recognize there really isn’t time to do that type of analysis, and we recognize how important U.S. 98 is to the businesses along the highway.”
Eddy was among about 150 people at the first public meeting last week to discuss an effort by the state Department of Transportation to replace the bridge, with construction starting in as soon as 2016. More meetings are expected in both Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.
The existing bridge is safe, according to DOT spokesman Tommie Speights. But it has been deemed “structurally deficient” because of cracks in the road surface, rust in steel components and deterioration to pilings.
The new bridge, estimated to cost $200 million to $330 million, may be shifted slightly to the east or west, Speights said. The project development and environmental study phase of the effort — including the final positioning and construction schedule — should be done by June 2013.
Gena Buchanan, a Pensacola resident and secretary of the Scenic Highway Foundation, is glad the state plans to keep the bridge where it is. Earlier ideas included the possibility of moving the bridge’s northern landing to Scenic Highway, potentially increasing traffic on Scenic Highway.
She also praised plans to include pedestrian and bike lanes on the new span.
But keeping the bridge where it is has drawbacks, too, Buchanan said.
“There are some big live oak trees (on the Pensacola end), and unfortunately, I believe some of those trees will have to be removed,” she said.
Tom Belger, a resident of Baybridge condominiums at the Gulf Breeze foot of the bridge, is concerned, that the new bridge could require land from the complex.
Speights said the project will likely require additional right of way, although where won’t be known until the final design is adopted.
Belger, who is on the board of the Baybridge Condominium Owners Association, hopes that the state will take increased traffic from the new bridge into account for intersections in Gulf Breeze.
“We have a problem right now just getting out into traffic,” Belger said. “Now, when we come out of our complex, we’ve got to cross four lanes of traffic. I think that will become almost impossible with the new bridge.”
Eddy agreed.
“There should be a plan for circulation, accessibility and mobility,” he said. “There should be improvements made by DOT that will assure the city that traffic will still flow and that six lanes of traffic is not going to come to a screeching halt when it hits Fairpoint Drive and U.S. 98.”
- August
3
2011John Moran Wildflower Photos Available for Ecotourism Promotions
Thanks to funding assistance from Visit Florida, 80 beautiful photos of native Florida wildflowers are available for use in state ecotourism promotions.
The photo library, co-funded and managed by the Florida Wildflower Foundation, boasts a colorful bouquet of unique wildflowers, some of which occur nowhere else in the world. More than 3,000 species are found in La Florida, “land of flowers” – which was named by Juan Ponce de Leon when he arrived on Easter in 1513. The land’s bounty of spring flowers almost certainly influenced his name choice.
Florida has the nation’s third-largest diversity of wildflowers – a fact that is getting attention from ecotourists around the world. “John’s beautiful work is just a sampling of what’s found on Florida’s roadsides and in its wild places. The shots are sure to entice more interest in exploring our natural side,” said Lisa Roberts, the Foundation’s executive director.
Moran is a highly regarded nature photographer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Life, Time, Newsweek, Smithsonian and The New York Times Magazine, as well as on the cover of the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. He has been the National Press Photographers Association’s Southeastern U.S. Photographer of the Year, and his photo of Paynes Prairie State Park alligators at dusk was the top-placed American photograph in the United Nations Earth Summit photo contest. His work can be viewed at johnmoranphoto.com.
Visit Florida partners may obtain the photos by contacting Lisa Roberts at 407-353-6164 or lroberts@flawildflowers.org.
Visit Florida – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services programs.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching lives with Florida native wildflowers through research, planting and education projects. For more information about Florida’s wildflowers, visit its Web site, www.flawildflowers.org.
- August
3
2011FWF Receives VISIT FLORIDA Grant to Produce Panhandle Wildflower Brochure
The Florida Wildflower Foundation has received funding from Visit Florida to publish a brochure that will guide residents and visitors to the best of the Panhandle’s native wildflowers. The region is widely regarded as one of the state’s best places to view wildflowers.
The publication will include a map highlighting wildflower viewing routes, state parks, national forests and refuges, visitor centers, scenic highways and other places of interest in Liberty, Gadsden, Wakulla, Franklin and Leon counties. To help visitors identify native species, its reverse side will have labeled photos of common North Florida wildflowers. Also included will be a short history of La Florida, “land of flowers,” as this land was named by Juan Ponce de Leon when he sighted it on Easter Sunday in 1513.
Florida has the nation’s third-largest diversity of native wildflowers – a fact that is getting attention from ecotourists around the world. “Visitors are increasingly asking where they can view our wildflowers,” said Lisa Roberts, the Foundation’s executive director. “This beautiful publication is sure to entice more interest in exploring the Panhandle’s natural side.”
Look for the brochure next spring at state Welcome Centers and the region’s visitor centers, parks and chambers of commerce.
Visit Florida – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services programs.
The Florida Wildflower Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching lives with Florida native wildflowers through research, planting and education projects. For more information about Florida’s wildflowers, visit its Web site, www.flawildflowers.org.
from Lisa Roberts, Florida Wildflower Foundation, Maitland, FL
- July
29
2011Poker Run Bikers to Travel Florida Keys’ Overseas Highway Sept. 15-18, 2011
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Motorcyclists from throughout the United States are to travel one of America’s most scenic highways to raise money for charity during the 39th annual Key West Poker Run, set for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 15-18.
Traditionally drawing riders on up to 10,000 bikes, the popular ride features a unique route down the 113-mile Overseas Highway from mainland Florida to Key West. Offering long vistas of breathtaking sea and sky, the roadway incorporates 42 bridges spanning the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico.
Beginning Sept. 1, bikers can register to ride at Peterson’s Harley-Davidson of Miami, 19400 N.W. 2nd Ave., and Peterson’s Harley-Davidson South, 19825 S. Dixie Highway. Online registration is accepted before that date at www.petersonsharley.com.
Participating bikers receive poker sheets when they register, and draw cards at designated stops along the route to Key West. Entrants who draw the 10 best poker hands are eligible to play in a winner-take-all round of Texas Hold ‘Em, competing for a new Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycle.
A section of lower Duval Street, Key West’s famed main thoroughfare, is to be closed to car traffic during much of the Poker Run so bikers with weekend parking passes can park on the street to display their bikes. Other attractions include a Thursday night “Duval Crawl” for early arrivals, bike merchandise market, “Biker Bash” street party, custom bike show and parties at Key West resorts and watering holes.
The Poker Run is a fundraiser for the Diabetes Research Institute and charities of the Key West Sunrise Rotary Club.
Events conclude Sunday, Sept. 18, with a brunch and “survivors’ party.”
Event information: www.petersonskeywestpokerrun.com
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY
- July
18
2011Field Notes – Program Assessment Results in Universal Questions Along With a Future Plan
Click here for more information in this month’s Vistas, from the America’s Byways Resouce Center: http://bywaysresourcecenter.org/resources/publications/vistas/2011/july2011/
By Wayne Gannaway, Byways Specialist
Byway leaders from across Florida gathered in St. Augustine in June to assess the current status of the Florida Scenic Highway Program (FSHP) and to determine its future direction. They also learned about tools and strategies that they can employ today to improve their byways.
A summarization of findings from a sustainability assessment on Florida’s six designated America’s Byways and seventeen state byways was presented by Wanda Maloney of Corridor Solutions, whose firm conducted the assessment.
The assessment was part of an effort by the state program to pause, in terms of bringing on new scenic highways, to assess its program and to develop new strategic directions.
The weaknesses of the byway organizations identified by Wanda may be familiar to byway leaders across the country:
- Weak governance and administrative capacity,
- Undiversified funding sources,
- Volunteer burnout and
- Tepid community participation, among others.
Here at the Resource Center we have written frequently about ensuring your byway’s corridor management plan is not collecting dust on your bookshelf. Based on her assessment, Wanda and her team came to a more specific and pointed conclusion: There is a persistent belief among byway organizations that they are “not ultimately responsible for funding [the] implementation of the corridor management plan” (emphasis mine). That observation, perhaps as much as any other, speaks to the core question of byway sustainability: If your byway organization is not responsible, then who is? How do you convince potential supporters that your organization is the best steward of the byway?
Still, Wanda pointed out that the FSHP has many experienced byway leaders and shining stars, the A1A being a good example. Having taken stock, the leaders devised a plan for the future they would like to see. From my viewpoint, this group seems to be headed in the right direction.
- July
12
2011The Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway has changes in store
By Corey Bachman – WUFT-FMThe Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway is in store for some big developments. Florida Black Bear Corridor Management Entity has been holding public meetings to tell people living along the byway about their goals and objectives. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Corey Bachman reports, CME’s main goal is to minimize the level of danger for all the critters along the byway.
Click here to listen to the report and interview with Tony Ehrlich on Florida’s 89.1 WUFT-FM: http://www.wuftfm.org/news/index.php?id=1171
- July
4
2011Local Artists Create A1A travelogue
Historic City News, www.historiccity.com
Byway Program Administrator, Sallie O’Hara, announced to local Historic City News reporters that Friends of A1A members have collaborated with local artists to create a new travelogue which made its debut at last month’s Florida Scenic Highways State Conference.
