by Rebecca Mayglothling

Created on: August 29, 2010

During youth, road trips from central New York to Florida were a regular occurrence. The travel was spectacular and the changing scenery was fascinating. Remembering the drive can be more fun than remembering the vacation itself.

Starting from Central New York, the most direct route to Florida is Interstate 81 to Interstate 95, with a few side roads and highways in between. Interstate 95 is the famous East Coast highway running from Maine to Florida. Depending on the state, the road is either free or toll.

On the way to Florida from New York, the scenery is worth the trip. In Pennsylvania, notice the mountain peaks on either side of 81. Be sure to note the cliffs on the side of some sections of the highway, as the obvious dynamite blasts are beyond fascinating. Before switching highways in Harrisburg, consider staying a night and visiting Lancaster or other historic Pennsylvania sites. Philadelphia is also just a short drive from the direct route.

Through Maryland and Virginia, note the sudden climate change. Be sure to shed the extra clothing needed in New York before getting out of the car - it's that hot! Interstate 95 speeds past Washington DC, so consider a stop to the nation's capital while traveling the East Coast. 

North and South Carolina offer amazing Southern scenery, and if there is time, visit South of the Border, a neat souvenir shop on the border of the Carolinas. This leg of the trip draws close to the ocean, so consider visiting one of the Carolina's many beaches on the ocean front.

Skirting the eastern edge of Georgia, stop and be sure to sample some native cuisine. Georgians make some of the best finger foods in America. The best place to find such food is outside of a chain, in small locally owned diners. While there, beware of the sweet tea! Southern sweet tea is not Northern sweet tea! Southerners add sugar to already sweetened sweet tea. After stopping in Georgia, the next stop is Florida!

Of course, Florida is full of beaches, amusement parks, and sun. Whatever the reason for visiting Florida, the road trip from New York to Florida can be just as fun as the stay in Florida. This trip will take fourteen hours of straight travel, so stopping along the way to see some of the most interesting sites on the Easter seaboard is worth the extra time it takes to complete the trip.

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