Highway A1A and U.S. Route 1 along Florida's east coast, from Titusville to St. Augustine, are where you'll find the real Florida. Along its 175 miles of coastline, this excursion will lead you to some of the state's greatest beaches, seafood joints, and sleepy villages. Gather your bathing suit, some water bottles, and a beach umbrella. All of them are essential.

Alligators and Atlantis: Titusville, Florida

Take State Road 528 (a toll road) east of Orlando. It is a direct route to the beach called the "Beach Line Expressway." Learn how salt manufacturing helped the Union cause during the Civil War by taking the self-guided walking tour of the city center.

When you feel hungry in Titusville, Florida, go to Dixie Crossroads for some blackened Mahi. For over 30 years, residents and visitors have made it they're go-to for delicious seafood.

Skip the beach and head 15 minutes inland to Christmas, Florida, where you may enjoy the Airboat Rides at Midway. Take some pictures while holding the newborn alligators at their facility before you embark on your boat tour of the Everglades.

New Smyrna Beach, Florida: Sand and Sea Turtles

New Smyrna Beach, particularly Flagler Avenue, has everything you need for a relaxing day at the beach, with enough to do if the sun becomes too harsh.

Due to the compact nature of the white sand, visitors are welcome to bring their vehicles directly onto the beach. But speed restrictions are strictly enforced, so pick a place up or down the beach and make yourself comfortable. 6

Sand Dollar Charters has pontoon boats available for hire, perfect for a relaxing day on the lake. You may also take your time over lunch at JB's Fish Camp by renting ocean kayaks or stand-up paddle boards and cruising the coast. 7

If you visit New Smyrna Beach during October and December, you will almost certainly see a sea turtle nesting near the coast. However, it would help if you did not pet them because of their extreme protection. 8

A Need for Speed: Daytona Beach, Florida

In the 1980s and 1990s, Daytona Beach hosted some of the most legendary spring breaks in the history of the beach, with college students packing the sand from door to shore and neon bikinis being the fashion of choice. 7

It would help if you got going at the famous Daytona International Speedway, which has recently undergone a major renovation. A 13-foot (4-meter) LED sign with more than 3,600 bright-light bulbs and the third layer of seating have been added to the racetrack since its 1959 construction. Get an overview of the new features by taking a 30-minute tram ride through the open air. 6

Historic St. Augustine, Florida

Ponce de Leon established the settlement of St. Augustine in 1565. Here is where he began (and completed) his quest to find the Fountain of Youth. A bottle of the spring's water can be taken with you, although it probably won't have the magical healing properties that Ponce de Leon sought. 5

It was the first European settlement in the Americas, so it has a rich history, and new information is still being discovered about it. Archaeologists discovered human remains dating back to the past in February of 2017, leading them to speculate that the individuals who lived there may have been the area's first inhabitants. 4

You should plan to stay at least one night to fully use the beaches, explore the streets paved with cobblestone, and take in the atmosphere. Invest a couple of hours in wandering through the historic city's maze-like network of winding alleys peppered with stores. 3

Rolling Greens: Fernandina Beach

You can get to Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island from St. Augustine by taking Route 1 north and then switching to the I-295 northbound. When you enter, you will feel that you have been transported to another age. The marina at Fernandina Beach, where the modern shrimping industry started, is where the boats set sail most of the day. 2

If you are going to visit during the late spring, summer, or fall, you should put golfing on your to-do list. At the Fernandina Beach Golf Club, the Champion Bermuda grass appears to be in pristine shape. You may walk the entire course for just $19! 1