The route runs primarily along the Atlantic coast barrier islands, passing through enclaves such as Hallandale Beach, Golden Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, and Surfside, characterized by large hotels, oceanfront condominiums, and iconic beaches. In contrast, brief inland sections reveal casinos, large-scale shopping centers such as Aventura Mall, protected natural areas, and distinctive historical landmarks, including the Monastery of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a medieval European structure transported stone by stone from Spain.
The route continues through cities such as North Miami, North Miami Beach, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, reflecting the transformation of former agricultural and railroad settlements into complex, multicultural urban centers. Along the way, histories of Indigenous peoples, Spanish explorers, settlers, real estate magnates, immigrant communities, and enclaves linked to entertainment, the port industry, and mass tourism overlap. The route thus offers a continuous view of the urban growth of Florida’s southern Atlantic coast, from iconic beaches to port and metropolitan areas of global scale.
The complete route, together with its detailed historical context, is part of Discovering Florida – Volume 3.
