Floridiana Magazine

History. Heritage. Home.

Florida Backroad Travels

Most days are spent in the car heading to a specific location: the office, the grocery store, a restaurant or one of the many Florida parks and attractions on my list of places to visit.  But there are days when it’s good to just get out on the backroads with no real destination in mind.

County Road 665

Recently, my travels took me down some backroads in Hardee County – a rural county tucked in the middle of the state about 75 miles southeast of Tampa.  Hardee is where I grew up, graduated from high school, and where my family still lives.  If there’s one thing that can be said about this place, it’s that there are some beautiful backroads and a lot of opportunities to see “old Florida.”  You just have to look for them.

County Road 665

Whether you head to Hardee or any of the other smaller counties in Florida, there are a few things to keep in mind before setting out:

  • Carry a map – Some country roads are in areas with limited cell service. You probably wouldn’t get lost, but why take a chance?
  • Take your time – The speed limit is usually lower on these backroads anyway, and there’s nothing wrong with going that speed, or even slower. If you go too fast, you’re going to miss the sights, which defeats the purpose of backroad travel.
  • Look everywhere – Not everything there is to see will be by the side of the road. Deer, turkeys and other wildlife can often be spotted, but you have to look for them.  Look in the wooded areas, in pastures, in the middle of orange groves.  And don’t forget to look in the trees or on power poles.  Eagles and other birds can be spotted nesting here as well.
  • Take your camera and binoculars – The binoculars will give you a close up look at some of the wildlife and the camera will preserve your travels.
  • Watch out for the other guy – Believe it or not, you probably won’t be alone on some of these backroads. They are also popular for motorcyclists who spend their weekends out riding.

 

The state’s many backroads offer the adventurer mile after mile of “old Florida.”  Fill up your gas tank and head on out.  The scenery is well worth the drive.

Sweetwater Road

What are some of your favorite backroads to travel?  Leave us a comment!

 

 

A Step Back in Time: McIntosh, Florida

If you ever get a chance to just meander along some of Florida’s backroads, do it.  There is an abundance of treasures to be found.  On this particular trip, we set out specifically for McIntosh, a town with a population of 452, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Located off U.S. Highway 441, McIntosh is less than 20 miles south of Gainesville.  Not that you would get lost, but it is easy to find your way around town. Avenues are named A – J, and streets are numbered 1st – 12th.  Those streets and avenues are lined with towering oak trees with branches that seem to be reaching out and inviting you to take “a step back in time.”

This quaint community is home to more than 60 structures that qualify as historic buildings.  According to the National Register of Historic Places, the buildings include packing houses, churches, houses and the train depot.

One of the numerous churches in McIntosh | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

McIntosh History

Its history dates back to 1849 when land that included McIntosh was purchased at a government auction held in Micanopy. Development took off after the Florida Southern Railroad was built in 1881.  The route covered 81 miles from Palatka to Gainesville and Ocala and, when the train depot was built around 1895, it became the hub of citrus and vegetable shipping in the area.

McIntosh hasn’t changed in more than 80 years.  After the last train passed through in 1974, a local group known as The Friends of McIntosh purchased the depot and restored it.  The depot now houses a museum of railroad memorabilia. From the ticket counter to the baggage area, visitors can take that step back in time and experience a slice of life of old Florida railroad history.

McIntosh Train Depot | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

We visited for the sole purpose of attending the McIntosh 1890s Festival, sponsored by the “Friends” every October.   The group works to “preserve and enhance the natural and historic beauty of McIntosh,” and  sponsors the festival to assist in those efforts.  Live music, craft vendors and food lined the streets for this one day event which drew more than 35,000 people from around the state. (The first festival in 1974 drew 4,000 visitors.) Money from the event is used to fund a variety of projects, including scholarships, park infrastructure, funds to the local school and assistance for other community needs.

McIntosh 1890s Festival | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

A trip to McIntosh is the perfect way to spend a Saturday, whether you’re attending the October festival or just looking for a relaxing day.  Take a detour off the Interstate and enjoy more of the real Florida.

“You can’t travel the back roads very long without discovering a multitude of gentle people doing good for others with no expectation of gain or recognition. The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines. Some people out there spend their whole lives selflessly.”   Charles Kuralt, Journalist

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