Great state: Florida’s tranquil coastline on the way from Orlando to Miami
As the lead horse exited the oak trees of Amelia Island State Park, our first view of the vast white-sand beach was like an epic theatrical production, curtain up on several miles of pristine Atlantic coastline.
We had the place to ourselves, along with the eight other members of our Kelly Seahorse Ranch trail ride.
It was the most unexpected destination of our Sunshine State circumnavigation, courtesy of Hertz and its new USA Road Trip Planner.
Driving from Orlando to Miami, it covered 905 miles.
In our spacious Chevrolet Malibu, we travelled in comfort, and, with petrol at $2.30 (£1.70) a gallon, we paid just $65 (£48) for ‘gas’ on the journey.
While much of the route showcased Florida’s natural charms, we couldn’t resist a day of Harry Potter theme-park fun at Universal Orlando to start, but then it was off to Crystal River to go kayaking in search of manatees.
Turning north-east took us on the excursion’s longest leg, 167 miles to Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, where we enjoyed the Civil War-era Fort Clinch, went on a sunset cruise, stayed at the Blue Heron Inn, and took our first horse-ride of the trip.
From there it was south along the scenic A1A, visiting historic St Augustine (America’s oldest city – founded 1565), Daytona Beach with its speedway race track, and the unmissable modern history of the Kennedy Space Center.
Stuart, at the mouth of the Indian River, boasted eco-tours, shipwreck coastline and an unspoiled downtown.
As part of the route, you can experience the unmissable history of the Kennedy Space Center
West Palm Beach offered the uber-chic shopping of Worth Avenue before we reached Miami, where we spent time among the beautiful people of Ocean Drive as well as the culture vultures at the Vizcaya Museum.
Finally, we pottered 90 minutes south to Key Largo. If Stuart was laid-back, this gateway to the Keys was positively horizontal.
Our final dinner at Snook’s Bayside restaurant concluded things in the way only Florida can: an epic sunset, sensational seafood and a sense of the great outdoors – with the accent on the ‘great’.