by TRC_Admin | May 27, 2020 | Scenic Highways
Map: Florida Scenic Highways
“Danielle Anderson, Byway Administrator for the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, informed local Historic City News reporters that her organization was one-of-two National Scenic Byways in Florida to receive recognition. Their video project, ‘Capturing the A1A Byway Story’, part of the Roadmap to History video series in development, was selected for Honorable Mention by the National Scenic Byway Foundation on April 23, 2020.
‘Capturing the A1A Byway Story’ introduces audiences around the world to the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, one of 150 National Scenic Byways in America. With visually stunning images, the video captures a snapshot of the stories behind the creation of the advocacy group representing Flagler and St Johns counties as the Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway.
‘We were proud to receive the news that our project had been selected for Honorable Mention by the National Scenic Byway Foundation,’ said Friends of A1A President, Marge Rooyakkers. ‘The team that worked on this project put in a tremendous amount of effort to make this happen, and our supporting partners from the A1A Byway communities were gracious in sharing information and taking part in this project to showcase all that the northeast Florida region has to offer.
The Florida Keys All-American Road was selected for first place, receiving the 2020 Byway Organization Marketing and Communications Award… In a release from the National Scenic Byway Foundation, Executive Director Sharon Strouse, cited the reasons behind the selection. ‘The St Augustine group recognized that humans are visual learners in this fast-paced world,’ Strouse wrote. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words is their refrain.’
Widespread support by the many project partners, and recognizing the intrinsic qualities of the 72-mile byway coastal corridor, is credited for the success of the project, Anderson told Historic City News…”
— Historic City News
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by TRC_Admin | Apr 26, 2020 | Scenic Highways, Trees
Photo: Donna Meredith
“The Tallahassee Garden Club is asking you to nominate your favorite live oak to become part of the Third Live Oak Trail. The next time you walk through your neighborhood or on a local trail, take time to appreciate the live oaks and snap a photograph of the biggest and best. Tree candidates should be visible from the street or on public property.
‘Citizens have an opportunity to become part of a community celebration honoring Tallahassee’s natural beauty — these are our trees,’ said Sudi Scott, TGC tree chair and trail coordinator.
After nominations are gathered, the Tallahassee Democrat will publish a list of locations on the trail. Just as families drive through nearby neighborhoods to view Christmas light displays, they will be able drive slowly through neighborhoods to savor a view of our heritage trees from the safety of their cars. Or citizens can stroll along a greenway or trail to enjoy groves of these ancient trees.
TGC, in cooperation with local teachers, will offer suggestions for ways parents can pass along the history and ecological importance of our heritage trees to the next generation.
‘By documenting our oldest live oak trees, our community would help revive the importance of Tallahassee’s trees and carry over an appreciation of our history,’ said Scott. She hopes the Third Live Oak Trail will gain support for thoughtful planning so Tallahassee’s citizens can preserve our city’s natural beauty today for future generations.
‘Beauty equals livability,’ Scott said…
Those trees that were on Tallahassee’s earlier Live Oak Trails will also be included if they still stand. The first Live Oak Trail took place June 6, 1940. It was co-sponsored by the Tallahassee Garden Club and the Community Planning Council. The second event was held April 13 and 14, 1941.
These original Live Oak Trails aimed to prevent destruction of the city’s live oaks, according to “The Live Oak Trail” (1999) by Carolyde Phillips O’Bryan. O’Bryan’s main resource was a scrapbook kept by her aunt, Carrie Edwards Elliot, who was instrumental in organizing the first trail. Carrie Elliot, along with her garden club colleagues and the Committee Planning Council, deserve much credit for tree preservation in Tallahassee and the development of protective ordinances.
As the book’s preface makes clear: ‘The giant live oak trees that give Tallahassee its shade and beauty are here today because of the efforts of a small group of men and women who struggled over many years to keep the city from cutting them down.’
Carrie Elliot’s legacy continues today as TGC launches a Third Live Oak Trail, and citizens strive to protect these grand oaks that are part of Tallahassee’s heritage… ”
— Donna Meredith, Tallahassee Democrat
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by TRC_Admin | Apr 26, 2020 | Scenic Highways
Photo: Times
“Living in a state surrounded largely by water means an abundance of two things: beaches and beautiful drives. It’s not unusual to find a bridge, like the Sunshine Skyway, hoisted hundreds of feet above sea level, giving drivers an expansive view of the waters below.
So you can imagine there’s plenty of competition for the title of ‘most scenic drive in Florida.’ Last year, online publication Thrillist came out with a list of the country’s most scenic drives in all 50 states and they named the Florida Keys’ famous Seven-Mile Bridge as the winner.
‘The open blue sea stretching out on all sides might get a little repetitive when you’re looking out the window, but it’s easy to appreciate the novelty of driving one of the longest bridges in the world,’ wrote Thrillist’s Aaron Miller…
Tallahassee’s Canopy Roads
A drive east from town on Miccosukee Road will treat visitors to one of Tallahassee’s canopy roads. Times (2010) Florida’s landscape differs incredibly when you drive from north to south. Miami offers more of a tropical landscape, with palm trees, beaches and heat.
But in Tallahassee, there’s more of a traditional Southern landscape, with big trees and a different kind of green.