More than eighty scenic highway leaders saw the premiere viewing of the new A1A video; “A Road That Takes You Everywhere – Always an Adventure”, produced by the volunteer support organization.
This project updates the corridor “story” in high definition video and blends the best of the byway attributes from Ponte Vedra Beach to Flagler Beach and all the depth and wealth of assets in between.
Factoid:
Written by UNF Communications professor, Robert Holtzman
Narrated by local storyteller Wayne Sims
Original music for the video was provided by Sam Pacetti.
Filmed and directed by local videographer, Joshua Singletary
Several volunteers from St. Johns and Flagler counties nurtured the project with content, themes, critiques, and messaging visuals.“Our 72-mile segment of A1A really encompasses the story of America,” O’Hara boasts. “From the earliest continuous settlement in what became the United States of America, St. Augustine, to the still unspoiled miles of Atlantic beachfront; this section of A1A is a true American oasis.”
The A1A video documentary took nine months from planning to reality. Versions were created to accommodate varying audiences: a 30 second version for the commercial spots; a three and six minute version for the internet and cable channel markets; and a 25 minute version for the public television audiences.
Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer
- June
28
2011If you’ve got it, flaunt it
By Darlene Weesner, Special to the Star-Banner, posted on Ocala.com
Scenic roads can increase income and jobs in the beautiful rural areas of Marion County. The designation of scenic roads or routes does not “cost” anything and gives the county bragging rights as “the most beautiful county in Florida” (in addition to the Horse Capital of the World).
The fifth largest county in the state has a plethora of resources and ecosystems that can contribute to the visitor experience. Vacationers, “staycationers,” retirees and local adventurers have countless opportunities for meaningful recreation if there was an improvement in detailed information about where and how to find them. By identifying special roads or routes, access to unique sites and vistas can be more easily attained.
Several community groups have been gathering information for maps that could stimulate economic activity in rural areas, without compromising our beautiful scenery.
Since 1997, designated scenic roads of the Shady area have provided pleasant drives or rides — by horse or bicycle — to the Cross Florida Greenway. Tree-lined lanes meandering toward the Greenway offer cool, shadowy views of overhanging foliage framing pastoral scenes of grazing horses and cattle. These scenic byways pass near historic Indian and pioneer sites as well as homes and farms conveying a rural charm that is disappearing from the American landscape. Lush hardwood forests grace the hills, which are high water recharge lands for Silver Springs, the largest inland spring in the world.
This area is part of a limestone ridge holding water underground like a sponge north and south of Ocala. Underlying geology in mapping of valuable farmland reveals exceptional recharge of rainfall to the aquifer, where urban, very intensive land use above ground can cause extensive pollution below ground. Caves, sinkholes and solution pipes draining directly underground are most numerous in this area.
Vegetation and trees along the scenic roads lessens the effect of road run-off carrying traffic pollution. Although every roadway is a “waterway” to the aquifer, two-lane roads cause much less disruption of recharge and degradation by pollution draining underground. The greater the variety of vegetation along the scenic roads, the more “filter” of living organisms available to purify the run-off.
The Farmland Preservation Area should have more scenic byways on special maps in order that visitors can appreciate the working landscapes and production of agriculture. The revised Comprehensive Plan for 2035 in Marion County classifies most of Marion County as rural, with an urban boundary designating where future growth will be directed and the infrastructure planned for funding. Therefore, it makes fiscal sense to avoid sprawl thus removing the need for road expansions.
According to Organic Trade Association reports, the industry grew nationally at 8 percent in 2010, with fruit and vegetable sales totaling $10.5 billion — showing an important contribution of organic farming to rural livelihoods. For several thousand years, the “culture” of the county has been agriculture due to fertile soils and availability of water. New agribusiness is developing from consumer demand for quality food produced locally.
Historically, Marion County farms shipped vegetables and citrus to northern markets by river steamers and trains, which helped Florida recover from the economic losses of the Civil War ahead of other Southern states. The ravages of that war so devastated the Confederacy that food and cattle from Marion County plantations were major factors sustaining the Rebel effort the last year of the war.
By the 1880s, a trip down the Ocklawaha River to Silver Springs became Florida’s must-see attraction, launching tourism and lucrative trade.
Designation of scenic roads inspires landowners to consider aesthetics in maintaining their land. Property values rise as an added benefit to counteract the slumping real estate market. Those living in the rural areas of the county pay more in taxes, relative to services received, than urban residents who receive services beyond the amount of taxes they pay. Land held in farms and open space saves tax money for urban infrastructure.
The Marion County Commission has an opportunity to bring more ecotourism, new business and jobs to the county by supporting the recommendations of the Scenic Road Advisory Committee and designate more roads that form logical loops for visitor enjoyment. Rural folks can find satisfaction and income in sharing their lifestyle, and city folks can reap a bounty of fresh produce, “day camp” farm experience, enrich the learning of their children and develop a sense of place in the diverse community that is Marion County.
Darlene Weesner is an artist, environmentalist and former member of the Marion County Planning Commission.
- June
27
2011Coastal towns picture perfect on the Florida Panhandle
A pavilion in Seaside offers a terrific view of the Gulf of Mexico. (Beaches of South Walton TDC)
By Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel Staff Writer
It has been 15 years since Seaside, a meticulously manicured town on Florida’s Panhandle, staked its claim to fame as the setting for “The Truman Show.”
In that 1998 film, actor Jim Carrey played the unknowing “star” of a global TV show set in a town that also doubled as a production set. Although the film crews for that project have long departed, there’s still an undeniable movie-set feel to Seaside, the central point in a scenic 20-mile stretch of County Road 30A along the Gulf of Mexico.
A two-lane road with a speed limit of mostly 25 mph, it’s a perfect backdrop for a leisurely side trip off the faster-paced U.S. Highway 98 between Panama City Beach and Destin. Known as Scenic Highway 30A, it’s home to a dozen tiny towns that take the notion of the old-fashioned beach town and inject it with Disney-esque doses of landscaping, architectural and community design touches.
On a recent afternoon in Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach, two towns on the eastern end of 30A closest to U.S. 98, children frolicked in a park with emerald grass that looked as perfect as a putting green. An enormous hose from a shiny red fire truck supplied the resource for a massive water slide.
If a youngster had dropped an ice-cream cone, it’s easy to imagine a support team rushing into action to replace it and clean up the mess.
Compared with the spring-break vibe of nearby Panama City Beach, with its towering beachside hotels and accessible nightspots, the South Walton vibe is more affluent.
Although it’s possible to snag a one-bedroom cottage for less than $200, depending on the season, more elaborate suites can go for more than $2,000 a night. It’s also possible to find reasonable rates at chain hotels in Destin, only a few miles west of the South Walton scenic highway.
So what’s to see?
Well, the Gulf beaches are world famous for the combination of sugary white sand and emerald-green water.
“The color of the water, the white sugary color of the sand, I don’t think you can find anything like it anywhere else,” says artist Dan Sawyer, 63, who has owned a gallery in Grayton Beach for more than a decade and has been a frequent South Walton visitor since childhood.
There are numerous public beach access points along 30A, including the picturesque Coleman Pavilion, a 50-foot landmark surrounded by restaurants and shops at the center of Seaside.
Just down the road, the coastline at Grayton Beach State Park has been voted top beach (in the 1990s) in the nation by Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman and the park also offers an extensive self-guided nature trail on its 1,100 acres. Nearby, Topsail Hill State Preserve offers prime views of the Gulf and bald cypress swamps from its 25-foot sand dunes.
Grayton Beach offers a less polished approach to the beach-town mindset, embodied by the funky charm of the Red Bar. The walls of the beachfront restaurant and bar (which doesn’t take credit cards) are adorned with a kitschy mishmash of art, collectibles and, of course, red lights.
There’s also an 18-mile bike path that stretches from Blue Mountain Beach to Inlet Beach, which is a recommended travel method to avoid the competition for parking spaces at Seaside’s business district.
It’s worth braving the crowds to have a drink and watch the sunset Bud & Alley’s, a Seaside ritual.
And there’s plenty of shopping around the grassy park that hosts weekly concerts and storytelling events. Artists display wares at the Shops of Ruskin, an outdoor courtyard that evokes the feel of New Orleans’ Jackson Square, in a faux movie-set way.
“Summers are always great, but it seems a little busier this summer,” says Jenny King, manager of Sundog Books, located downstairs from Central Square Records, an independent record store. “I think a lot of people who skipped last year [in the wake of news reports about the Gulf oil spill] have returned.”
Sawyer recommends waiting until fall, when the crowds are thinner, the temperatures more pleasant and the sunsets more breathtaking.
“You haven’t seen a sunset until you’ve seen one here in November, all turquoise, pink and purple,” says Sawyer. “It makes you realize what kind of imagination God’s got. It’s colors you just can’t mix.”
jcabbott@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-6213.
