This two-day road trip itinerary crosses Central Florida from Flagler Beach on the Atlantic Coast to Tampa and St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast, visiting St. Augustine and Silver Springs on the way.

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Day 1: Flagler Beach – St. Augustine – Silver Springs – Tampa

Orlando is a convenient starting point for a Central Florida trip, with cheap flights arriving from across the country. Leave the theme parks behind to head for Flagler Beach on the Atlantic Coast. There are plenty of oceanfront restaurants to pick from for breakfast with ocean views. Flagler Beach is the southern gateway to the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, Florida’s coastal road that spans 72 miles of the Atlantic Coast.

The A1A leads to the historic city of St. Augustine. Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, it holds the claim to the oldest continuously occupied city in the US. The historic center is made up of narrow and winding streets that still reflect the original Spanish colonial-style street plan.

If the Sunshine State is not living up to its nickname, you can find sunny vibes in restaurant The Floridian. The tropical interior and colorful salad bowls add sunshine to any grey day, especially topped off with gourmet popsicles from The Hyppo.

Next stop is Silver Springs State Park, a 90-minute drive inland from St. Augustine. Florida is home to over 700 natural springs, an essential part of the Central Florida landscape. Silver Springs is Florida’s oldest commercial tourist attraction. Since the 1870s, glass bottom boats have been giving tourists a unique look into the crystal-clear water of the springs.

The glass bottom boats continue to take people out on the water for 30 minutes of old-school fun. The temperate waters of the springs attract manatees in winter, but the lush scenery is beautiful year-round. Legend has it that Tarzan’s monkeys hang out in the trees, after they escaped when the movie was being filmed here in the 1930s.

If you are set on seeing manatees, Florida’s Crystal River on the Gulf Coast is almost guaranteed to bring you up close with these gentle giants in winter.

Continue the drive to Tampa, a vibrant city on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The Riverwalk in Downtown Tampa is perfect for an evening stroll with Downtown views. You can watch the sunset over the river with drinks at Armature Works, which houses a hip food market.

Ybor City is Tampa’s historic Latin quarter, a lively area known for history and nightlife. 7th Avenue is lined with restaurants and open-air bars. The oldest restaurant on the block is Colombia, founded in 1905 as a Cuban coffee and sandwich bar. Over the years the menu was expanded with a mix of Spanish and Caribbean entrees, but the restaurant is still operated by the same family.

Day 2: St. Petersburg – Fort de Soto

St. Petersburg and Clearwater are located on a peninsula right across the Tampa Bay. The peninsula houses some of the best beaches in the state and even the country. Stunning Fort de Soto Park is spread out over five interconnected keys. You can camp right on the water in lush scenery, enjoy the white sands of North Beach or take a bike trip across the different keys on the seven-mile paved trail.

If you want to get out on the water, you have a variety of boat tours to pick from in St. Petersburg. Float on the Tampa Bay in a tiki hut with Totally Tiki Tours for a memorable way to enjoy the St. Pete’s skyline. The tiki boats hold up to six people and are BYOB.

It might come as a surprise that the Salvador Dalí Museum is located in St. Petersburg. The impressive building houses many iconic works of the Spanish artist and is a great way to end this two-day trip in Central Florida.

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