Florida's scenic Overseas Highway, which ends in Key West, was recently designated an All-American Road, one of only 30 other U.S. roadways that have earned that prestigious designation. Check out this video with awesome aerial views for a taste of it.

Whenever I travel on the 127 mile-long Overseas Highway, I am awed by the beauty surrounding me. The Gulf of Mexico glimmers on one side. The Atlantic Ocean lures me on the other. The water hues range from aquamarine to azure. My mind immediately begins to go into vacation mode... 

The Overseas Highway, originally built in 1938, includes 42 bridges, of which 37 were replaced in 1982. Now the historic bridges serve as fishing piers. There’s beauty in the actual construction here, too, and the Seven Mile Bridge was long considered one of the manmade wonders of the world.

I love stopping to dine at The Green Turtle Inn, whose bucolic restaurant is an institution renowned for fresh turtle or conch chowder. Located in Islamorada, the restaurant serves incredibly fresh fish, as you would imagine from a place rumored to have a larger fishing fleet per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

Nearby in Key Largo, the glass-bottom boat rides and snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park are irresistible, too.

The heart of the Overseas Highway is Marathon. At the idyllic Hawks Cay, the villas are perfect for families with gear, and there are also deluxe hotel rooms. You can swim with the dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center or go on a sunset cruise with SeaSquared Charters and meet up with these playful mammals in the wild.

Crossing the Seven Mile Bridge is breathtaking, and the photo ops are endless. The history of this road is interesting, too.

The prestigious All-American designation confirms what Floridians have always known -- that it's a one-of-a-kind driving experience. Now everyone knows that this All-American Roadway has spectacular cultural, historic, natural, recreational, scenic and archeological qualities. (That's part of the criteria for this award.)

Kudos to the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance, which led the multiyear campaign to recognize this Florida gem. And here's a "tip of the hat" to all the civil engineers that helped make the Florida Keys accessible for all of us to enjoy!