By Dalia Colon
Where: In Flagler County, just north of Daytona Beach.
Length: 98 miles.
How to get around: Car.
Best time to visit: In October for the Creekside Festival, a family-friendly event that includes bluegrass music, historical demonstrations, pony rides and more under the oak trees of Princess Place Preserve.
Fun fact: The City of Bunnell is home to a booming potato industry that supplies spuds for Lay's, Utz and other popular chip brands.
For more info: Check out Heritage Crossroads or “like” the Friends of Tomoka Basin State Parks Facebook page.
A car travels north on High Bridge Road, along Bulow Creek, in the southern portion of the Heritage Crossroads: Miles of History Heritage Highway.
- Daron Dean for VISIT FLORIDA
Highway 100 crosses the Matanzas River to Flagler Beach in the southern portion of the Heritage Crossroads: Miles of History Heritage Highway.
- Daron Dean for VISIT FLORIDA
If you want to know about Flagler County, ask Dr. Nancy Duke.
“There’s a lot of fun, untapped history,” Duke said. “It’s like little jewels being uncovered.”
Duke should know. As vice chair of the Heritage Crossroads citizens support organization and associate professor of history at Daytona State College, she’s familiar with both the area’s natural and manmade attractions, and she said they’re all worth exploring.
The Florida Scenic Highway, comprised of 89 miles of roadways, travels through Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns Counties in northeastern Florida.
- Daron Dean for VISIT FLORIDA
This stretch of Old Dixie Highway, built in 1914, is the longest continuous nine miles of original brick road in the Southeastern United States.
- Daron Dean for VISIT FLORIDA
Case in point: Princess Place Preserve is a mashup of historic house, equestrian trails and storied history.
“Not only do you have the history out there, but it’s just simply beautiful,” said Duke, who’s spotted everything from deer to eagles to a wild boar and her piglets on the property.
History buffs will also want to explore the old sugar mill Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park and Holden House Museum, once the home of pharmacist and businessman Tom Edward Holden, and the Florida Agriculture Museum.
“It has stuff that you can’t even imagine,” Duke said.
After ingesting all the knowledge, sit down to some well-deserved brain food. Duke recommends Woody’s Bar-B-Q in Palm Coast or Golden Lion Cafe, an oceanfront tiki bar known for its fish and chips in Flagler Beach.
“A British ex-pat owns it, and it is definitely known for its fish and chips,” Duke said.
After a good meal, get back on the road.
“Part of our highway is called the Old Brick Road, that is literally made of old bricks.”
