Living in St Augustine
Do you ever get that feeling when you need a vacation but don’t have the time to take off? Well what about just taking a day trip somewhere? Well today we are going to do just that, so let’s get to it.
Hi Everyone, Kim Devlin here with Your Key to St Augustine in beautiful St Johns County Florida. If you’ve never been here before welcome and if you have, thanks for watching.
CITIES IN NORTH FLORIDA
I don’t have to tell you that St Augustine is a tourist destination but when you live here, it’s nice to get out of the area for the day and explore somewhere new or different. Northeast Florida has a lot to offer and there are many things you can do to enjoy the area so I am going to show you some great places to go in this new segment called Day Trips from St Augustine.
The first one is one is only 1.5 hours drive from St. Augustine’s historic district and that is Fernandina Beach. Located on Amelia Island, a barrier island known for it’s pristine beaches and natural wild life. It is 13 miles long and 4 miles wide at it’s widest point. This wonderful island is located just south of the Florida- Georgia border.
Things to do in Fernandina Beach Florida
Fernandina Beach is located on the northern most point of the island and there are lot of things to do here from kayaking to shopping to exploring the history of the area.
Founded by a French Explorer in 1562, Amelia Island is steeped in history so if you are a history buff, the first thing I would do is head over to Fort Clinch State Park located on the peninsula near the northernmost point of Amelia Island. It was the base of Union operations in the area throughout the Civil War. You can explore the fort’s many rooms, galleries and grounds, and learn about the life of a Union soldier during that time.
After you’ve taken in the history, go check out the views from the top of the fort looking over the St Marys inlet across to Cumberland Island and the miles out to sea.
The historic fort is only one aspect of this 1,400-acre park so if you are a nature lover, you will get to enjoy some outdoor activities too. Take a walk or bike ride under the massive live oaks that provide shade on a hot day and beautiful scenery on the many trails. If you like mountain biking, try out the 6 mile single track trail which features a mixed forest of mossy oak, pine and palmetto trees. After some exercise, head over to the parks beach for a swim. Honestly, you can probably spend the entire afternoon visiting this park and it’s well worth the trip just for that.
Now history doesn’t end at the fort. You should also check out the far less traveled area of Old Fernandina which is tucked away in the northern west side of the island where you will find a community of lots platted by the Spanish in 1811. This area is unique as the only Spanish town in Florida with the original site plat remaining. You’ll also find Fernandina Plaza at Old Town with its amazing waterfront view and history boards alongside a cannon. This location is where the Spanish built Fort San Carlos in 1816. The fort no longer stand so visitors will only find a large grassy lawn, which was designated a Florida State Park in 1941 but don’t expect to find any park benches and picnic tables here. Either way, it is a nice stop to visit, especially on your bike and take it all in.
After you take in old town, head on down to the foot of Centre Street in the historic district and visit the welcome center where you’ll find the historic train depot which served passengers from 1899 to the early 1930’s. This is a good place to visit to learn all about the area while also enjoying the historic district with it’s many shops and restaurants. A few of my favorites are Trailer Park Treasures and Twisted Sisters and don’t forget to pop into “The Oldest Bar” for a drink.
Now if shopping is not your thing but water is, head across the train track at Front and Centre Street to the waterfront where you can sit and enjoy the view or rent a boat and explore the Amelia River. This is also a great spot to take in the sunset and you’ll find many people congregating in the evening on the dock to do just that.
Last but definitely not least, don’t forget to spend some time enjoy the beautiful beaches in Fernandina. The water is delightful for a swim and they do have fresh water showers to wash the salt off before heading back home or spending the evening for a nice dinner.
I hope you enjoyed this little getaway, I know I did. If you have any questions about relocating to the area, download my free relocation guide in the description below.
If you want to explore some other fun things to do in the area, check out my next video. Interested in learning more about Real Estate here, shoot me an email.
As always, thanks so much for tuning in and I will catch you on the next one.