"THE I-95 DRIVE"
A FEW MUST-STOP PLACES

The I-95 Guide

The most time-honored route to Florida is to follow the Interstates and take a few hours or even days to see some sights along the way.  For those coming from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts, you'll most likely be traveling Interstate 95, which runs from Houlton, Maine to Miami.  Scenic U.S. 1 is another southbound route along the east coast running through small towns and hamlets.  If you're driving, why not take some extra time to take in some of the local sights?  Even if some stops are off the beaten path, a brief interlude can turn what can be an arduous trip into an adventure.

Exit 88 
The mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa (Groton, Conn.)
 Unwind before your journey really gets going with a visit to the on-site spa.  http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/GONMM

Exit 177-B 
Alexandria, Va. 
 THE stop along I-95 for history buffs.  Top sights include Christ Church, where George Washington and Robert E. Lee often worshipped; the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where you can see artists in action; the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, and the Collingwood Library and Museum of Americanism, which has Washington's diaries, Paul Revere's latern and 600 volumes of genealogy.   www.thefunsideofthepotomac.com

Exit 83-B 
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens (Richmond, Va.) 
Stretch your legs and take in a little natural bauty at the same time.  More than 30 acres of gardens, including the Henry M. Flagler Perennial Garden, one of the largest and most diverse perennial grounds on the East Coast.  http://www.lewisginter.org/

Exit 95 
The Ava Gardner Museum (Smithfield, NC.) 
A resident's tribute to the movie star located in her home town.  The museum has more than 30 paintings of the star as well as her costumes and other memorabilia.  www.avagardner.org


Exit 84-A 
St. Augustine, Fl. 
The nation's oldest city, its sights tell its story.  Take a guided tour of the city, which was founded in 1565, via horse-drawn carriage, trolley, sightseeing train or cruise on Matanzas Bay.  More han 85 historic sites and attractions, including Castillo de San Marcos, the nation's oldest masonry fortress; the Spanish Quarter Museium; Fort Matanzas; St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum; Government House Museum; Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, and St. George Street, a walkable historic district with 18th century Spanish Colonial houses and boutiques.   http://www.visitoldcity.com/

Exit 323
World Golf Hall of Fame & IMAX Theater (St. Augustine, Fl.)
For a complete history of the game, visit this 75,000 square foot museum in the World Golf Village.  The Village has been named one of the Top 75 Golf Resorts in the US by Golf Digest.  Attactions include Murray Bros. Caddyshack, the flagship restaurant of actor Bill Murray and his five brothers; the PGA Tour Spa Laterra; movies at the IMAX Theater and shopping.  If you're itching to get a round in, there are two 72-par championship courses, as well as instruction at the PGA Tour Academy.  http://www.wgv.com/

Exit 77
Peanut Island & the Kennedy Bomb Shelter
(Off the Coast of Singer Island, Fl.)
Only reachable by boat, this island has been revamped by Palm Beach County and is a fun day trip.  During his presidency, John F. Kennedy was a frequent visitor to his family's Palm Beach estate and, in the tense days of the Cuban missle crisis, he built this nuclear fallout shelter, a five-minute helicopter ride from their compound.  It is now leased by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum and open for weekend tours. www.pbmm.org

Exit 16
South Beach (Miami, Fl.)
You're guaranteed to see some sights you have never seen before.  Not much else to say, you just have to see it for yourself.  Get a glimpse of what's in store at the official website of the Greater Miami Covention & Visitors Bureau.  http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/