If you go
Getting there: The towns of South Walton — Inlet, Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest, WaterSound, Seagrove, Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain, Santa Rosa Beach and Dune Allen — are on County Road 30A in the Panhandle between Destin and Panama City. From Orlando, take Florida’s Turnpike north to Interstate 75 north, then take Interstate 10 west to U.S. Highway 231. Take that south to U.S. Highway 98, then west to County Road 30A.
Staying there: Seaside has 280 dwellings in its rental program, including homes, guest cottages, penthouse apartments, town homes, beachfront and beachside cottages and motorcourt rooms. Nightly rates on cottages range from as low as $140-$165 (depending on season) to more than $2,000. There are similar vacation rentals along 30A, with chains available in nearby Destin and Panama City Beach.
Online: visitsouthwalton.com
- June
20
2011New FSHP Video on YouTube!
The Florida Scenic Highways Program is pleased to announce that the new FSHP Video has been posted in the Sights and Sounds section of this website and on YouTube at the link below:
- June
13
201151 Great Scenic Drives from USA TODAY – Featuring the Big Bend Scenic Byway!
Rugged mountains and crashing falls, towering forests and photo-worthy small towns are just some highlights on America’s roads and byways. USA TODAY asked local experts to name one great scenic drive in each state and the District of Columbia in time for summer road tripping. Follow the link below for their picks:
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/great-american-outdoors/51-scenic-drives/47950992/1
- May
25
2011Parks to Benefit from Grant to A1A Group
The A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway has been awarded a $560,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byway Program that will allow for greenway enhancements at two Flagler County parks on State Road A1A, according to the Friends of A1A.
Sallie O’Hara, administrator of the Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway, said the federal funds will be complimented with a $140,000 local match from Flagler County, for a total of $700,000 available for recreational improvements at Varn Park and the River-to-Sea Preserve West.
The grant will allow for significant enhancements at the parks, chair of A1A Anne Wilson said in a news release from the organization.
“This is fabulous news that will allow us to bring numerous recreational improvements and benefits to the public and draw more visitors,” she said.
The improvements are expected to be completed within the next 18 months.
The Flagler County Greenway Enhancement Projects at both parks include adding improved entrance signs, expanded parking areas with asphalt entrances, facilities for picnics and relaxing, handicapped accessible restrooms, native landscaping and boardwalks across the dunes to the beach.
Trails will be developed with markers, including a 9-mile trail system at the River-to-Sea Preserve West. Educational interpretive information on the coastal habitat, area heritage and current cultural events will be posted on community boards at the site.
The improvements at River-to-Sea Preserve West will give visitors far greater amenities to the estuary side of the preserve on the Intracoastal River, which is practically unused compared to the River-to-Sea Preserve East and boardwalk just across the street and on the Atlantic Ocean, O’Hara said.
She said it was a real coup to be awarded the grant, given the competitiveness from other National Scenic Byways, but the real winners are the visitors who will benefit from the new amenities that will help them appreciate the Old Florida quality of life on public beaches.
Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway is a nonprofit organization that protects, preserves and enhances resources along the A1A National Scenic Byway. This citizen’s advocacy group partners with municipalities, governmental agencies and other civic groups to maintain and improve resources along the corridor
SOURCE: Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway
- April
26
2011Cruise Along America’s Most Scenic Roads
The Richardson Highway, with the peaks of the central Alaska Range in the distance, runs between Valdez and Fairbanks.
by Sarah Rose, Travel & Leisure
All you need are wheels to savor the nation’s vistas and wonders
“In our red rental car, we passed 617 white-knuckle switchbacks, 56 one-lane bridges, and tons of waterfalls as we traveled away from civilization,” says Kim Binsted, an astrobiology professor at the University of Hawaii who last month drove the length of Maui’s Hana Highway — one of the most heart-clutching and beautiful drives on the planet — with her best friend.
Slideshow: American’s most scenic roads
“To everyone in this country, the car represents freedom, mobility, and the control you feel over your destiny/destination,” says Callie Khouri, Oscar-winning screenwriter of Thelma & Louise.
From the dramatic California coast to history-lined thoroughfares of New England, there are countless scenic drives across the country — and some stellar standouts. We’ve picked the American routes with heart-stopping views. On the winding Blue Ridge Parkway, for example, don’t be surprised if the morning mists seduce you like a country melody. The 469-mile road, which turned 75 years old last year, wends its way past limestone caverns, clear mountain springs, and Appalachian majesty, offering different panoramic vistas depending on the season.
But sometimes it’s the man-made sights that make the trip. As you cruise on Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive, the view to the west includes the greatest hits of American architecture, such as Willis Tower, better known as the Sears Tower, once the tallest building in the world. To the east, there are 26 miles of Lake Michigan beaches.
And on U.S. 1 from Key Largo to Key West, travelers are treated to a good time, Florida style. The island chain’s stretch of road encompasses everything from underwater coral reefs and 7 Mile Bridge, one of the longest in the world, to marinas where you can hand-feed tarpon, and beach bars filled with Jimmy Buffett fans drinking margaritas.
So bring a friend or your family and hit the road. In Khouri’s words — go see what America tastes like.
Copyright © 2011 American Express Publishing Corporation
- April
18
2011Outdoors: Turkey breeding season is time of challenges
- Turkeys can be seen along the William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway and many other roadways in Northeast Florida. Their Routine is regular until breeding season.
Watching a female mallard with a clutch of tiny babies cross the road to get to some protective shrubbery in one of our residential communities reminded me that it is almost time for one of my favorite hunting seasons.
Wait! Before you stop reading, let me continue by saying that I use a camera instead of a gun these days.
In the past, when it was a necessity to put meat on the table for our family, I hunted squirrel, rabbit, deer, turkey, pheasant and quail.
I quit hunting with a gun about 25 years ago and now only hunt for the pleasure of watching and photographing wildlife.
When we lived in the woods by the river, we watched the turkeys scratch for acorns and bugs under the oaks in our backyard. They would follow the browsing deer on their regular ramblings, picking up the insects the deer had disturbed.
Their routine was as regular as clockwork until breeding season arrived. Then, it became a carnival.
Tom (male) turkeys forget to eat. All they are interested in is parading their feathered finery in front of the females and fighting the other toms for supremacy.
The jakes (younger males) observe the action from the sidelines or go off in mobs on their own, knowing there is no chance of mating until they reach a point of maturity where they can out-fight the older toms.
Toms actually fight with their beaks, necks, wings, and sometimes with their spurs. They will bow up and push against each other, twisting and twining their necks to see who is strongest.
If there is no clear winner, they will sometimes beat each other with their stiff primary wing feathers. If all else fails, they will jump into the air to try to land a sharp leg spur to their opponent.
Finally, one will concede, usually when he is winded and without blood shed, and move to the sidelines. The victor will try to move the females off in another direction.
After mating, the females create a nest by scratching a depression in the ground beneath a shrub, hidden in brush, or beside a fallen tree trunk.
They line the nest with grass and leaves and begin laying one egg a day for the next 12-13 days. When they have a clutch of 10 or so eggs, they will set continuously for approximately 25 days until the young hatch.
As soon as the chicks are dry after hatching, the mother will lead them away from the nest so they will be less noticeable to predators.
If it is a dry spring, more chicks will survive to feast on seeds, fruits, insects, leaves, and other mast. If it is wet, many of the chicks will get wet, cold and lost and not survive the first few weeks of life. They still have less than a 50/50 chance of surviving to adulthood.
Thankfully, nature has a way of continuing the species year after year.
By Beverly Fleming, The Florida Times-Union, jacksonville.com
- April
4
2011Seeds for Schools Grants Available
The Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Seeds for Schools grant program is now open. This program awards grants of wildflower seeds to public and private school teachers as well as home schoolers who will share the garden with three or more home-school families.
Grants include $30 of seed, plus classroom and garden resources. The Foundation also contributes staff expertise to promote garden success. Seeds for the project are provided by the Florida Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association.
This is a competitive grant program. Up to 100 applications will be considered for up to 50 awards. The application period will end on or before April 18, pending the receipt of 100 applications. Click here to go to the online application.
Funds for the program are provided by donations collected through the sale of the State Wildflower license plate. Questions? Please contact Seeds for Schools program administrator Claudia Larsen at sfs@flawildflowers.org or 352-215-9067.
- March
28
2011Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway April Newsletter
Check out the April 2011 Newsletter from the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, featuring a story about Reptile Man! Just click on the link below:
- March
21
2011Thanks and Good Luck to Cindi Ptak!
The Florida Scenic Highways Program would like to wish Cindi Ptak good luck in the future and thank her for her years of service to the National Scenic Byways Program. Cindi has been the National Scenic Byways Program Manager since 2007 and is leaving the Program to join Federal Lands Highway as Program Coordinator for the Public Lands Discretionary and Forest Highway Programs at FHWA. Cindi has been an advocate of strategic planning to strengthen State and tribal programs, and in providing targeted outreach to grant applicants to help them become more competitive as they increasingly compete for limited program funding. Cindi played a vital role in the most recent designation of America’s Byways in 2009. She also led the award of over $110 million in National Scenic Byway Program grants to hundreds of projects in communities across the nation.
