Palm Coast - 5 Suitcases

Planning an Awesome North Florida Vacation

Elle MacRae — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 11:10:09 +0000

When most people start planning out their vacation, they look at theme parks, south Florida, or the Emerald Coast and don’t even stop to consider a North Florida vacation. There are so many incredible things to do on a North Florida vacation- from Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, and inland. This region of the Sunshine State has a rich history, beautiful natural sites, and a super laid back culture.

Our North Florida vacation guide is based on our recommendations that we give to people when they come to visit us here in Jacksonville. Having lived in the area for over 30 years, we’re kind of experts on all of the great things to see and down in north Florida.

How to Get to North Florida

If you’re flying in to town for your north Florida vacation, consider flying in to the Jacksonville International Airport or the Daytona Beach International Airport. There is also a smaller airport in St. Augustine- the Northeast Florida Regional Airport.

You’ll also want to pick up a rental car. When you book your rental car, remember that you do not have to return the car to the same location you picked it up from- however, you’ll typically save money by returning it to the original location.

We suggest flying in and out of JAX for this particular itinerary.

Another option is to fly into Orlando (MCO). You can catch a direct flight into MCO from almost anywhere in the USA, and there are several international flights that fly here, as well. It is about 2 1/2 hours from Orlando to JAX however, you can stop in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine along the way.

If you’re driving, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Daytona Beach are all off of I-95 North making them all super accessible.

How Much Time Is Needed for My North Florida Vacation?

Like with any vacation, you can spend as much time on your North Florida vacation as you would like. You could do this trip in as little as three days, or stretch it out for however long you would like.

Ideally, you would spend a day in Fernandina Beach, 2 or 3 days in Jacksonville, 2 days in St. Augustine, and 2 days in Daytona Beach. If you’re looking for a shorter trip, we suggest cutting out Daytona Beach and Fernandina Beach.

When to Do Your North Florida Vacation

The weather in Florida is pretty great year round.

In January and February, the temperatures can drop in the high-30s to 50s.
Spring is absolutely gorgeous with temperatures in the 70s and 80s.
During the summer months it gets H-O-T hot with the feel-like temperatures in the high 90s and low 100s. Due to high humidity, it also rains almost every afternoon. If you spend time at the beach, springs, and plan your day out right, the rain and heat shouldn’t be a huge factor.
September and October are still rather hot, but the temperatures are usually in the high 80s and low 90s.
November and December are pretty perfect, weatherwise.

There is a jet stream off of our coast that helps keep tropical storms and hurricanes at bay, however we are occasionally impacted by large storms.

3 Days in Jacksonville +1 for Fernandina Beach

Day One

Our hometown of Jacksonville is the largest city in the USA by landmass, so everything is pretty spread out. Most places are within a 20 to 30 minute drive of downtown or the beaches (including driving from downtown to the beach).

Jacksonville Beach has plenty of sand for your to throw down a towel and spend a day. There are tons of bars and restaurants in the area if you want to dedicate an entire day to a beach day.

If you want a more diverse beach, consider checking out Hanna Park, which is just north of Jacksonville Beach. Here you’ll find kayaking, fishing, bike trails, beach access, and even a splash pad. The cost to enter is $5 per vehicle.

Still even further north, you’ll find Huguenot Beach. Although you’ll pay $5 per vehicle to access this park, you’re able to drive on the sand which makes life a breeze when you’re traveling with kids. After spending some time at Huguenot, check out the historic Kingsley Plantation, the oldest remaining plantation home in the state of Florida. If you’re up for a little more beach action, we suggest spending some time at Blackrock Beach. To access the beach, you’ll have to do a short 1/2 mile hike through the woods however you’ll be awarded with an absolutely incredible view. You can also pair Blackrock Beach with Fernandina Beach or the Jacksonville Zoo. on day two or three.

Day Two

On day two, we suggest either visiting Fort Caroline National Memorial, taking a hike at either Spanish Pond or the nearby Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. From here, we recommend checking out Tree Hill Nature Center. They have well shaded trails, animal enclosures, and a nature center.

After spending time at Fort Caroline, which is part of the National Park system, you can head on over to explore the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Be sure to pick up a pass to ride the train so you can save up some energy for Blackrock Beach if you didn’t make it there on day one.

You might also want to book an eco tour with Kayak Amelia.

Day Three

Of course, you can’t visit the city without spending time in the city!

We suggest spending some time strolling either the northbank or the southbank of the St. Johns River. Perhaps, you could even hop on the river taxi to take a short river cruise! Both of the river walks are paved, have street art, and offer impressive views of the city. If you walk the southbank, be sure to stop by MOSH– the Museum of Science and History.

