Backroads of Florida: Your Guide to Great Day Trips & Weekend Getaways - Softcover

Franklin, Paul M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0760332266 ISBN 13: 9780760332269

Publisher: Voyageur Press, 2009

Synopsis

Away from the bustle of Miami Beach and the tourist extravaganza of Disney World, another Florida beckons to those looking for backroads adventure, quieter fare, or more discriminating fun. This is the Florida where backroads and secret splendors unfold in a landscape rich in the flavors and colors of ancient indigenous cultures, early European settlements, Civil War battles, and myriad Caribbean influences. Authors Paul Franklin and Nancy Mikula take you to every corner of the Sunshine State, from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys, with journeys along miles of spectacular coastline and forays into the wonders of lush interior forests, pristine lakes, and otherworldly swamplands. Florida is home to nearly a dozen national parks, forests, and seashores, and Backroads of Florida explores these attractions and many more, illustrated with breathtaking color photographs throughout. The book presents the background history and culture for Florida's varied natural and human communities along with descriptions of the best destinations and sites to visit during your travels.

About this title

About the Authors

Paul Franklin is a travel photographer and writer whose work has appeared in numerous national publications, including Yankee, WoodenBoat, Travel America, Coast to Coast, Harrowsmith, and others. Paul also photographed Voyageur Press\u2019 Our Washington, D.C. and The Barnes and Noble Complete Guide to the Public Parks and Gardens of Washington, D.C. He has authored numerous books, including the Eyewitness Travel Guides Canada and Southwest USA & Las Vegas, and the AAA Spiral Guide to Washington, D.C. He collaborated with Nancy Mikula on South Carolina\u2019s Plantations and Historic Homes for Voyageur Press. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photographers and the American Society of Travel Writers.

Author and researcher Nancy Mikula has a passion for exploring backroads and discovering little-known historic sites. Her articles on travel, historic, and human-interest subjects have appeared in numerous magazines in the United States and Canada, including Maturity, Leisureways, and Writer's Digest. In addition to collaborating on South Carolina's Plantations and Historic Homes, she recently authored the DK Top Ten Guide to Santa Fe, the DK Top Ten Guide to San Antonio. She is co-author of several books, including the Eyewitness Travel Guide Arizona & the Grand Canyon. She spends her winters enjoying the warmth of coastal South Carolina.

From the Back Cover

Can you still find wild, untrammeled stretches of sand and sea in the Sunshine State? Or follow shady byways to citrus-filled orchards, mesmerizing blue springs, and charming towns filled with colorful galleries and antique shops? Backroads of Florida answers both questions with a resounding yes! Here are thirty-one driving tours that lead to some of the state s most secret splendors.

From the funky, timeless charm of Key West to the haunted history of Amelia Island, veteran travel writers Paul Franklin and Nancy Mikula will introduce you to a Florida that few travelers experience, where quiet country byways and quirky roadside charm lie just beyond the glittering coastal cities and trendy beach resorts. Along the way, you ll follow in the footsteps of the Spanish explorers, pirates, and cowboys who shaped Florida s earliest history. And you ll find adventure! Whether it s rocketing across the Everglades in an airboat, snorkeling with manatees in a crystalline river, or paddling your kayak through a cypress swamp alive with alligators, orchids, and tropical birds, there s a world of excitement and beauty waiting for you along the Backroads of Florida.

Edition details

• Publisher: Voyageur Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0760332266
• ISBN 13: 9780760332269
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160