When most Americans think of Florida, they focus on magical kingdoms and sandy beaches with palm trees. As a visitor to Blue Grotto and other north-central Florida dive sites, you already know that most people miss a whole other side to Florida. But you must ask yourself, is there more to this part of Florida I haven’t seen?
Last year, we published an article describing Ten things to do with non-diving friends and family. All of these are within an hour’s drive of Blue Grotto. You will want to experience many of these things even if you do not have non-divers to entertain.
This article will look at two more things you may want to experience. They are somewhat further away but worth it.
State Route 40
If you travel to our part of Florida from the east coast, you will want to take State Route 40 at least once. It is among the most scenic drives in the entire state.
State Route 40 stretches from US-41, just north of Rainbow River, all the way to Ormond Beach. In the process, it goes by Silver Springs and crosses the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. Much of the drive passes through the Ocala National Forest.
Silver Springs: Silver Springs State Park is another great place for taking your non-diving friends and family. If you grew up, as we did, watching Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt, you may not be aware of the role Silver Springs played in its production. While all of the topside footage was shot in and around Los Angeles and Catalina Island, the underwater footage was shot here at Silver Springs.
While you can’t dive Silver Spring, you can see some of the props left over from the show during the glass bottom boat tours. There is more to see and do at the park than we can begin to cover here. However, you can learn more about these opportunities on the state park website.
Ray Wayside Park: Located just east of Ocala near where State Route 40 crosses the Ocklawaha River, the park features a boat ramp, restrooms and other amenities (park website).
It’s a great place to launch a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. From here, you can paddle either the Ocklawaha or adjacent Silver Rivers. Along the rivers, you may even encounter the descendants of monkeys who escaped from Silver Springs a century ago. This video shows what you can expect to see.
Astor: State Route 40 crosses the St. Johns River at the laid-back town of Astor. It’s a place that has changed little since the 1950s. At Castaways, you can rent a pontoon boat and spend a half day or longer exploring the river, free from wind, waves, salt and tides.
Saint Augustine
Okay, Saint Augustine itself isn’t strictly off the beaten path. But there are parts of Saint Augustine most tourists miss. If you appreciate history and architecture like us, here are two places you won’t want to miss. Physics tells us time travel isn’t possible, yet both these places will take you over a century back in time.
Flagler College: Henry Flagler commissioned the Hotel Ponce de Leon in the late 1880s to accommodate the ever-increasing number of tourists traveling south on his railroad. When tourism declined following World War II, the hotel closed its doors, and the buildings were sold to Flagler College.
The buildings themselves are an architectural masterpiece harking back to the Gilded Age. Tours are available, but you must purchase tickets in advance.
Lightner Museum: Henry Flagler commissioned the construction of the Hotel Alcazar to accommodate the overflow of guests from Hotel Ponce de Leon. Its construction involved among the first uses of poured concrete for walls and other structural elements. This was such a novel idea that the bare concrete was left unfinished so that people would better appreciate it.
The hotel building houses the Saint Augustine city government offices and the Lightner Museum today. The museum is dedicated to art from the late 19th century and before. And by “art,” we don’t mean just paintings. There is a vast assortment of sculptures, stained glass, pottery and other relics of this bygone age. You can learn more at the museum’s website.
Save money closer to home
Overseas vacation travel has become increasingly expensive. Air travel used to be fun; now it’s anything but. And there is no reason to put up with it.
Florida offers affordable vacation opportunities you can easily drive to. You can travel at your own pace, not someone else’s. Bookend your next visit to Blue Grotto with a visit to one or more of the places we’ve described here. You will save money and have a great time.