Get off the 4-lane, explore Fla. coast

The next time you're heading for a Florida vacation, take your car and get off the four-lane. Take A1A, the older, slower road that was there before Interstate 95, and explore the towns, beaches and parks along the Atlantic Coast.

Don't worry, this is not just a string of tourist towns that will slow you down on your way to Miami. There's enough variety in beaches and barrier islands and small-town atmosphere to make some of it part of the National Scenic Byway Program.

When you get to Jacksonville on your way south on I-95, veer left toward the coast and the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway — http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2477/ — running from Ponte Vedra Beach down the coast past Flagler Beach. You could cover this stretch of Florida in about an hour in good traffic on I-95 but then you'd miss miles of beach, surf, birdwatching and historic sites. Check out "Visitor Services" (rest rooms, camping and miles of biking and hiking) and "Explore" for history and detail of places along the way. And don't neglect their collection of photos.

One of the main cities along this leg of A1A is also a major East Coast historical site and a great place to visit in its own right. St. Augustine _

http://www.getaway4florida.com/ — was the first permanent European city in North America. See what others think in their "Stories, Photos and Videos" section, and see if "Hot Deals" has anything to help stretch your dollar. Park your car and visit the Colonial Spanish Quarter — http://www.historicstaugustine.com/ — or the nation's Oldest Wooden School House — http://www.oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com/.

St. Augustine also is the home of the World Golf Hall of Fame — http://www.wgv.com/ — and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument — http://www.nps.gov/casa/ — the oldest masonry fort in North America.

About 15 miles south of St. Augustine, Fort Matanzas National Monument — http://www.nps.gov/foma/ — is an opportunity to stop and explore this historic fort and its nature trail and beaches.

Pick up some more ideas from Florida's Historic A1A Coastal Scenic Byway — http://www.scenica1a.org/ — which has an interactive map with more detail on boardwalks, parks and preserves. Click on "Scenery" and then look for "watery world" to pick up extra info on beaches and wildlife, and check out "Archaeology" to learn more about the area's history.

One of the attractions along A1A that may have been overshadowed by Florida's big, new theme parks is Marineland — http://www.marineland.net/ — which predates them all, since it was started before World War II as a movie studio. You'll want to either turn down your speakers or click on the tiny "music" icon to hush the dreamy sound track.

Get back on the road and head south to Flagler — http://www.visitflagler.org/ — which boasts of a more relaxed, less developed part of Florida with creeks, 19 miles of beach, fishing, canoeing and more golfing that you can probably fit into a short visit. Click on "What to Do" for a search box to help you find details on your preferred activity. Don't go any farther; the same search box has links to restaurants and places to stay.