When it heats up, spend some time downtown checking out the city’s museums. If you’re into traditional art check out the Cummer Art Gallery and Gardens. Contemporary art fans might prefer the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). MOCA is on the same square as Sweet Pete’s the largest candy store in the southeastern United States.

Consider booking a tour with Go Tuk’n. Ride n a tuk-tuk and experience an Art Tour of visit the historic neighborhoods in the area.

There are also scooters available to rent downtown if you want to scoot around.

Day Four

If you have an extra day to spend in the area, we suggest taking a day trip to Fernandina Beach. If you are staying out at the Jacksonville Beaches, you can hop on the St. Johns River Ferry, drive north up Heckscher Drive through Big Talbot Island State Park, and through the infamous Amelia Island.

There are several cute shops in Fernandina Beach for you to scope out. You absolutely must check out Fort Clinch State Park if you’re in the area. Fort Clinch is an impressive Civil War era fort with a museum, re-enactments, and more. The park also has hiking trails, bike paths, kayak launches and an impressive beach. The beach is well known for shark tooth hunting.

If you’re traveling with kids be sure to spend sometime at the nearby Pirate Playground. The Amelia Island Lighthouse, Amelia Island State Park, Pippi Longstocking House, and the Egan’s Creek Greenway Trail are also nearby. The Greenway Trail is beautiful- be on the look out for snakes and gators.

2 Days in St. Augustine

Day One

Next up on your north Florida vacation is a couple of days in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine. St. Auggie is known for their beaches and plethora of historic landmarks.

The city was founded in 1565. It includes three 18th century Spanish forts, Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Mose, and Fort Matanzas. We suggest checking out at least one of these. Castillo de San Marcos is iconic and well worth the time.

If you’re traveling with kids, be sure to stop by the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum and Old Jail, which are right across the street from Castillo de San Marcos.

Be sure to spend some time strolling down historic St. George Street. If there is time, you could take in a tour of Flagler College, visit the Lightner Museum, or stop by for a drink at the San Sebastian Winery.

Another option is to use the hop-on-hop-off trolley tour of St. Augustine. We also recommend booking a ghost tour…you know, if you’re not too scared…

Day Two

If you can tack on an extra day in St. Augustine, you may want to dedicate it to you a beach day. We love Butler Beach however the Helen Mellon Schmidt Park offers a great swimming and kayaking spot, as well.

If you don’t mind driving a bit further south, the Washington Oaks Gardens State Park has an amazing, unique beach. The beach is home to a coquina rock formation that is the largest on the Atlantic Coast. They also have hiking trails, kayak launches, and remarkable formal gardens.

Perhaps, you’ve had your fill of beach days and you’d prefer to spend some time with wildlife. If that’s that case, check out the St. Augustine Alligator Farm or Marineland. The Alligator Farm has like a gazillion reptiles and a super rad ropes course and zip line track. Marineland offers dolphin encounters, including swimming with dolphins. The beach behind Marineland is pretty impressive, as well.

1 Day in Daytona Beach + a Bonus Day at the Springs

Day One

Next on your north Florida vacation, is some time in Daytona Beach. It’s no secret that Florida beaches get better and better the further south you go. Daytona Beach is a great place for shelling, and surf lessons.

We suggest spending some time at Ponce Inlet, exploring the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse (the tallest lighthouse in the state), and visiting the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center. You may also want to look into booking a kayaking tour!

Obviously, if you’re into NASCAR this place is sacred ground for you. The Daytona International Speedway has a really cool museum and you can even get a tour that takes you right onto the track!

Day Two

Rounding out your north Florida vacation, is a trip to the springs. While you could probably easily spend another day in Daytona Beach, you think you’ll love spending some time at one of the Florida springs. Floria has more than 1,000 freshwater springs. There are several about an hour outside of Daytona. You could easily hit up a spring in the morning and be at the beach in the afternoon!

One option is De Leon Springs and the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. This place is gorgeous, iconic, and totally Instagram worthy! Get at the park early so you can get a table at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill. The restaurant is known for DIY pancakes. Each table has its own griddlw where you can prepare your own pancakes.

After breakfast, you can hike one of the trails, take an eco-tour, or take a tip in the spring.

Alexander Springs is practically right next door to De Leon. You could easily hit up both springs in the same day! Alexander Springs is amazing for kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling.

