“People forget the good that zoos do. If it weren’t for zoos, we would have so many species that would be extinct today.“ -Betty White “I became very critical of zoos and circuses and keeping animals in captivity. I wish it was against the law.” -Christopher Walken A drive down A1A, from beginning to end,… Continue reading A1A Animal Encounters: Accredited Zoos and Mammal Marine Parks
Author: Phil Dignan
From the Past: Casper’s Gatorland Alligator Farm
Billed as the “World’s LARGEST Alligator Farm, Casper’s Gatorland Alligator Farm was located on US 1, just a few miles north of St. Augustine and A1A. In the 1940’s, it was known as the Ostrich and Alligator Farm. Opened in 1946, Gatorland closed in 1982. What probably caught the eye of travelers riding on this… Continue reading From the Past: Casper’s Gatorland Alligator Farm
A Saturday on A1A: an Alligator and a Rocket Launch (and reflections of a dinghy of death)
On Saturday, May 15, 2021, an item was checked off the bucket list—I saw a rocket blast off into outer space from Kennedy Space Center. (This blog entry shares a misadventure, a Saturday visit to Kennedy Space Center to see a rocket launch, and information on Space Coast sites related to the space program.) Living… Continue reading A Saturday on A1A: an Alligator and a Rocket Launch (and reflections of a dinghy of death)
6. Nassau County: Main Beach to American Beach
Because breakfast is “the most important meal of the day” (check out this link on how this phrase came to be—it really has nothing to do about A1A, but I love to share trivia, so….), I open up this blog by sharing my meal at Tortuga Jacks. Located on the upper floor of Slider’s Seafood… Continue reading 6. Nassau County: Main Beach to American Beach
5. Nassau County: Centre Street to Main Beach Park
The fifth entry of the Complete A1A journey begins at Fernandina Beach’s tourist center, Centre Street, just short of 27 miles from A1A’s northern terminus, Callahan. With so much to offer travelers, this blog entry focuses on just under two and a half miles. Centre Street is the main hub of what is the Fernandina… Continue reading 5. Nassau County: Centre Street to Main Beach Park
A Saturday on A1A: Curiosities along the Ormond Loop and Daytona Beach
Florida is definitely known for being weird, odd, unusual—and historical. A ride on the Ormond Loop and exploring the Daytona Beach area will truly support this notion. Check out this Rode A1A blog, and Happy Traveling!
From Jumbo Shrimp to Marlins: Baseball Along A1A
Baseball is back, and A1A offers a chance to get close to the ballpark for the 2021 season, with some changes at the beginning of the season at least. Miami Marlins fans enjoyed opening day against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 1 with an allotted 25% capacity. In honor of baseball’s return to its… Continue reading From Jumbo Shrimp to Marlins: Baseball Along A1A
Blasting Off Along A1A: Visiting Titusville
At 6:11 a.m. on April 22, 2021, NASA will launch its SpaceX Crew-2 Mission to the International Space Station; this manned crew, consisting of four astronauts, will be aboard a Crew Dragon Space Craft atop a Falcon 9 Rocket. This is a target date and of course is subject to change. So where can you… Continue reading Blasting Off Along A1A: Visiting Titusville
The Not So Convenient ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ Cocoa Beach Tour
On September 18, 1965, during the race to space between the United States and the Soviet Union, an anomaly occurred (I learned that NASA likes the word anomaly over mishap during my recent visit to Florida’s Space Coast) that would change America’s view over its space program and have international implications for nearly half a… Continue reading The Not So Convenient ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ Cocoa Beach Tour
A1A Lighthouses Along A1A’s Buccaneer Trail
For lighthouse aficionados, A1A offers the chance to experience 25 of the, according to Lighthouse Friends, 31 existing lighthouses in Florida (numbers vary on other websites). Some can be viewed right off of A1A; others are offshore and will require much effort and coordination to visit; A1A will at least get you close to a… Continue reading A1A Lighthouses Along A1A’s Buccaneer Trail
4. Nassau County (Yulee to Fernandina Beach): a Float on Lofton Creek, and Other Fun Stuff
Before starting Part 4 of the A1A journey south, let’s review. Starting in Callahan, A1A goes in a easterly direction, crossing at two major intersections: I-95 and US 17, and arriving at Yulee, home of the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, Derrick Henry. Now, the journey continues from US 17 to Amelia Island. Just short of… Continue reading 4. Nassau County (Yulee to Fernandina Beach): a Float on Lofton Creek, and Other Fun Stuff
Funky Donuts from Swillerbees (Flagler Beach)
Driving from my home in Jacksonville on St. Patrick’s Day eve, my goal on this particular Saturday was to climb the Ponce Inlet and St. Augustine lighthouses, both within close proximity to A1A. I was out the door at around 6:03 a.m., got onto A1A at 6:33 a.m., and found my spot to watch the… Continue reading Funky Donuts from Swillerbees (Flagler Beach)
RODE A1A 