The trip to Margaritaville can soon be made on the Jimmy Buffett Highway

By James On Mar 6, 2024

Iconic Florida singer Jimmy Buffet named one of his albums “A1A” in honor of the coastal highway that winds some 350 miles along the state’s Atlantic coast, and now Florida is about to return that honor

TALAHASSEE, Fla. — Iconic Florida singer Jimmy Buffet named one of his albums “A1A” in honor of the coastal highway that winds some 345 miles along the state’s Atlantic coast, and now Florida is about to return the honor.

State Highway A1A will become the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway once Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the bill the Senate sent him unanimously on Tuesday.

“As Jimmy once said, ‘It’s a sweet life by the salt sea’ and we couldn’t think of a better way to honor him than by memorializing him along Florida’s coastal highway,” said Democratic Senator Lauren Book, who sponsored the bill. sponsored. .

Buffett, who died in September, wrote songs that drove tourists to the Florida Keys in search of sun, sand and relaxation. Key West was nicknamed “Margaritaville” after his song about languishing by the sea in search of a lost salt spreader.

Portions of A1A have already been designated as a National Scenic and Historic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It starts in Fernandina Beach, near the Georgia border, and passes through the country’s oldest city, St. Augustine, on its way to Key West, offering fantastic ocean views for those who don’t need to venture south rushing on Interstate 95.

On Monday, the Legislature also sent DeSantis a bill that includes the creation of a special license plate with the word “Margaritaville.” help victims of hurricanes and other disasters, Harrell said.

DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to an email asking if he would sign the highway designation, but the governor honored Buffett by flying flags at half-staff after his death and asking Floridians to celebrate him by “raising their margarita glasses and enjoying a cheeseburger here in paradise to wish the ‘Son of a Son of a Sailor’ well.”