Another option for your north Florida vacation, is a trip to Blue Spring State Park. We promise you it is well worth the drive! The park is known for tubing. You can also kayak, paddleboard, swim, and hike at the park. If you visit in the cooler months, chances are you’ll spot some manatee swimming about. To up your chances of seeing a manatee, check out our post on the best locations to find manatee in the wild.

Closing Thoughts

We hope that you have found this information helpful and that you’re looking forward to your north Florida vacation! Between Jacksonville and Daytona there are plenty of parks, beaches, museums, historical landmarks, and natural springs to explore.

Use this north Florida vacation itinerary to help you plan our your ultimate vacation!

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Florida’s Stunning Washington Oaks Gardens with Kids

Elle MacRae — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:42:29 +0000

We got a little stir crazy last month so we spent a lot of time checking out parks like Castaway Island Preserve, and Fort Clinch State Park, and the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. We added a new park to our list when we hit up the gorgeous Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. We’ve learned that parks are a great place where we can get out, stretch our legs, enjoy the sunshine, and still social distance.

What is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park?

Just south historic St. Augustine, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River is a stunning park called Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. The park preserves 425 acres of coastal scenery. Tucked in between the hammocks is an immaculate and extremely impressive 20-acre formal garden.

What are the highlights?

20-acre formal gardens
425 acres of coastal scenery
The largest outcroppings of coquina rock on the Atlantic Ocean
Fishing from the beach or the seawall along the Mantanzas River
Hiking and biking trails

Things to Know…

The cost is $5 per vehicle
The park is open from 8 AM until sundown
A1A passes through the park. The beach is located on one side of A1A and the rest of the park (including the formal gardens) is located on the opposite side.
The Coquina Rock formation is the largest on the Atlantic Coast. The formation is located nearly 1/4 a mile north of the parking lot.

A roped of sea turtles nest. DO NOT DISTURB

Where is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park located?

The park is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River in Palm Coast, Florida.

The physical address is: 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd Palm Coast, Florida

Our Experience

We headed south from Jacksonville to Palm Coast early in the morning, not really knowing what to expect of the park. We first headed to the seawall to watch the boats float by on the Matanzas River. The boys are obsessed with boats so they were in heaven watching all of the vessels sail by! There were a ton of fishermen on the seawall, so I assume the fishing must be decent there. There were also a group of people holding up signs asking boaters to slow down due to the presence of manatees in the area.

Next, we took a short hike down one of the trails. There were several markers indicating the various species of plants that lined the trail. It was a great place for the kids to stretch their legs after our car ride!

Afterwards, we checked out the formal gardens. They were absolutely lovely!

Then, we crossed A1A to hit the beach on the Atlantic side of the park. The water was incredibly choppy and wasn’t very safe for our little ones to play in. I also didn’t realize that the coquina formations were nearly 1/4 mile down the beach from the parking lot. We decided that it was too far to walk there and back with the twins so we skipped it.

After leaving the park to find somewhere more clam to swim, we ended up at a little cove known as Helen Mellon Schmidt Park. It was the perfect place for the kids to splash around!

Our Park Essentials

Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Beach Wagon

What is there to do nearby?

Marineland
Fort Matanzas
Castillo de San Marcos
Ripley’s Believe it or Not
Potter’s Wax Museum
St. Augustine Alligator Farm

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A Recap of Our July Adventures

Elle MacRae — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 12:37:39 +0000

We have had quite an adventurous month! After being quarantined for four months, we became a bit stir crazy and began spending a lot more time checking out our local parks.

We took a few trips to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where we got up close and personal with a ferocious tiger! We spent a lot of time checking out our favorite animals, the bonobos.

This month we also visited the El Faro Memorial where we accidentally acquired a new kitten. We named him Captain Independence in honor of the fallen seamen and the 4th of July (the day we found him).

Our family checked off several local parks with visits to Sheffield Park, Castaway Island Preserve, and Blackrock Beach.

We spent a day exploring Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and Helen Mellon Schmidt Park in St. Augustine, Florida.

We spent a long weekend exploring central Florida with stops in Gamble Rogers State Park, Disney Springs, and Blue Springs State Park. We also visited smaller parks like Gemini Springs.

Smiley and Mama Elle had a “Mommy and Me” day that included a day trip down to St. Augustine. We enjoyed yummy donuts on the walls of Castillo de San Marcos before heading south to Marineland.

Later in the week we visited The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Memorial Park and Riverside park in our hometown of Jacksonville.

We rounded out the month by spending some time at our favorite beach, Huguenot, and testing out our new paddleboard at our favorite lake.