Page 126 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

NORTHEAST FLORIDA

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 bass 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
the 59-acre 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 which continues to
receive impressive accolades. This popular
destination was, once again, named one of
America’s top 10 beaches by TripAdvisor.
Another way to indulge in the area’s many
water attractions is through a guided kayak
tour that allows you to paddle the back-
waters of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas
National Estuarine Research Reserve in the
Ponte Vedra area. It is one of the best places
42 MILES OF BEACHES • FLORIDASHISTORICCOAST.COM
to kayak in Northeast Florida.
5 MUST-SEE largest urban park system in the U.S. So,
The city of Jacksonville actually has the
plenty of natural adventures await you in
ATTRACTIONS
Northeast Florida, be it in a city or rural area.
Jacksonville boasts 22 miles of spectacu-
1 CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, ST. AUGUSTINE: lar beaches. If you’re visiting Jacksonville
nps.gov/casa
area, consider using its free Beach Buggies
2 FORT CLINCH STATE PARK, AMELIA ISLAND: to get around Atlantic, Neptune and
floridastateparks.org/fortclinch
Jacksonville beaches and easily explore all of
JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS: the beachy neighborhoods and attractions.
3 jacksonvillezoo.org For more picturesque adventures on the
RIVERSIDE & AVONDALE NEIGHBORHOODS, water, Amelia Island offers Amelia River
4 JACKSONVILLE: Cruises and Charters or a privately chartered
visitjacksonville.com/neighborhoods/riverside-avondale
sunset cruise with Windward Sailing. If you’re
5 ST. AUGUSTINE HISTORIC DISTRICT: looking to reel in fish, Amelia Boat Club &
floridashistoriccoast.com
Rentals provides rentals for fishing, cruising
or sightseeing.

124 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA