| Have you ever wondered what the fastest | | | | and fuel readily available. |
| driving route to Florida is? Well, if you live in the | | | | 12/ If you enjoy mountainous scenery, the next |
| northeastern United States or in the Canadian | | | | couple of hours will delight you! I-77 twists and |
| province of Ontario, read on! After many years | | | | turns through the mountains of West Virginia, |
| of exploring the major north-south routes (and | | | | then as you pass through a tunnel the panorama |
| driving my wife crazy with noting travel times | | | | of the mountains of the State of Virginia literally |
| between various locations) we have determined | | | | explodes through your windshield as you exit |
| that the following route gets you to Florida | | | | from the tunnel. |
| sunshine the fastest. | | | | 13/ After passing through Wytheville with its |
| 1/ If you are crossing the Canada/US border or | | | | numerous venues for food, fuel and |
| live in northern Ohio or New York, Interstate #90 | | | | accommodation, you will soon be in North Carolina. |
| provides the best connection to Interstate #79, | | | | 14/ The State of North Carolina makes an equally |
| your first north-south highway on the Fastest | | | | dramatic entrance. As you pass by an exit |
| Route to Florida. (Remember that I-90 in most of | | | | announcing Fancy Gap, the highway begins a |
| New York State is a toll route) | | | | decent down the mountains. The view is |
| 2/ Take I-90 to Erie Pennsylvania to connect with | | | | spectacular, but the numerous run-away truck |
| I-79. | | | | ramps serve as an ominous warning that the |
| 3/ Follow I-79 south through the rolling hills of | | | | steepness of the hill can cause trucks to have |
| northern Pennsylvania. One caution, keep watch | | | | trouble stopping. |
| for deer, I have never seen so many deer (dead | | | | 15/ At the bottom of the hill, a beautiful rest area |
| or alive) along one stretch of road anywhere else | | | | provides a great picnic location, or just a spot to |
| in North America. | | | | take a leisurely stroll amongst the well-manicured |
| 4/ There are not many commercial service areas | | | | gardens. |
| between Erie and Pittsburgh, but there are some | | | | 16/ I-77 continues on through Charlotte, North |
| clean rest stop areas (about every twenty | | | | Carolina and on to Columbia, South Carolina. One |
| minutes). | | | | of our favorite moments occurs as we enter the |
| 5/ Washington Pennsylvania, just south of | | | | South Carolina Welcome Center. At the entrance |
| Pittsburgh, offers some good accommodation, | | | | we see our first palm tree, evidence that Florida |
| dining and shopping venues. | | | | and Englewood are not far away. |
| 6/ I-70 connects with I-79 at Washington, so if | | | | 17/ A short distance from Columbia we connect |
| you live along the I-70 corridor you can easily | | | | with I-95 and continue southward, passing |
| connect with the fastest route to Florida. | | | | Savannah and then Brunswick until we reach the |
| 7/ Continuing southward, it is not long before you | | | | Florida Welcome Center. |
| enter the State of West Virginia. If you are a | | | | 18/ A few minutes south of Jacksonville is one of |
| college football fan, the University of West Virginia | | | | my favorite stops along the World Golf Village. |
| football stadium can be seen in the distance to | | | | Besides the great golf atmosphere at the shops |
| the east as you pass through Morgantown. | | | | and restaurants in the village, there is the World |
| 8/ As you approach Charleston, I-79 ends and | | | | Golf Hall of Fame. Believe me, it is worth the visit! |
| you connect with I-77. (You could take I-77 all the | | | | 19/ Continuing down I-95, we arrive at Daytona |
| way from I-90, just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, | | | | (try not to travel through this area around the |
| but we like the scenery of I-79 and it is a faster | | | | time of any racing event, especially the Daytona |
| route.) | | | | 500, the traffic is crazy. But if you are a car |
| 9/ Your route takes you right through Charleston, | | | | racing fan, go for it!), where we connect with I-4. |
| and although we have never spent much time in | | | | 20/ I-4 goes through Orlando (try to avoid |
| the area, the mix of southern architecture and | | | | weekday rush hours). You might want to plan a |
| modern structures provides for interesting | | | | few days at any of the major theme parks in |
| scenery. | | | | the area. |
| 10/ Leaving Charleston, the mountains and valleys | | | | 21/ Just east of Tampa take I-75 southbound. |
| seem to engulf you as you make your way | | | | 22/ About an hour later, take the River Road exit |
| towards your destination, Englewood Florida. | | | | and in 10-15 minutes you will be in Englewood |
| 11/ About an hour after leaving Charleston, you | | | | Florida. |
| will reach Beckley. This town is known for its coal | | | | LET YOUR WINTER VACATION BEGIN! You can |
| mining (if time is available check out the coal | | | | now truly forget about the cold weather and |
| mining museum.) At each of the exits in the | | | | snow and just Enjoy Englewood Florida! |
| Beckley area you will find accommodations, food | | | | |