BEACHES OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA
Everything you need to know about the beaches of Northeast FloridaThe northeast region of Florida features miles of beaches, intercoastal waterways with marshes and wetlands, and a 13-mile long barrier island just north of Jacksonville called Amelia Island.
Amelia Island
Ranked as the Best Beach to Giddy Up, 13-mile long Amelia Island's untouched beaches are ideal for a wide variety of relaxing activities from sunbathing and swimming and wild life "safaris" to ocean front horseback riding. Visitors will also find kayaking on the south end of the island and on the north end there are the 40-foot, sea oat-dappled dunes beside the historic town of Fernandina Beach.
Anastasia Island
Eighteen-mile-long Anastasia Island, east and south of St Augustine, is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. From its wide beaches to the St. Johns County Pier, visitors enjoy fishing or simply relaxing in the sun on this scenic seashore paradise.
The Anastasia State Recreation Area offers facilities for camping, hiking, fishing, picnics, barbecues, nature walks, beach volleyball and simply relaxing in the sun. The natural beauty of the area is accented by the 1,700-acre bird sanctuary, rich with four miles of beach, lagoon waterways and plentiful wildlife. Tours provide visitors with experienced guides who can point out the flora and fauna that inhabit the Recreation Area.
Jacksonville
The 60 block-long shoreline of Jacksonville Beach with its wide, hard-packed white sands backed by dunes is ideal for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and sunning. The city provides access points at the eastern end of 64 streets, with free parking slots. The 1000-foot long fishing pier with a restaurant at its end is popular with both fishermen and sightseers.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park provides an out-of-the-way beach where kayaking, biking, freshwater fishing and hiking are popular sports.
Ponte Vedra Beach
In northern St. Johns County, the beaches of Ponte Vedra are characterized by their towering dunes, shell-sprinkled shores and plentiful, natural foliage. Truly a vacationer's paradise and near some of the finest resorts in the United States, visitors can ride horses in the surf, enjoy a stroll in the soft sand, fish or simply sit back and enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the ocean.
At Guana River State Park, south of Ponte Vedra Beach, saltwater anglers can fish in the ocean or the Guana River or enjoy freshwater and saltwater fishing in Guana Lake. Boat launches are available at both the river and lake.
Photo: Visit Florida