She will truly be missed. Please join us in wishing her well in her future position and endeavors!
- March
15
2011Flagler’s proximity to fun appeals to visitors
Julie Forvour sat at a picnic table, morning light trickling through the trees, applying her makeup while her “better half,” Larry Kuhn, reclined inside their camper at the Thunder Gulch campground in Bunnell.
“I love it here,” said Forvour, who hails from Mount Holly, N.J. “Flagler has everything. It’s centrally located, and I think the riding is better here than by the beach.”
Kuhn made his first trip to Daytona Beach for Bike Week in 1980. He used to ride his motorcycle rather than trailer it and slept in a tent.
“I liked riding on the beach when the beach was free and you could ride there (on the sand) day and night,” he said. “It’s nice out here. Peaceful.”
While the full-service slots were only 75 percent full Tuesday, owner John Seibel said they’ll all be filled by the weekend.
“We’ll have all our vendors here then,” he said. “We have plenty of primitive (no water or electricity) sites. Those won’t fill up.”
A big draw at Thunder Gulch is the Miss Florida Biker competition and the $2,000 purse that attracts plenty of young, bikini-clad motorcyclists.
“I’m not going to enter the contest,” said Ellen King, a retiree who is visiting from New Port, Maine. “I wouldn’t want to put those young girls to shame.”
King and her husband, Darrell, will soon spend half the year in Palm Coast.
“We bought a house at the Daytona Flea Market,” said Darrell King.
Ellen King came up with her own Jeff Foxworthy joke: “You might be a redneck … if you buy your house at a flea market.”
The Kings regularly spend Bike Week in Flagler County with Darrell King’s boyhood friend Levy Hutchings and his wife, Shirley, the manager of the Bimini Bar. Hutchings has seen a steady rise in attendance at the Flagler events.
“I think a lot of bikers are moving to Flagler (to camp) because of how friendly everyone is here,” he said.
Jim Campbell, Camano Island, Wash., has been traveling the country since August, enjoying the serenity of the scenic drive between Volusia and Flagler counties.
“I ride the Loop every morning,” he said. “It’s a nice way to start out. Really, I just like to be moving.”
He made the short trip south on U.S. 1 from Thunder Gulch to the White Eagle just before noon and bellied up to the bar there.
While there were a couple dozen bikes parked out front, there wasn’t much action at the vendors’ tents selling T-shirts, sunglasses, saddlebags and barbecue.
“It was packed Saturday,” said Joe Vece, a volunteer helping cyclists find parking spots. “Mostly, it’s been crazy all week. The weather’s been nice.”
A couple of bikes pulled out of the parking lot and onto Old Dixie Highway to ride a portion of the Loop into Flagler Beach — Old Dixie to Walter Boardman to Highbridge Road to State Road A1A, for those who don’t know.
Vendors even pervaded the scenic highway — well, two photographers snapping shots of visitors riding through. It seems a lot for the narrow, winding, tree-canopied road.
“We’ve been coming here for 12 years and that’s the first time I’ve seen that,” said Rosie Treon of St. Mary’s, Ohio, who stopped for a beachside lunch. “I’ve seen it at Deal’s Gap, N.C. (a favorite ride for motorcyclists, who call it The Dragon), but I’ve never seen it here.”
Motorcycles stream up and down A1A to the front of Snack Jack’s while waves lap up behind.
“We love it here,” said Rosie Treon’s husband, Dave. “You get a crowd, but it’s not crazy. And the view is awesome.”
They aren’t the only ones who feel that way about Flagler Beach during Bike Week.
“We got married here (Feb. 27, 1988),” said Pamela Fischer, visiting from Dearborn Heights, Mich., with her husband, George, and dog, Joey.
“We come straight here. The atmosphere is great. And we can come here with a dog.”
by Julie Murphy, Staff Writer, Daytona Beach News-Journal
- March
1
2011Penney Farms highway is officially “Scenic”
PENNEY FARMS – With memories of the town’s founding and an impersonation of J.C. Penney, Florida’s newest scenic highway was dedicated here on Friday, Feb. 25.
The three-mile stretch of Florida Route 16 through the town – and a loop on local roads through the town’s New Hope neighborhood and Penney Retirement Community – joins four other Northeast Florida roads officially dubbed “scenic.”
Ann Williamson of Green Cove Springs, a local historian who grew up in Penney Farms, spoke of her childhood to some 150 residents and guests at the town’s Kohler Park.
“Penney Farms was our playground,” she said, “and we frequented the pastures and woods that were our backyard. Where we are today – here in the park – was once the sawdust pile and one of our favorite places to play.
“For us, the Town of Penney Farms was a cradle-to-grave experience,” Williamson said.
A ribbon cutting on the highway was hosted by C.L. “Mike” Berg, chairman of the Citizens’ Advocacy for Scenic Highway 16, the group that, over a two-year span, arranged for the designation. The gathering at the park south of the highway was hosted by John Bowles, former city manager of Orange Park, who was in period costume impersonating James Cash Penney.
The Clay High School band of Green Cove Springs led a parade down Clark Avenue from the highway to the park. Bagpiper Arthur Tenney of Lake Asbury, a member of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Pipe and Drum Corps, played the pipes. Joe Pickens, president of St. Johns River State College, spoke at the park. He was the local state legislator when the effort to get the scenic road designation was launched.
Berg explained that the scenic label will help to preserve the highway’s noted archway of magnolia and live oak trees. It will serve to maintain Penney Farms’ small-town environment, he said. And it will offset potential damage caused by eventual widening of the two-lane road.
The other scenic highways in Northeast Florida are:
• Scenic U.S. 441 Corridor from Gainesville south past Micanopy to McIntosh, with some loop and spur roads, totaling 45 miles;
• William Barton Scenic and Historic Highway, SR 13 from Julington Creek south to Orangedale;
• A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway from Jacksonville Beach south to Ormond-by-the-Sea, and
• Heritage Crossroads: Miles of History in Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties, comprising Old Kings Road (19 miles), Old Brick Road (9 miles), CR 205 (4 miles), SR 100 (13 miles), SR 11 (15 miles) and John Anderson Highway (5 miles).
by Pete Geiger, Correspondent, Clay Today
- February
28
2011Family of killed Tibetan activist complete his journey in West Palm Beach
Pretoria Richardson, 7, waves the Tibetan flag Saturday morning in downtown West Palm Beach where supporters for Tibetan independence finished their three-hundred mile “Walk for Tibet” journey from St. Augustine to West Palm Beach. (Photo by Brandon Kruse/The Palm Beach Post)
WEST PALM BEACH — On the day Jigme Norbu was supposed to have taken the final steps on a 300-mile walk from St. Augustine to West Palm Beach, his family, friends and fellow peace walkers gathered in his place to complete the journey.
On Feb. 14, Norbu, 45, a nephew of the Dalai Lama, was struck and killed by an SUV on State Road A1A in Flagler County. He was less than 30 miles into his 22nd Walk for Tibet to raise awareness of the Tibetan struggle for independence and promote human rights and world peace.
Norbu’s previous 21 walks and bike rides totaled 7,800 miles, including one in October that covered over 550 miles from Indianapolis to Toronto.
On Saturday, family members including his brother, Kunga, 48, and sons Tenzin, 13, and Jensen, 9, honored Norbu’s vision with a 1-mile walk from Centennial Park to the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens followed by a memorial service and celebration.
“I know my brother would be very proud of what we’re doing,” said Kunga Norbu, a Bloomington, Ind., resident who joined the walk on Wednesday after it had resumed in Fort Pierce. “He died for a cause, and that cause was for human rights, independence for Tibet and world peace. Just me coming is an honor, too. It’s to honor him. This is how he would want it.”
Many of the peace walkers who joined Norbu and his nephews are native Tibetans who share Jigme Norbu’s vision of a Tibet free of Chinese occupation and repression. China seized control of the country in 1951.
Colorado resident Wangchuk Dorjee, 67, who left his native Tibet at age 15, has participated in four walks with Jigme Norbu. He gathered at the West Palm Beach Green Market with dozens of supporters Saturday to spread their message of peace and freedom.
“The reason we’re doing it is our country was occupied by China,” he said. “We’re asking the Chinese to give us our country back. We’re raising awareness of our cause here in America so we will get more support. That’s our goal, to gain independence.”
“As Tibetans, we came here to continue our work and finish it to the end,” added Sangay Wangmo, a New York resident who works with the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress New York and New Jersey . “We want to create awareness for Tibet and walk for human rights, freedom of speech and world peace.”
Jigme Norbu’s death will not alter those plans, his supporters say.
