Looking to spend a week in St Augustine, FL
 

Looking to spend a week in St Augustine, FL

My wife and I (70 yo) are looking to spend a week in St Augustine, and are specifically looking at a week rental of a condo S of ST A, at Anastasia Island, and, hopefully, do a bit of light "beach cruiser" bike riding.

Anyone here from St A?

A couple of places we are looking at are some condos in Beachers Lodge and Ocean Village Club, among others.

Hopefully, we will get close to the state park, and we want an ocean front (water front) condo with water view and direct access.

We love to bike, walk, and I like swimming in the ocean.

I ride about 3,500 miles per year, my wife about 1,000 or so. I ride Lemond BA, and my beater Spec HR. Wife rides hybrid and mtn bike.

We will also be visiting her sister in Longwood (N Orlando) area, and may plan on driving from St A to Orlando. Is this a long, hard drive?

Any ideas or suggestions? We live in CO.

Thanks.

Traffic around Orlando is not pleasant in that area at all, Im sorry to say.
Not sure what you consider 'long', but hard, I would opine, 'yes'.
St. A is beautiful, though........

If you are up for a drive, check out Mt. Dora, which is slightly NW of Orlando.
Might be the best kept secret in FL ! :thumb:

The drive from St. Augustine to Orlando is not too bad, especially if your destination North Orlando. Probably just over an hour. As mentioned above, the Mt. Dora area is a great cycling area. Clermont is another very nice cycling area, though its a little bit further to drive - being slightly West of Orlando. It could be argued that these two areas offer some of the best road riding in the entire state. The Florida Freewheelers website provides maps/cue sheets for some choice routes in & around these areas.

If you are thinking of coming south towards Orlando, there is some nice cycling near Deland. The Florida Freewheelers have ride maps for that area on their website as well as Clermont and Mt. Dora.

Also a couple of hours north of St Augustine is Jekyl Island in Georgia. I saw it rated in the top 10 islands for riding bikes. That might have been going some. But it is a good place to ride.

Another island that seems to have possibilities is Amelia Island which is just north of Jacksonville.

If you feel really peppy, you could go all the way to the gulf coast and ride on Sanibel Island. Sanibel also has great shelling.

There are a number of good bicycle trails in Florida. The Withalacoochie (sp?) trail is good as is the West Orange Trail.

I was just at Anastasia Island. Such a nice place. How was your trip, anyway?

Not until the middle of May, thanks.

Time is getting near for your trip to the Sunshine State. I lived near and worked in St A., home of the Florida National Guard HQ. Driving to Orlando is a breeze. May I suggest driving south on A1A to Daytona Beach. Orlando is like any other large bustling city. Foy cycling the beach is great at low tide. A1A has new and flat (but windy) bike lanes from the Vilano Beach (North St. Augustine) on A1A all the way to Jacksonville Beach. Also A1A going south of St. Augustine Beach has bicycle facilities all the way to Flagler Beach and beyond. The beach north of Anastasia State Park is the best in my opinion. Cresent Beach has a great Greek restaurant. The only way to bike inland is on SR 207. You can go all the way to East Palatka on the signed bke path.

We are booked from May 21 - 28 into MCO Orlando International AP