Scenic A1A Byway Self Guided Driving Audio Tour
Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey along Florida’s A1A Scenic Highway with this self-guided driving tour. You’ll start in Jacksonville Beach and end at Fort Matanzas, just south of Saint Augustine. Along the way, get ready for expansive white sand beaches, historic architecture, and so much more. As you drive, you’ll hear fascinating audio stories about flora, fauna, and Florida’s history, from its days as the Winter Film Capital to a devastating fire that nearly destroyed Saint Augustine. This driving tour of A1A is the best way to make the most of your scenic drive!
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, as many times as you want.
This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Itinerary
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1
10 min
Itu2019s dotted with beautiful beaches. The first one we can visit isnu2019t far: Mickleru2019s Landing, coming up soon on the left. Thereu2019s surfing, seashells, and shark teeth! nnNote: The tour is over 44 miles long, with more than 38 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.nnNew, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
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2
10 min
Why is a former jail so pretty? Well, financier Henry Flagler didnu2019t want any ugly buildings in St. Augustine. So the old jail was built to look like a Victorian manor!
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3
10 min
The Spanish Governor decided to do something about it. He ordered the construction of the fort, which began in 1672. It took a whopping 23 years to build!
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4
10 min
Itu2019s dotted with beautiful beaches. The first one we can visit isnu2019t far: Mickleru2019s Landing, coming up soon on the left. Thereu2019s surfing, seashells, and shark teeth!
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5
10 min
Whew, thatu2019s quite a mouthful! Letu2019s just call it the Guana Reserve, like the locals do. Scientists come from all over the world to study the animals and plants in this expansive estuary.
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6
10 min
The ocean flowed into other parts of the Timucua lives. They understood the moon to be a symbol of water. Since water was associated with life, the Timucua saw the moon as the goddess of all mothers. And because water held such an important place in Timucuan society, that meant mothers did too! Family lines were traced matrilineally through mothers rather than fathers.
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7
10 min
Weu2019re approaching the city of St. Augustine. Founded in 1565 by Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez de Aviles, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. Yes, even older than Jamestown! But, arr me mateys, did ya know that St. Augustine was once where pirates hunted for gold?
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8
10 min
When you see the big stone house on the right, look for the parking lot just beyond and turn in if youu2019d like to visit.
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9
10 min
Weu2019re cruising through the community of Vilano Beach, home to a very peculiar landmark. Here, weu2019ll find the Bluebird of Happiness!
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10
10 min
Unsurprisingly, locals say the Old Jail is haunted. Guests often feel a cold, clammy hand rest on their shoulders. Some have smelled the foul stench of sewage even though none was found on site. Creepy!
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11
10 min
When engineers and stone masons arrived from Spain, they didnu2019t know how to build a fort out of the rocks found on this coast. The coquina stones were porous and the Spanish didnu2019t know how well theyu2019d hold up against a cannonball. So just to be safe, they built the walls almost 20 feet thick!
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12
10 min
Former St. Augustine mayor Andrew Anderson donated the lions, who are named Fiel and Firme, or Faithful and Firm. Theyu2019re an homage to the cityu2019s founder, Pedro Menendez de Aviles. His coat of arms bore two lions!
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13
10 min
The current one dates back to 1871, but earlier iterations have stood on this spot since 1589! Lighthouse keepers have kept watch here for hundreds of yearsu2026 and in some cases, they never left.
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14
10 min
Besides offering some splendid scenery, this park is also a positively fabulous place for birdwatching. Itu2019s home to 195 different species of birds! For context, thatu2019s almost a quarter of all bird species in the United States! While the park is home to some common bird species like robins and herons, it also sees a few found nowhere else in the country.
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15
10 min
Named for its sweeping coastline that forms the shape of a crescent moon, this beach is known for its u201cold Florida vibe.u201d And if you visit between May and October, you might see a few nesting sea turtles!
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16
10 min
In 1740, the Governor of Georgia, a British colony, decided to make a play for St. Augustine, a Spanish one. Luckily, the St. Augustine mayor had a feeling that the Brits were up to no good. So he sent a courier to Havana to get some supplies.
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17
10 min
Now, Matanzas is a Spanish word that translates to u201ckillingsu201d or u201cslaughter.u201d So why does such a beautiful river have such a violent name? It dates back to 1565, when this river ran red with blood. Hereu2019s what happened:
What's included
- Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
- Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
- This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app
- Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
- This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site
- Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
- Offline GPS-enabled route map
- NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)
What's not included
- Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, youu2019ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search u201caudio touru201d in emails and texts). u2022 Download the separate tour app by Action u2022 Enter the password sent by email and text. u2022 MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. u2022 Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Actionu2019s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. u2022 If there is just one tour, launch it. u2022 If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first storyu2019s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you donu2019t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- ✓ 100% refund24 hours or more before the start time
- ✕ 0% refundLess than 24 hours before the start time