“We’re going to carry it on,” said Kunga Norbu, whose father, Thubten, also worked to achieve Tibetan independence. “I’ve got two of my nephews here. They’re going to carry on history. We have a third generation of Norbus.”
by Jodie Wagner, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
- February
23
2011Is it a weed or a wildflower?
As spring seedlings begin to emerge, wildflower gardeners ask the age-old question: Is it a weed or a wildflower? Thanks to the Florida Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association, we now have a guide to what common wildflower species look like as seedlings. To download a copy of the guide, click here. You can also view seedling photos on the FWSPGA Web site, www.floridawildflowers.com.
If you missed planting seeds in the fall, think about purchasing plants. To find a native nursery in your area, visit www.afnn.org. For more information on planting and growing wildflowers, visit our Web site, www.flawildflowers.org
- February
23
2011Play a Day and Stay a Day!
Spring break is here!!!!!!! Why not come to Florida’s Historic First Coast and Play a Day and Stay a Day along the many scenic and historic sites. And while you are in the area, sign up for a round of golf at Marsh Creek Country Club: www.marshcreek.com. Northeast Florida’s golf options are legendary, with more than two dozen of the Florida’s most challenging and beautiful courses adjacent to the 72 miles of A1A that runs the length of St. Johns and Flagler counties. Perhaps no stretch of highway reaches further into America’s history than this stretch of A1A, known as the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway. An officially designated American Byway, the 72 miles of mostly two-lane roadway line the sweep of American history, commerce, nature, archeology and recreation for nearly 500 years. The Byway connects State Parks, National Monuments, stunning beaches, nature trails, boating, fishing, preserves and estuaries.
So get in the swing and Play!! www.scenica1a.org/rotarygolfevent.aspx
- February
17
201155 FHWA Programs You Won’t Have to Kick Around Anymore
by Tanya Snyder, DC Streets Blog
The president’s six-year transportation plan proposes simplifying federal policy by eliminating 55 highway programs and rolling them all into five umbrella programs: the National Highway Program, Highway Safety Improvement, Livable Communities, Federal Allocation, and Research, Technology, and Education.
Here’s the list, from DOT, of the 55 programs they intend to consolidate. There are a few popular programs among livability advocates in here, like Safe Routes to School, bicycle and pedestrian grants, and the TIFIA loan program. If this consolidation plan is enacted, it will be up to advocates to continue to push for important projects once they no longer have a dedicated funding source.
Many transportation reformers have spoken in favor of more competitive, more flexible funding. Here it is, folks.
The programs that will be “consolidated” out of existence:
Interstate Maintenance (IM), Highway Bridge Program (Bridge), National Highway System (NHS), Surface Transportation Program (STP), Ferry Boat Program, Appalachian Development Highway System, Equity Bonus (EB), Historic Covered Bridge Preservation, Puerto Rico Highway Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Hazard Elimination & Rail Highway Crossings, Railway-Highway Crossings (deduction from HSIP), High Risk Rural Roads Program, Operation Lifesaver, Work Zone Safety Grants, National Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse, Road Safety (Delta and Public Awareness), Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ), STP (Transportation Enhancements), Recreational Trails, Scenic Byways, America’s Byways Resource Center, Safe Routes to School, Transportation, Community, and System Preservation, Non-Motorized Pilot Program, Bicycle and Pedestrian Grants (Clearinghouse), Highways for LIFE, Future Strategic Highway Research (deductions: IM, NHS, Bridge, STP, CMAQ, HSIP), Great Lakes ITS Implementation, Indian reservation Road Bridges, Additional CA for States w/Indian Reservations, Refuge Roads (RR), Public Lands Highways, Forest Highways (PLH), Lake Tahoe Region MPO (deductions from IRR, PLH, PRP, RR), Alaska Highway Takedown (deduction from NHS), Denali Access System Program, Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana, Highway Use Tax Evasion, Grant Program to Prohibit Racial Profiling, National Corridor Infrastructure Program, Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program, Projects of Regional and National Significance, High Priority Projects, Transportation Projects, Interstate Maintenance Discretionary (deduction from IM), Bridge Set-Aside (deduction from Bridge), Magnetic Levitation Program, Truck Parking Facilities, Freight Intermodal Distribution Pilot Grants, Delta Region Transportation Development Program, Value Pricing Pilot Program, Pavement Marking Systems Demonstration Projects in Alaska & Tenn., Road User Fees Field Test – Public Policy Center of Univ. of Iowa, Multimodal Facility Improvements, TIFIA
- February
7
2011Harley-Davidson Riders get Revved up for Spring at Daytona Bike Week
by Eric Wholley, Harley-Davidson Inc.
By early March, the streets of Daytona Beach, Florida will shine with the warm spring sun and thousands of tons of glinting chrome and steel, as hundreds of Harley-Davidson ® riders kick off spring. Daytona Bike Week is the motorcycle party of the season, welcoming riders who return year after year to mark winter’s end with the annual event.
Daytona Bike Week 2007, which runs March 2-11, will feature a variety of events that offer something fun and exciting for every enthusiast. Some of the most popular events already scheduled include:
- Harley-Davidson® and Buell® Demo rides at Daytona International Speedway
- H.O.G.® Members-Only Reception
- New Products Show
Reservations for Rest and Relaxation
Like all gatherings in which Harley-Davidson participates, Daytona Bike Week is all about people and events, roads and riding. The excitement is nonstop, but there are plenty of places to cool the engines and just chill out. Harley-Davidson has saved rooms for its riders at three area hotels, each offering their own individual mix of relaxation and fun. Because rooms tend to get reserved quickly for this popular event, riders are urged to make their reservations now.
- The Plaza Ocean Club is a sophisticated beachfront retreat. In addition to a variety of recreational activities, the hotel offers superior accommodations and the type of attentive service expected at a three-star hotel. Bike wash facilities are located on site.
- LaPlaya Resorts & Suites, a three-star hotel located across the street from a popular shopping plaza, offers comfortable oceanview guestrooms with private balconies, full service amenities including bike wash facilities, and a friendly staff. The sparkling swimming pool and a comedy club featuring national acts are ideal for relaxing after a day of biking.
- The two-and-a-half star Oceanside Inn Beach Resort is the perfect setting for an unforgettable vacation experience for Daytona Bike Week visitors. Spacious, oceanside guestrooms offer panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. An expansive beach, unique restaurants and shops, a variety of entertainment venues, and bike wash facilities are all located nearby.
During Daytona Bike Week, all three hotels offer secure on-site motorcycle parking free of charge. Trailer parking is available on site at the Plaza Ocean Club and LaPlaya Resorts & Suites, and off site at Oceanside Inn Beach Resort.
The Harley-Davidson ® website (http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Events/Daytona.jsp?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US) offers links to all three hotels so that checking room availability and making reservations is quick and easy. Riders are urged to make their reservations now, as rooms tend to go quickly. A two-night minimum stay is required if checking in on March 3rd , and a four-night minimum stay is required if checking in March 7th -10th .
Making the Most of Cruising the Coast
In addition to Daytona Bike Week events, motorcyclists can also take in the beauty of the area’s many pristine white beaches and scenic byways. A popular destination for centuries, the Florida coast and the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway are favorites among motorcyclists. Miles of stunning beach and serene byways curving along the coast offer the perfect backdrop for a week of riding, relaxing, and getting reacquainted with fellow motorcyclists.
The beaches offer plenty of space to spread out with buckets and blankets for those who want to catch some rays. For anyone who can’t wait to get their hooks into fishing season, charter-fishing boats offer a chance at flounder, snook, whiting, snapper, or blues, while land lovers can dangle their lines from nearby piers. Competitive anglers will find no shortage of fishing tournaments that test both patience and skill.
A ride along the coastal byway also offers an opportunity to experience the beauty of both the landscape and wildlife. The byway supports a variety of wildlife, including 50 endangered species.
Since participating in Daytona Bike Week is an important part of the history and tradition of Harley-Davidson — as well as its future — it’s only fitting that the event take place in an area rich with its own history. Riders can cruise to nearby St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in North America. The Colonial Spanish Quarter shows what life was like in 18th Century Florida and offers historically accurate demonstrations in blacksmithing, carpentry, and other trades. And the history of the area’s military might is on display at Fort Matanzas, Castillo de San Marcos, and Fort Mose.
Daytona Bike Week and the Best of Harley-Davidson ® Riding
Motorcyclists may come to Daytona Bike 00004000 Week to take in the first warm days of spring, to explore an exciting city, or to share rides and experiences with others who have a passion for the sport of motorcycling.
Harley-Davidson® riders connect with one another in a unique way that goes beyond the motorcycle, which is why many riders attend events such as Daytona Bike Week. Motorcyclists also meet and ride together at rallies, fund-raisers and dealer rides. The Harley Owners Group® (H.O.G.®) is the largest company sponsored motorcycle enthusiast group, as more than a million members enjoy the camaraderie that this organization offers. The Motor Company also attends many races and events throughout the year to further strengthen the bond with riders.
