of protected barrier islands. Florida’s Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach
DRIVING TO MIAMI OR THE FLORIDA KEYS?
is a marine aquarium with daily sea lion and dolphin shows (gulfarium.com). This marks the start of the famous Beaches of South Walton, home to popular communities like Seaside, Dune Allen Beach and Santa Rosa Beach. This is the spot to try YOLO boarding, the newest paddleboarding sport that’s a cross between surfing and kayaking. MIAMI WATERFRONT • SHUTTERSTOCK
Anglers head for Destin, “the world’s luckiest fishing village,” in hopes of hooking
As of mid-February 2011, all tolls are collected electronically on the southern 47 miles of
grouper, wahoo and mackerel. On dry land,
Florida’s Turnpike between Exit 47 and Exit 1 in Miami-Dade County. Motorists can use
displays of equipment and fishing lore at the
either the SunPass or TOLL-BY-PLATE system and no longer have to stop to pay tolls.
Destin History & Fishing Museum even in-
SunPass is Florida’s prepaid electronic toll collection system, which utilizes small credit
clude an original Penn Reel that once
card-size electronic devices called SunPass transponders, which attach to the inside of car
belonged to Ernest Hemingway (destin
windshields. When a SunPass-equipped vehicle goes through a toll location, the
historyandfishingmuseum.org).
transponder sends a signal and the toll is deducted from the customer’s account. SunPass
In Panama City Beach, Pier Park provides
customers pay the lowest rates, generally saving 25% on tolls. The SunPass Mini
a break from the beach with unique stops for
transponder costs $4.99, which is reimbursable as a toll credit when registering the SunPass
shopping and entertainment (panamacity
account. It is available at Publix, CVS/pharmacy, Navarro Discount Pharmacies, Sedano’s
beachonline.com/pierpark).
Supermarkets, all AAA locations in Florida, all Turnpike service plaza gift shops and gas
This beautiful oceanfront drive ends at
stations, online at sunpass.com or at 1-888-TOLL-FLA (865-5352).
Apalachicola, a Victorian town with seafaring
TOLL-BY-PLATE is a collection method whereby a photo of a vehicle’s license plate
roots that is considered Florida’s oyster
is taken as it travels under overhead tolling equipment and a bill for any tolls incurred over
capital (apalachicolabay.org). Turn off the
a 30-day period, plus a $2.50 administrative charge, is mailed to the registered owner of
engine, park the car and enjoy these delec-
the vehicle. Travelers also have the option of establishing a prepaid TOLL-BY-PLATE
table treats on the half-shell, fried, grilled,
account by calling 1-888-TAG-TOLL and providing a credit or debit card number to
stewed and, of course, raw. Bon appétit!
avoid the administrative charge. For those traveling in a rental vehicle, there is an easy and convenient way to pay tolls without stopping. Most rental car companies have programs that allow their customers to charge the tolls to the credit card being used to rent the vehicle. Motorists should check with their rental car company for details or at sunpass.com/rentalcar. Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise oversees a 460-mile system of limited-access toll highways. For now, travelers can still pay cash on all other segments of Florida’s Turnpike, from its northern point at I-75 in Wildwood to its junction with I-95 in north Miami-Dade. Eventually the entire Turnpike system of roadways will go allelectronic. It is anticipated the next phase, from the Golden Glades interchange in northern Miami-Dade County to the I-595 interchange in Broward County, will be ready in 2014. MAP OF TURNPIKE • FLORIDA’S TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE
2011 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA
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