That is especially true of Tallahassee’s nine official canopy roads, forming a total of 78 miles of distance…
Clearwater Memorial Causeway
A shot from below of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway in 2007. Times (2007) On bad days, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway is simply a lengthy obstacle to the beach.
But for many, it’s a place to walk, bike or look at birds.
The bridge is about half a mile long and people have even made videos of their experiences driving across the structure. Fort Island Trail by Crystal River
A view from Fort Island Trail near Crystal River, a scenic road with numerous twists and turns. Image from Google Earth This drive was described by one editor as a good way to clear your head. Another said this was a drive full of twists and turns, a bit adventurous for Florida’s typical, flat landscape.
The road winds by the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and past Fort Island Trail Park before coming to Fort Island Beach. Take the path for a spin if you like…”
— Elizabeth Djinis, Tampa Bay Times
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by TRC_Admin | Dec 31, 2019 | Scenic Highways
Photo: Keys Weekly
“Traversing over the bridges outlooking the blue waters of the Florida Keys never gets old, especially for Islamorada Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director Judy Hull.
‘I think my favorite part is driving to work or to meetings and looking out the window at the gorgeous view and just thinking how incredibly lucky we are to be living, working and playing here,’ she said.
Hull played a major role in enhancing the scenic image of Overseas Highway, and her leadership and efforts went rewarded in early November as she received the 2019 Garry Balogh Inspiring Excellence Award during a Florida Scenic Highways meeting in DeBary.
Photo: Keys Weekly
The award honors the late Balogh, a state Department of Transportation employee who was responsible for the designation and successful implementation of many Florida Scenic Highways. Recognizing leadership, innovation and achievements that have made a lasting impact on a scenic highway, the award was destined for Hull, who played a key role in resurrecting the byway organization in the Keys and achieving All-American Road status for Overseas Highway.
‘Judy is the one-and-only Floridian to get a road recognized nationally as an All- American Road, the highest designation possible by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,’ said Jeff Caster, program coordinator for the Florida Scenic Highways Program. ‘And 10 years later, it remains the state’s only All American Road, one of only 31 nationally.’
The Florida Keys Scenic Highway was designated as a Florida Scenic Highway in 2001. The byway was managed by Clean Florida Keys, but after two years, it disbanded and the organization was no more. That’s when Hull stepped in to bring life back to the group, thus establishing the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor that assumed management and responsibility.
Once established, Hull worked to reestablish long-neglected partnerships up and down the Keys. From the chambers of commerce to the county and Florida Department of Transportation, she led updates to an outdated corridor management plan while guiding the organization and its missions and vision into the future.
That vision led to All-American Highway status for the 110-miles of road from Key Largo to Key West. Designated by the Federal Highway Administration in 2009, Overseas Highway is the only All-American Road in Florida, and one of 30 in the U.S. The designation brought significant research and coordination, and Hull says the application filled a three-ring binder. In achieving an All-American Road status, the thoroughfare must possess characteristics of national significance that don’t exist elsewhere — making it a visitor destination in and of itself…
Originally completed in 1938, the Overseas Highway incorporates 42 bridges over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. They include the Seven Mile Bridge at Marathon, which stretches 6.79 miles across open water and was referred to on its completion as ‘the eighth wonder of the world.”
— Jim McCarthy, Keys Weekly
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by TRC_Admin | Nov 6, 2019 | Scenic Highways
Photo: News-Journal, Jewell Tomazin
“Between the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, The Casements and Rockefeller Gardens, and beachfront parks, Florida’s north Volusia County is home to many photo-worthy places.
One of Florida’s well-known scenic routes, the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail, is stunning and diverse from start to finish.
Narrow roads pass through preserved oceanfront on Highway A1A, wind along rivers and creeks on High Bridge Road and Walter Boardman Lane, venture beneath oaks and beside sugar mill ruins on Old Dixie Highway and are lined by the luxurious waterfront homes on John Anderson Drive…
With a loop of more than 30 miles surrounding the Halifax River, there are beautiful sights on every corner. Pictures do no justice to the trail, best explored by car or by bicycle, for those who have the endurance.
Only a few feet of land separates the road in some areas, which winds along marsh, creeks and rivers on High Bridge Road.
Preserved barrier island and dune habitats can be seen along parts of John Anderson Drive and A1A, giving passersby a glimpse of Old Florida…”
— Jewell Tomazin, News-Journal
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by TRC_Admin | Sep 30, 2019 | Scenic Highways
Photo: Acadia All-American Road, Scenic America
“Last night the White House announced that President Trump signed into law the ‘Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019.’
This is a great victory for all of us! Together we made phone calls and sent emails to our Members of Congress and that work paid off. Congratulations, and thank you for making Scenic America who we are today.
The law requires the Secretary of Transportation to start the application process for new byways within 90 days and designate a round of new National Scenic Byways within one year. We’ll keep you updated as this process unfolds.
Click here to read Scenic America’s full statement, along with those of allied organizations, on the signing of the legislation. To better understand how this new law will benefit communities along scenic byways everywhere, please read our editorial published in The Hill last week.
We would again like to thank Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) for their leadership in the House, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) for their leadership in the Senate. ”
— Scenic America
Visit Scenic America for more information