And it’s not just the experience that Harley® riders are passionate about, as they feel the same way about their bikes. The flowing curves of the fenders, the smooth lines of the fuel tank, the piercing reflections from perfect chrome, the visual muscle of a big V-Twin engine are the look that sets Harley-Davidson® motorcycles apart from all others. And, of course, the sound and feel.
No other motorcycle has the same heart pounding, pavement-thumping sound as the venerable Harley® V-Twin. It’s a sound that’s spanned generations, and it’s as distinct as the people who ride. From its start more than 100 years ago, Harley-Davidson has made a profound impact on the sport of motorcycling and the people who love it. And all that passion will be on display at Daytona Bike Week, where winter is a distant memory under the shining spring sun.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s website at www.harley-davidson.com/Experience
- January
28
2011A1A in Southern Living Magazine!
See the article by clicking on the link below:
- January
19
2011Another Relic in the Ancient City
Daron Dean/St. Augustine Record - City archaeologist Carl Halbirt (right) and volunteers remove a layer of dirt from the large excavation across the street from the Castillo de San Marcos. The site is believed to have once been a 1500s or 1600s-era fort.
St. Augustine’s city archaeologist believes he’s found an old fort
by Justine Griffin
Every morning for the past week, St. Augustine city archaeologist Carl Halbirt and a handful of volunteers worked in the cold to uncover what may be a very big part of St. Augustine’s colonial history.
Halbirt and his team spent the past few days at a dig site on Florida A1A across from the Castillo de San Marcos sifting through the soil between the No Name Bar and Liquor Store and the White Lion Restaurant across from the bayfront.
The property, which was dug up to create a new trolley pull-in station, soon became one of Halbirt’s biggest archaeological digs, and may also hold one of his biggest finds.
“I think the postholes and large soil stains we’ve found so far are potentially associated with an early fortification,” Halbirt said. “This could very well be one of the early wooden forts built in St. Augustine before the Castillo de San Marcos.”
Interesting evidence
Halbirt uncovered large soil stains while excavating the area alongside the roadway, he said. The stains show remnants of old wooded posts once used to hold up bigger structures. Halbirt said the postholes’ size indicates he and his team may have stumbled upon the corner of a very big structure.
“We’re looking at a large structure, at least 14 feet in diameter, that dates to the early colonial period prior to the 1700s,” Halbirt said. “It looks like something built in the late 1500s to early 1600s.”
The building could be one of three wooden forts that were built in the 16th century before the Castillo de San Marcos. But the structure could also be the remnants of a large warehouse, boathouse or even a labor camp used while the Castillo was being built, he said.
“There were three wooden forts that were burnt down before the Castillo that we know very little about,” he said.
More to pursue
From what Halbirt has studied in the ground so far, the building looks as though it is sitting at a right angle and could extend into what is now the A1A roadway. Although the dig site won’t expand farther than what has already been dug up, Halbirt said there is still plenty of information and artifacts to find.
Beside the postholes and soil stains, Halbirt recovered completely intact glass bottles, an ornate candlestick holder, shards of colored pottery, plates and animal remains.
The archaeological team also found trash pits dating from the 19th century, and a large construction well that dips 5 feet deeper than the excavation, Halbirt said.
Halbirt is unsure how long he and his team will excavate the site, but suspects it will be a few weeks before they know for certain what they’ve found.
“I hope to have some other historians and archaeologists come out and see the site,” Halbirt said. “It would be good to see what their ideas and interpretations are of all this.”
For the Spanish Quarter
The new archaeological finds will soon be turned into an exhibit as part of a renovation to the Spanish Quarter, said Dana Ste. Claire, executive director for the Spanish Quarter department.
St. Augustine began construction this week with a vision of a new entryway to the Spanish Quarter and a colonial village-like interactive museum, Ste. Claire said. The original plans included a new boat building project and maritime history museum. But Halbirt’s recent findings have changed the plans for the new interactive museum.
“We couldn’t ask for a more ideal site to focus on now that we know Carl Halbirt has found something so significant here,” Ste. Claire said.
After completing a new pull-in station for trolleys, Ste. Claire said construction will begin on a boat building project and interactive public archaeological display. The new Spanish Quarter village will have a program that delves into what it’s like to be an archaeologist, Ste. Claire said.
“It’s important for people who come here to see and explore the role of an archaeologist,” he said. “Visitors will be able to see how archaeologists have played a major role in piecing together the history of St. Augustine.”
In this program, visitors will be able to see firsthand a true excavation site, the one that Halbirt and his team have been working on this week, he said.
More attractions planned
The new project will also serve as an interpretive center for colonial maritime activity and offer information to visitors about the nation’s oldest port, the Matanzas Inlet and the important rolls they played in the historical and cultural development of St. Augustine, Ste. Claire said.
“We’re going to build a colonial period vessel from the 16th century in partnership with the Maritime Heritage Foundation as a part of the 450th celebration,” Ste. Claire said. “I don’t think there’s a more appropriate place to create a 15th century shipyard and village.”
Although construction for the new village has begun, Ste. Claire hopes that it will all come together in the next few years.
“A new entryway will give visitors access not only to the Spanish Quarter, but the Castillo de San Marcos and the new Pirate Museum,” Ste. Claire said.
- January
15
2011Bridge Repair to cause Loop Detour
By Audrey Parente, Staff Writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal
ORMOND BEACH — Views of lush live oak tree tunnels, palmetto groves and natural landscape prized by cyclists, bikers and runners will be interrupted when the Tomoka Park Bridge shuts down for repairs Monday.
The gap in that stretch of Beach Street that runs into Old Dixie Highway will send The Loop enthusiasts off on a two-mile detour to U.S. 1 for at least two weeks, said Judy Sloane, county river and bridge director.
“We met with The Loop people a couple of times about closing the road so there were no special events planned,” Sloane said. “The majority of it will be open — the more scenic part from High Bridge (Road) and Walter Boardman (Lane) — but you will need to exit at Pine Tree (Drive). If you want to go to Tomoka State Park, you have to come from the south.”
On Friday, his last day of work before retiring, park manager Benny Woodham said the bridge closing and detour would be an inconvenience for those who ride The Loop.
“The majority of our people come in from Route 40, following signs off the interstate,” Woodham said. “Campers coming in for the Rolex can get to the track from here.”
But among the 100,000-or-so campers who come yearly for canoeing, kayaking and wildlife observation, those who like to run, ride or travel The Loop won’t be able to do it heading north on Beach Street from the park, he said.
Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail advocacy group Chairman Joe Jaynes said the closing won’t be all bad.
“It’s going to impact people who bike and want to go all the way around,” he said. “I think it’s a good thing in the long run. The last time they closed it down and repaired it, they enhanced it and the walkways were replaced, so that was a good thing.”
- January
14
2011Washington to create nation’s first electric vehicle-friendly Scenic Byway along U.S. 2
From the Washington Department of Commerce
OLYMPIA, WA –The Department of Commerce and the Washington State Department of Transportation today announced plans to make the Stevens Pass Greenway the first electric vehicle-friendly National Scenic Byway route. With Federal Recovery Act funding through the State Energy Program, the state will install two to three electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations along U.S. Highway 2. This route will connect to the I-5 “electric highway” enabling electric vehicle drivers to travel from across the west coast to North Central Washington by the end of 2011.In addition to the state’s investment, the Port of Chelan County and the Advanced Vehicle Innovations Consortium in Wenatchee have catalyzed private investment to install Level II charging stations at popular travel destinations along the U.S. 2 byway route. These destinations include Stevens Pass Ski Area; Leavenworth’s Sleeping Lady Resort and Icicle Ridge Winery; and Wenatchee’s Convention Center, Town Toyota Center and SpringHill Suites by Marriot Wenatchee Hotel. Each of these venues plans to install Level II charging stations that will allow electric vehicle drivers to “fuel up” while they are enjoying the location’s activities. Level II charging stations will complement the fast-charging stations installed by the state, which can charge the battery of some electric vehicles from zero to 80 percent in an estimated 20 minutes.“Washington State is proud to announce another important step toward enabling broad adoption of electric vehicles,” said Rogers Weed, Director of the state Department of Commerce. “Partnering to deliver charging infrastructure is essential in Washington, and this initiative keeps us moving in the right direction, promoting local jobs, rural businesses and clean energy.”Over a half-dozen additional destination property owners and public entities from Leavenworth to Chelan are also expected to announce their intentions to purchase and install charging stations by the time the EV fast charging stations are deployed on U.S. 2.“Enthusiasm and preparation for electric vehicles arriving in North Central Washington has been ramping up for the past six years,” said Ron Johnston-Rodriguez of the Port of Chelan County, coordinator of the Advanced Vehicle Innovation (AVI) Consortium and its PluginCenter Charging Station project. “The State of Washington’s collaboration with the Port and its AVI partners has proven to be an energizing catalyst for community-wide efforts to facilitate and promote charging station deployment in the region. This investment in electric vehicle infrastructure by both private and public sectors accelerates the Consortium’s timetable for multiple activities to demonstrate and integrate electric vehicle technology into the fabric of this rural area’s tourism industry cluster.”In addition to furthering the state’s vision for improving the energy efficiency of Washington’s transportation system, Washington State Tourism plans to promote eco-tourism opportunities in conjunction with the electrification of U.S. 2. The planned fast-chargers will be strategically located to support zero-emission, zero-oil travel along the 120-mile byway. The Stevens Pass Greenway is one of the richest scenic byways in Washington. Originally developed for the Old Great Northern Railroad, this route winds its way through dense forest, mountain ranges and green valleys, past orchards and wineries of Wenatchee, family farms and the Bavarian village of Leavenworth.“Businesses along U.S. 2 rely on tourism,” said Marsha Massey, Executive Director of Washington State Tourism. “With fast charging stations along this scenic byway, travelers will be able to drive electric cars to popular destinations such as Stevens Pass, Leavenworth and Wenatchee.”For more information, please visit: - December
20
20102010 Florida Wildflower Foundation News
As year’s end approaches, we at the Florida Wildflower Foundation are reflecting on the many wonderful things 2010 brought. And we owe it all to you.
