Attractions

With more than 450 years of history, St. Augustine is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the U.S. The city takes its history seriously and has 36 buildings of colonial origin still standing in the historic district. To get the real skinny on the city’s history without wearing out your feet, step aboard the Old Town Trolleys, selling all-day tickets so you can hop on and hop off as you please.

While in St. Augustine, embrace your early explorer on a visit to Castillo de San Marcos, a national park that began construction in 1672. The structure is considered the oldest masonry fort in the country.

Over at Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, you can drink water from its “fountain”—but you may come away with great memories more than ageless qualities. It’s located on the actual site of the first settlement in St. Augustine and was founded 42 years before Jamestown and 55 years before Plymouth Rock. Check out the cosmos in the planetarium, visit the Timucuan Village or marvel at the sound of the Spanish cannon.

St. Augustine has plenty of tours to guide you around town, from art walks to nighttime ghost tours and culinary-focused themes.

A visit to St. Augustine isn’t complete without stopping by the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum with hands-on activities for all ages. 

In Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will take you on a world tour of animals without ever leaving Florida. For a different view of Jacksonville, use the St. Johns River Taxi in the downtown area. The taxi service also offers tours.

A popular attraction in Fernandina Beach is Fort Clinch State Park, where history and nature meet. Explore one of the best-preserved 19th-century forts in the country, then hike or bike on the park’s trails, featuring maritime hammocks, massive live oak trees and wildlife.

Beaches and Outdoor Gems

Outdoor gems are abundant in Northeast Florida. Whether you want to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, fish in the St. Johns River or take selfies at a park, there are plenty of options.

Southwest of St. Augustine, Putnam County is known as the “Bass Capital of Florida” and is home to three of the top fisheries in the state. The county is also the trail hub of Northeast Florida and offers ample hiking, biking and paddling trails. Be sure to check out Ravine Gardens State Park, created in a natural steephead ravine.

Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine teaches visitors about the beauty of dolphins and provides interactive attractions such as a meet and greet or dolphin swim program.

When you’re ready to chill with some beach time, you can’t go wrong with a visit to St. Augustine Beach—a popular destination which continues to receive impressive accolades.

One of the best places to kayak in Northeast Florida is on a guided tour that allows you to paddle the backwaters of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in the Ponte Vedra area.

The city of Jacksonville actually has the largest urban park system in the U.S. So, plenty of natural adventures await you in Northeast Florida, be it in a city or rural area.

Jacksonville boasts 22 miles of spectacular beaches. If you’re visiting this area, consider using its free Beach Buggies. Get around Atlantic, Neptune, Jacksonville and New Smyrna beaches and the neighbourhood of San Marco to easily explore all of the beachy neighborhoods and attractions.

For more picturesque adventures on the water, Amelia Island offers Amelia River Cruises and Charters or a privately chartered sunset cruise with Windward Sailing. If you’re looking to reel in fish, Amelia Island Boat Club & Rentals provides rentals for fishing, cruising or sightseeing.

Entertainment

In the mood for family fun? Foodie finds? History? Northeast Florida has something for everyone. For instance, you can dine at Florida’s oldest diner, Angel’s Dining Car, in Putnam County. In St. Augustine, foodies will rejoice at The Floridian Restaurant where they can enjoy farm-to-table meals with a Southern vibe. The restaurant’s carefully crafted dishes are sure to please meat and non-meat eaters alike.

The St. Augustine Distillery produces handcrafted, small batch spirits using Florida-grown ingredients to make spirits like vodka, rum and gin. Take advantage of its free tours and complimentary samples. San Sebastian Winery, not far from the St. Augustine Distillery, also conducts free tours and tastings.

If you’re into sweets, then sign up for the guided tasting tour at St. Augustine’s Whetstone Chocolates. Of course, you’ll get mouth-watering samples. At Kernel Poppers, a gourmet popcorn shop on St. George Street, try samples of blueberry cheesecake, dark chocolate pretzel or Kentucky bourbon popcorn, among its cornucopia of flavors, before settling on your favorite.

