Art Museums & Events

St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine Beach has everything for a day of fun, including a beachfront park, fishing pier, splash park and a pavilion. There are also oceanfront restaurants, beach vollyball courts and more.

Vilano Beach

Located on the north side of the Matanzas Inlet, Vilano Beach is a great spot for surfing, paddleboarding and skimboarding due to its heavier surf and strong current. The beach also offers access for four-wheel-drive vehicles depending on the conditions of the sand.

WATERWAYS The Intracoastal

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway runs 40 miles throughout the First Coast. It splits the southside region of Jacksonville from the beach communities with its saltwater inlets, man-made canals and sounds. Many residents enjoy activities such as kayaking, fishing, boating, paddleboarding, tubing and jet skiing.

St. Johns River

The longest river in Florida runs right through the First Coast, spanning 310 miles from Mayport to Indian River County. Residents can enjoy many activities on the river, such as kayaking, boating and fishing. The Riverwalk in downtown Jacksonville allows residents to take a stroll or jog along the beautiful river. Keep your eyes peeled for manatees or dolphins, which frequent the river.

Other First Coast Rivers

Many bodies of water throughout the First Coast provide a multitude of outdoor fun, like fishing and boating. The Tolomato and Guana rivers surround Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuary Research Reserve in St. Johns County, while in St. Augustine, the Matanzas Bay and Matanzas River give sight to landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine Lighthouse and Bridge of Lions. On the Amelia River, you can enjoy historic sites such as Fort Clinch State Park with radiant riverbanks and salt marshes.

St. Johns County Ocean Pier, photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com

Mickler’s Landing, photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com Photo by Catherine Wysoczanski

Photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com

What a Wonderful World: State Parks & Preserves

With exquisite natural beauty, untouched wetlands, vast marshes and expansive forests, the First Coast is home to the largest park system in the country, full of native plants and wildlife. Gorgeous gardens, nature preserves, an arboretum, and intricate water systems grace our area with natural beauty. With more than 80,000 acres of parks including a national wildlife refuge, a national forest, nine state parks and more than 400 urban parks, amazing adventures are in store for nature lovers of all ages.

Photo by Stephanie Marty

BAKER COUNTY John M. Bethea State Forest

John M. Bethea State Forest is tucked in northern Baker County on more than 37,000 acres of beautiful land. With a variety of species in the area, the forest provides a wildlife corridor between the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Osceola National Forest.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Located just over the state line in Georgia, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge encompasses more than 400,000 acres of land including the Okefenokee Swamp, which is full of more than 400 species of wildlife including black bears, alligators, sandhill cranes and even the threatened gopher tortoise. The wildlife refuge allows for camping, biking and hiking on trails, as well as boat tours.

Osceola National Forest

The peaceful Osceola National Forest, just west of Jacksonville, is a sprawling natural gem with swamps and flatwoods full of many species of marine life, birds and other animals. The 237,000-acre forest has several wildlife corridors that lead towards Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The forest is perfect for those looking to fish, hunt, hike, swim and camp.

CLAY COUNTY Jennings State Forest

Jennings State Forest is located in north Clay County and spans more than 25,300 acres. The forest has many different ecosystems present including flatwoods, swamps, marshes, sandhills and a blackwater stream. Various activities are available to visitors including hiking, biking, camping, fishing and horseback riding.

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Developed on a 600-acre site in the 1930s, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park is one of Florida’s first state parks. Now visitors can enjoy more than 2,000 acres of marshes, lakes, sandhills, flatwoods and scrub. The Florida National Scenic Trail offers wildlife viewing and hiking with a 5.44 mile stretch of exploration. Little Lake Johnson is a great place to canoe, fish or swim and a picnic area is available to enjoy lunch.

DUVAL-BEACHES Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

This 500-acre oceanfront park is located between Atlantic Beach and Mayport with 1.5 miles of beautiful beaches. With a 60-acre lake available for use, visitors can fish, kayak, canoe or even use pedal boats. Bike trails, campgrounds, hiking and ecotours are also popular activities in the park.