Here’s what you made possible in 2010:
Our research program produced data that will expand native plant offerings for landscape and conservation use. And, in an effort to protect roadside wildflowers and develop wildflower-viewing routes, scientists documented the presence of native species along hundreds of miles of Florida roads.
Meanwhile, the inaugural Seeds for Schools program awarded 80 grants for school wildflower gardens, and a pilot program began teaching county workers to plant and maintain roadside wildflowers. Work to put wildflower curriculum in elementary school classrooms began, and the launch of our new Web site is imminent.
The Foundation also is working with partners in the Panhandle and Big Bend regions to launch wildflower tourism in time for the 2013 quincentennial of Spain in Florida. And, on the conservation side, Marion, Lake, Volusia, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla and Brevard counties adopted resolutions that pledge to preserve wildflowers.
With your ongoing support, we can continue these efforts and begin new ones. If you will be making a tax-deductible donation by Dec. 31, please consider investing in Florida’s wildflowers. Make your donation now, or donate through the Community Foundation of Central Florida’s Donor Edge program, which has fully examined our organization. If you prefer, you can support Florida’s wildflowers as a Foundation member at http://flawildflowers.org/. With your help, Florida’s wildflowers will thrive in 2011 and beyond.
from Terry L. Zinn (Chair) and Jeff Caster (Immediate Past Chair)
- December
8
2010Byways Program Partners with Local Business, Enjoys Synergy
Since January 2010, the Flagler Visitor Information Center of the Friends of Scenic A1A Byway has had a close working relationship with a business you might not expect – a book publishing company.
Established in 2002, Ocean Publishing is an independent publishing house specializing in nonfiction titles about nature, marine life, environment and conservation. It’s also Flagler County’s only Nature Resource Center, containing in its oceanfront retail store a wide variety of free brochures, volunteer opportunities, ocean-themed art from local artists, and an ever-expanding catalog of new and exciting book titles.
In February, Ocean published a critically acclaimed climate change book called Climate of Uncertainty: A Balanced Look at Global Warming and Renewable Energy. A surprisingly human look at endangered sea turtles and the local eccentrics who love them, Tracks in the Sand: Sea Turtles and Their Protectors, was released in April. And Ocean’s newest title, Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau, the first of a four-book series with the world-renowned ocean explorer and protector, releases late this month.
Because Ocean Publishing and Friends of Scenic A1A share like-minded missions to protect and preserve, it only made sense for Ocean owner and publisher Frank Gromling to offer to take in the Flagler hub when its lease expired in December 2009. So, for almost a year now, these two organizations have worked in synergy to support each other’s objectives in an effective and cooperative manner.
Set in the heart of Flagler Beach (directly across from the historic Flagler Beach Pier), the organizations have created a testament to the life and worth of the historic stretches of coast that they both work to preserve—a task that they look forward to continuing for many years to come.
A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway Info Center / Ocean Publishing
200 S. Oceanshore Blvd.
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 - December
6
2010Immerse Yourself in the Heart of Old Florida on the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail
The Casements (FL)
From the National Scenic Byways Program and located at www.byways.org
December 1, 2010 in Food, Friends and Family and Goodyear’s Top 50 Scenic, Comfortable Drives
Cruise beneath leafy canopies into the heart of “Old Florida” on the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail. Along with stunning views of Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway, the Atlantic Ocean, and other natural areas, you’ll find such historic spots as the winter home of John D. Rockefeller, the famous American industrialist and philanthropist, who purchased it in 1918. He died there in 1937. The Rockefeller Home and Gardens now serve as a cultural center and park for the city of Ormond Beach. Admire the view of horizon-spanning Granada Bridge from Rockefeller Gardens Park while strolling, fishing or biking beside the Intracoastal Waterway or shopping for fresh produce and local handcrafts at the weekly Farmer’s Market. Take a guided tour through the historic halls of Rockefeller’s home, also known as the Casements, and explore grand rooms filled with opulent furnishings and colorful rugs. One such room is the Rockefeller Room, where furniture and decorations are set up just as they were in Rockefeller’s day. There is no fee for the tours, though donations are gladly accepted. The Casements is open Monday-Saturday, and tours are offered throughout the day.
If tours by daylight aren’t exciting enough, come in late October for a historic candlelit tour. All of the volunteers don historic costume to take you back to Rockefeller’s time. Other annual events held in the park include the Riverfest Music Festival in November and the Christmas Gala in December, the latter offering tasty food and unique crafts, horse-drawn carriage rides, a tree-lighting celebration, and more. Call 386-676-3216 for more information about events held year-round. Be captivated by history at the Rockefeller Home and Gardens on the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail!
- December
6
2010Get your kicks on Route 66 — and 499 other great highways
Hartwell Tavern stands alongside Battle Road in Massachusetts, where American colonists fought the British.
From the Chicago Tribune and by Rosemary McClure (Special to the LA Times)
Rev up the engine and hit the road with “Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Most Spectacular Trips,” a new coffee-table book from National Geographic ($40, hardcover) that explores highways and byways around the globe.
Some of the trips are long-distance odysseys on the far side of the planet, such as the Silk Road across the vastness of central Asia. Many are easy drives for Californians, such as the Gold Rush trail along the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and California Highway 1 along the rugged coastline of the Big Sur region.
Of course, the nation’s Mother Road, Route 66, makes the cut as it rambles across the country from Chicago to Santa Monica. And other scenic U.S. roads are profiled, including Colorado’s San Juan Skyway, which makes a 10,000-foot climb over towering mountain passes as it goes on a loop of more than 200 miles; and the Battle Road in Massachusetts, site of skirmishes during the Revolutionary War.
There’s plenty of international flavor too. Armchair travelers—or folks looking for adventure—can take a drive through the rain forests of Costa Rica, the tulip fields of the Netherlands, the jungles of Jamaica or the rugged back country of Australia.
“Put your foot to the pedal and head on out,” said Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler editor. A road trip “can uncork our imaginations and rekindle the wanderlust and curiosity that makes true travel—as opposed to vacationing—so intoxicating.“
The book is patterned after the Traveler magazine’s “Drives of a Lifetime” series. A selection of additional road trips can be found on the magazine’s website.
- November
23
2010Yes! Volunteers Make a Difference – Crosswalks at GTM NERR
From the Friends of A1A Volunteer News Update
After successful meetings with District 2 FDOT officials, Friends of A1A volunteers lead by Tony Bosco, committee chair, succeeded in pursuading roadway engineers that crosswalks at the Guana Reserve in northern St. Johns County needed to return. Several years back, when A1A was resurfaced, three crosswalks were “erased” with the new pavement. The result was that pedestrians crossing from the Guana parking areas hazarded the traffic of passing motorists with little to no warning. Although studies may state crosswalks present a false sense of security to pedestrians, our volunteers and residents of the area know prevention and warning systems are best tried to prevent tragedies. We did it! Thank you Chris LeDew and all the FDOT traffic engine ers!
- November
23
2010A1A 2nd Annual Super Scenic Garage Sale
From the Friends of A1A Volunteer News Update
The A1A 2nd annual Super Scenic Garage Sale received good reviews from out of state visitors and area shoppers. Of the 17 identified stops along the 72 mile A1A Byway, the Hammock, St. Augustine at the Surf Shop, Vilano Beach, and Ponte Vedra Lost Beach Lane areas fared the best. 500 Cell Phone Audio Tour brochures were distributed and there is now a clamor to do it again next year. It seems with all of the promotion that independent sellers set up shop at the last minute making many, many stops more entertaining. One reader from Daytona Beach Shores thought “the Cell Tour and garage sale fabulous.” She writes: “I live with my 90 year old Mom with dementia and when I have some time for myself, I usually head north to relax and enjoy your lovely portion of A1A. Wanted to remind you that your work is lovingly appreciated.” Thanks for the support BJ!
