Saint Johns County
It’s easy to see why people have been settling here for nearly 500 years. Today, St. Johns County combines the best of both worlds, with its ancient natural beauty providing the backdrop for a contemporary residential and commercial lifestyle.
St. JohnsCountyhas something for everyone. Whether you’re looking forward to a relaxing day at the beach, a history lesson come to life, or a day exploring the shops of Old St. George Street, we have it all. St. Augustine’s centuries of history entice 6.5 million visitors from around the world each year. Our guests enjoy exploring the historic streets and attractions of downtown St. Augustine, lounging on the beautiful beaches of St. Augustine, Vilano and Ponte Vedra Beach, and finding plenty of shopping and entertainment to spark most everyone’s attention.
Residents and visitors to St. Augustine enjoy scores of celebrations and events all year long. From the Annual Blessing of the Fleet in spring, to the acclaimed holiday season Nights of Lights, to a handful of festivals and historic tributes sprinkled in between.
Mother Nature had a field day when creating ST. Johns County. The forty-two miles of expansive beaches offer a natural playground for most every water enthusiast. Boating, surfing, fishing and jet-skiing are popular pastimes in St. Johns County, with several fishing tournaments drawing quite a crowd.
The golf courses of St. Johns County are world-acclaimed, luring golfers of every ability. The multi-faceted resort community of the World Golf Village, with its centerpiece World Golf Hall of Fame, calls our community home. The PGA TOUR is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach and draws world wide attention with the annual Tournament Players Championship (TPC) at Sawgrass.
If sightseeing is in your plans, you can’t miss the plethora of historical sites St. Johns County has to offer. Travel through the historic Ponce de Leon Hotel, new home to Flagler College, then wander over to the Castillo de San Marcos fort.
St. Johns County is known as “America’s First Romantic Destination.” Many people start out visiting here, making memories as they stroll along the bay front, or unwind at a first-class resort. Several folks find themselves drawn back here to call this place home, capturing forever.. Finding it all in St. Johns County.
ST. AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine’s rich history and cultural diversity have helped shape a dynamic city for both residents and visitors alike. It’s unique mix of both the Old and the New is what beckons visitors to come explore and is what has always brought them back.
The story of St. Augustine is the foundation of sightseeing tours via tram, trolley, horse-drawn carriage, walking tour or cruise boat. History comes to life here, where on any given day, you will find guides dressed in old-world costumes, weaving you through the site of the town.
Some of St. Augustine’s most popular landmarks include the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a living history museum which interprets life in colonial St. Augustine circa 1740; the Fountain of Youth Discovery Park, where it is said Ponce de Leon sought everlasting youth and the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where Pedro Menendez de Aviles first set foot on Florida’s shore in 1565. Still other landmarks include the Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels, built by Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler I the late 19th century. Today those grand Victorian structures house Flagler College, St. Augustine City Hall and Lightner Museum. Accommodations are plentiful and range from splendid resorts to charming bed & breakfast inns. Restaurants abound ranging from quaint cafes to four-star rated establishments.
Anastasia Island
Just across the Intracoastal Waterway, you will find Anastasia Island, a barrier island separating the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland. This oceanfront city is most proud of its wide sandy beaches, favorite spots for weekend beach trips and evening walks. On some of our beaches, you can pack the cooler with sandwiches and sodas and drive the car right along on sand with you.
The north end of Anastasia Island is off limits to motor vehicles. Anastasia State Park starts just a short way north of the St. Johns County Fishing Pier and runs about 2 miles until the north end of the Island separated from Vilano Beach by the St. Augustine Inlet. Much of the park area is a sanctuary to wildlife, but the beaches are wonderful, and the campground is amazing. The Park surrounds much of Salt Run where fishing abounds along with water sports and boating.
The most northern access for vehicles is at “A” Street. You can go south on the beach from there, and there are numerous access points to leave the beach, or drive all the way south to Matanzas Inlet!
Residents of St. Augustine Beach are never at a shortage of things to do. For outdoor fun, there’s beach volleyball, miniature golf, surfing, bicycling, roller-blading and tennis. Put on your bathing suit and enjoy some of St. Augustine Beach’s favorite water sports.