Golfers and nostalgia lovers will want to dine at the Murray Brothers Caddyshack Restaurant. It’s a favorite in the First Tee World Golf Village with plenty of memorabilia from the classic movie, starring Bill Murray.

Duffers might also want to check out the Palatka Golf Course, an original Donald Ross-designed course due west of Marineland.

In Ponte Vedra Beach, Barbara Jean’s on the Water has a great view of the Intracoastal Waterway and outdoor seating. Go for seafood specials or Southern comfort food.

Jacksonville’s nightlife is filled with bars, pubs and live music venues. Bar hop, dance the night away or buy that happy-hour cocktail—it’s all ready for the taking in vibrant neighborhoods like Riverside, downtown, Avondale and San Marco.

No doubt Jacksonville, which is the home of Florida’s oldest continuously operating brewery, has its fair share of  craft beer makers. One way to experience it is on the Jax Ale Trail, a self-guided tour of the city’s award-winning craft breweries. Go Tuk’n, an electric Tuk Tuk tour operator,  offers guided brewery, cocktail or wine tours.  Jacksonville also has a full-scale organic distillery called Manifest Distilling. Sit back and enjoy the ambiance at the Wicked Barley, a pet-friendly waterfront beer garden or try the fish tacos at TacoLu’s, a high energy Mexican restaurant adorned with murals and quirky art. 

In downtown Fernandina Beach, Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop provides a comfortable backdrop to indulge in cupcakes, cannolis, eclairs, tarts and so much more as you sit inside after a long day on the beach.

Road Trips

Get a beachy view at a laid-back pace along A1A between Flagler Beach and Fernandina Beach. This route runs parallel to the much busier I-95, and you get to cruise along the scenic route while stopping off as needed for meals, souvenirs or to snap an ocean shot.

Take in a country view for more than 60 miles along U.S.-17 between Orange Park and Crescent City. Along the way, view the picturesque St. Johns River, enjoy rolling hills (hard to come by in Florida), and stop at places like the Log Cabin Farm, Vineyard & Winery in Putnam County.

On the Ormond Scenic Loop & Trail in the Flagler Beach area, take the double loop along scenic roads where you’ll pass by the Atlantic Ocean and Old Dixie Highway. Other highlights include driving past the winter home of John D. Rockefeller, the historic Ormond Beach fire station and sunset views near Granada Boulevard Bridge.

Head off on SR-13 just south of Jacksonville, and leisurely make your way to the small town of Spuds. This route gives you a near constant view of the St. Johns River, and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you drive past older homes and trees covered with Spanish moss. A highlight along the route is the winter home of writer Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Shopping

St. Augustine Outlets, off I-95, carries 30 brand-name retailers. Nearby, St. Augustine Premium Outlets has 85 stores, including Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Nike Factory Store and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Ready for some unique finds? Then head on down to the pedestrian-only St. George Street in St. Augustine’s Historic District. Find a bohemian piece of jewelry at Earthbound Trading Co. Nearby, stop by the Spice & Tea Exchange, an 18th-century-like trading post with displays of teas and spices that will stimulate your taste buds. At Bath Junkie, you can personalize bath and body products with customized scents. Find a gift for the artsy folks in your life at any of St. Augustine’s numerous galleries located in the historic district.

The St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville is the place to hit for the latest upscale merchandise from shops such as Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton and Nordstrom. The center also includes bargain stores such as DSW Shoes.

Minutes away from downtown, Jacksonville Farmers Market is the oldest operating outdoor farmers’ market in Florida. Since 1938, vendors have offered fresh produce, herbs and local favorites, such as Mayport shrimp. Browse for crafts and handmade goods daily from dawn to dusk. For more market exploration, check out Jaxsons Night Market, a craft market held on the third Thursday of each month. There’s also Riverside Arts Market. Held on Saturdays, find local arts, crafts and food galore. The view isn’t too shabby, either—it’s right beside the St. Johns River.