- November
16
2010Capture Florida Video Receives Telly Award!
Mariano Berrios holds the Telly Award and Certificate
The FDOT’s Florida Scenic Highways Program has been selected as the winner of a 2010 Bronze Telly Award for its Capture Florida DVD.The Telly Award is an award presented by the namesake, a New York City-based organization. The purpose of the award is to “honor the very best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions, and work created for the Web”. This award was founded in 1978.
Each year awards are given in both silver and bronze categories. These awards are given by the body of the academy and are judged by past Silver award winners within the industry. In each category there can be multiple winners (silver) and finalists (bronze). There is no stated limit to the number of winners or finalists in any given category. The entries do not compete against each other, but rather they are judged based upon a “high standard of merit”.
Official documentation indicates that only 7 to 10 percent of over 13,000 international entries receive Silver Telly Awards and 18 to 25 percent receive the Bronze Telly Award.
Production of the video was possible through a FHWA National Scenic Byways Grant. The video was produced by Delve Productions, Inc. out of Orlando, Florida. Nomination for the award was submitted by TranSystems.
- November
8
2010Congressman Oberstar led Byway Initiative
News From the National Scenic Byway Foundation
In a surprise upset, Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar lost his bid for reelection to his nineteenth term in the House of Representative. Oberstar was a leader in reforming national transportation policy that was enacted as the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and established the National Scenic Byways Program. As Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Oberstar championed the program and drafted the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009, a transportation policy blueprint that continues the byways program and is yet awaiting action by Congress.Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition and a long time byway program advocate noted, “I’m very, very surprised. I had seen some polling data two weeks ago that showed the race within ten points, but it seemed that Jim had responded in time with a boost in advertising and travel. Jim Oberstar will be sorely missed in the Congress. Not only did he participate as a key player in the ISTEA process in 1988-1991 that led to the creation of the byways and recreational trails program but he has been a stalwart champion in the evolution and expansion of the programs ever since. And on top of that, my personal relationship with Jim Oberstar goes back to the mid 1970′s, when he was still the staff director of the then-Public Works Committee. More than thirty five years of sharing passions and ideas have left me, and many of us, with great memories of time with Jim.We all knew that Jim would not always be the godfather of the byways program in the Congress forever. We have transitioned from champ to champ in the Administration — admittedly with varying levels of success. It is time to get to work on lining up new champions for a new chapter in the byways story.”
- November
1
20102010 Florida State H.O.G. Rally
The 2010 Florida State H.O.G. Rally was a roaring success this year, as a matter of fact, so much so that they will be holding the rally at the same location in 2011. The event was hosted in Destin at the Emerald Grande Resort at HarborWalk Village, with the scene of fishing boats cruising the harbor and dolphins playing in the bay as a spectacular backdrop.
Beginning on October 20th, chapters from across the country started pouring in for the four day rally. The hard work that Florida H.O.G. Rally’s state coordinator, Bruce Fuller, the event staff and volunteers had put in to make it a success was evident from the start. Jean Wallace from the Pensacola Bluff’s Scenic Highway along with Vivian Shamel and Bill Freeze from Walton County’s Scenic 30-A were on hand in the registration room to provide information, educational literature and promotional items for their scenic respective highways and the Florida Scenic Highway Program. It seems that Harley owners really enjoy getting off of the beaten path and the riders were grateful to know there were scenic drives they could take advantage of during the rally. Many of the participants planned to stay longer than the length of the rally or return again to explore Florida’s scenic highways. It was also a great opportunity to make new friends and contacts with members of the Emerald Coast Tourist Development Council.
The event, which brought in about 2,000 bikers, was also a boost to local businesses and economies which had suffered from the effects of the oil spill during the summer months. Next year’s event should be even better and bring more people, as the word is out to the H.O.G. world about the beauty of Northwest Florida.
by Vivian Shamel, member of the Friends of Scenic 30A
- October
25
2010Wildflower Symposium attracts 155
Participants check out silent auction items.
From the Florida Wildflower Association
Our native wildflowers are becoming more firmly rooted in Florida’s communities, as clearly shown by the response to the 2010 Wildflower Symposium in Winter Park. More than 150 people attended the event to learn about wildflower species for landscapes, flowering shrubs and trees, advocacy efforts and the wildflower/butterfly connection.
Presenters included experts such as the Florida Natural History Museum’s Jaret Daniels, of the Butterfly Rainforest, who talked about butterfly-attracting wildflowers, and native-plant grower Brightman Logan, whose presentation on flowering shrubs and trees had many attendees scribbling notes.Eleanor Dietrich, a FWF member and wildflower advocate who lives in Tallahassee, versed the audience in how to jumpstart advocacy in their regions.
Kariena Veaudry, the Florida Native Plant Society’s executive director and a Central Florida landscape architect, introduced the basic principles of landscape design as well as information about readily available wildflowers to use.
Jeff Caster, the Foundation’s outgoing board chairman, gave participants a brief look at the organization’s 2010 accomplishments in its research, planting and education programs.
Between sessions, the lobby of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ headquarters buzzed with a silent auction and book signings by authors. Outside, vendors sold wildflowers and grasses.
Symposium presentations are available for download; please email Lisa Roberts at lrobert@flawildflowers.org to receive a link.
- March
26
2010Florida Celebrates Second Annual State Scenic Highways Day
Orlando, Fla. – On March 26, select roads across the state will recognize Florida Scenic Highways Day – a date created to celebrate Florida’s 26 state designated highway routes.
In addition to regularly scheduled recreational opportunities, some byways will set up welcome center events and hold other special events, festivals and tours.
As part of the Florida Scenic Highways Program, roads are selected for their archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational and/or scenic qualities. From the Panhandle to the southern tip of the state, Florida is home to a variety of these routes, including the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, which was recognized by Reader’s Digest in 2005 as one of its “Most Scenic Drives in America.”
Trips along Florida’s Scenic Highways can range from a two-hour drive along the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway to a long weekend of camping and exploring along the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway.
For more information about the events taking place on Florida Scenic Highways Day, please call Clint Eliason at (407)875-8932. - October
21
2009Florida State HOG Rally in St. Augustine from Oct. 21-24
The Florida State Harley Owners Group (HOG) Rally will be held in St. Augustine from October 21-24, 2009. There will be over 2000 bikers in St. Augustine for this event. Members of the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway will be on hand to host a booth at the host hotel and offer a number of different photography opportunities to riders. The FSHP and A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway booth with be passing out brochures and flyers and selling other items to guests of the event. Anyone within the FSHP community who would like to come or other highways that would like to pass out information can feel free to join in the festivities.
- October
16
2009National Scenic Highway Designations
On October 16, 2009 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced 42 new designations to the America’s Byways collection, including five All-American Roads and 37 National Scenic Byways in 26 states. This increases the total number of America’s Byways to 151 in 46 states. Eight designation applications were submitted from the State of Florida. Out of those eight, four scenic highways were lucky enough to be included in the America’s Byways collection. The three scenic highways that received National Scenic Byway designation from the State of Florida include the Big Bend Scenic Byway, the Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway, and Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail. The Florida Keys Scenic Highway received All-American Road designation. Added to the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway and Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway, this brings the total number of National Scenic Byways within the State of Florida to six. Congratulations to the newly designated America’s Byways!
- October
16
2009National Scenic Byways Grants
353 grants were submitted this year to the National Scenic Byways Program, requesting over $87 million dollars. $42 million dollars is available nationwide. There were 30 grants submitted from the state of Florida, for more than $3 million. A total of 160 projects throughout 43 states were selected to be funded in 2009. Five projects were funded in the State of Florida, for over six hundred thousand dollars. Congratulations to those groups and projects that were funded!
- August
23
20092009 National Scenic Byways Conference – Elevate Your Expertise
The National Scenic Byways Conference was recently held in Denver, CO from August 23-26 at the Denver Tech Center Marriott. There were almost 500 attendees, including over 20 from the state of Florida. Attendees experienced a number of great sessions and learning opportunities while meeting and networking with people from all over the byways world. Mariano Berrios, FSHP State Coordinator and representatives from the Big Bend Scenic Byway presented sessions of their own at the conference also. The FSHP hopes to have even more representatives from the State of Florida at the next NSB Conference in 2011.
- June
16
2009Newly Designated Highways
At the June 17, 2009 Scenic Highways Advisory Committee (SHAC) Meeting, there were three applications that the SHAC reviewed. Those applications were the Broward A1A Designation Application, Indian River Lagoon (IRL) – Fellsmere Corridor Extension Application, and the IRL – Pineapple Avenue Extension Application. The Broward County A1A Scenic Highway was designated as a Florida Scenic Highway and the two IRL extensions were approved also. The length of the Broward County A1A Scenic Highway is 32 miles, and the lengths of the extensions were: Fellsmere Corridor – 27 miles and Pineapple Avenue Extension – 2 miles. These additions bring the number of Florida Scenic Highways to 24 with almost 1500 miles designated. Congratulations to the new corridors!
