How about a romantic getaway to St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach? They’re just a short drive from Jacksonville but worlds away.
Start your journey with a totally immersive experience at the AAA 5-Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. With everything from world-class golf, beautiful beaches and elegant boutiques to fine oceanfront dining and luxurious spas, you’ll find lots of ways to get away and get closer to the one you love.
Close by, adventure seekers can hike, kayak and explore miles of pristine Florida habitat along nature trails that wind through the GTM Research Reserve on scenic A1A. The coastal estuary offers incredible views that look as they did centuries ago when first spotted by Ponce de Leon. Lush vegetation, nesting bald eagles, and possible encounters with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and the West Indian manatee await the nature lover.
Want to explore more? Step back about 450 years and head a little further south to St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city.
Here you’ll be greeted by the enchanting spectacle of the Nights of Lights, described by National Geographic as a “must-see” display of holiday lights—millions of them sparkling throughout the historic city. From the iconic, 17th century Castillo de San Marcos , along the bayfront to the Bridge of Lions, and from Historic Bed & Breakfast Inns to restaurants offering a wide range of fine cuisine inspired by centuries of cultural diversity, you’ll be dazzled. A stroll down Aviles Street, the oldest in the U.S., is the perfect spot to enjoy a craft cocktail as you catch the vibrant sounds of live music.
Whether exploring by foot, aboard the Schooner Freedom or by Red Express Tour or Old Town Trolley Tours, there are more than 60 historic sites and attractions like the Fountain of Youth and the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum to entertain families and romantic couples alike. You don’t have to be a Gator fan to love the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. And with 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches, Florida’s Historic Coast offers the visitor an endless supply of authentic, cultural experiences that are simply hard to beat!
