
Florida’s Historic Coast: 6 Best Beaches
More than 500 years ago, Ponce de Leon spotted beautiful, inviting beaches that drew him to shore and led to…
Convenient white sand beaches with ties to civil rights history.
As part of a comprehensive FEMA Dune Enhancement Project, St. Johns County will initiate temporary closures of two vehicle beach access ramps to Butler Beach Reach. The affected area encompasses the shoreline from Ocean Hammock Park through Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort, as well as a 1,500-foot section southbound from Mary Street. To ensure public safety and accommodate the presence of heavy equipment on the beach, the Ocean Trace Road vehicle beach access ramp will be closed starting from Thursday, July 6. Similarly, the A Street vehicle beach access ramp will close from Monday, July 10. However, all vehicle traffic in the vicinity will still have access to the beach through the Dondanville Road vehicle beach access ramp, which will remain open for entry and exit.
For updates on this project, visit www.sjcfl.us/CoastalProjects or contact the Coastal Management team at 904-209-0260, or coastalprojects@sjcfl.us.
Sea turtle nesting season begins May 1, and St. Johns County officials are asking residents, visitors, and businesses to help protect natural habitat by observing all nesting season laws and regulations. The beaches of St. Johns County are home to several species of endangered or threatened sea turtles.
From May 1 to Oct. 31, St. Johns County staff will close vehicular beach access gates at 7:30 p.m. and reopen them at 8 a.m. to allow nesting sea turtles to have a safe beach throughout the night. Have a positive impact with these tips.
Butler Beach on Anastasia Island is located only eight miles south of St. Augustine’s historic district and offers wide stretches of white sand beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
Visitors may access Butler Beach via the Frank B. Butler County Park. The Mary Street Beach ramp takes drivers to the beach ($10 per car for beach access). To the right before the pay station, unpaved Gloria Avenue has free beach parking.
Butler Beach offers plenty of amenities, making it a great option for a day of family fun. The park staffs the beach seasonally with lifeguards, and other amenities include free parking, restrooms, showers, barbecue grills, and picnic pavilions. Dogs are welcome on Butler Beach but must be leashed at all times.
In the early 1900’s, a young black man named Frank B. Butler moved to St. Augustine. Upon arriving, he settled in the predominantly African-American area known as Lincolnville – now one of the city’s historic districts. At that time, Florida’s beaches were for the use of “whites only.” In 1927, Butler became so annoyed by this injustice that he began purchasing oceanfront property on Anastasia Island.
Butler was eventually able to acquire a tract stretching across the island from the Atlantic to the Matanzas River. He named it Butler Beach and opened it to African-Americans. It became the only stretch of beach between Daytona Beach and American Beach, north of Jacksonville, where African-Americans were allowed to enjoy the sand and the sea.
Local Tip: For a great view of the Intercoastal Waterway, head to the west-side of the park.
Florida’s Historic Coast: 6 Best Beaches
More than 500 years ago, Ponce de Leon spotted beautiful, inviting beaches that drew him to shore and led to…
History
St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches
Hotels & Places to Stay | St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL
Search St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach hotels, bed & breakfasts, resorts and vacation rentals, and find the perfect place…
Family Fun
Planning a family vacation in Florida? Try St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach!
DESCENT ≈ An Atlas of Relation at Lightner Museum75 King St.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Living Light BioTours: Kayak Bioluminescent Guana Lake at Night505 Guana River Rd.
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Night Watchman Ghost Tour76 Spanish Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Fantastic Florida at St. Augustine Art Association22 Marine St.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art at Lightner Museum75 King Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Nights of Pints 202318 Cathedral Pl
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Nights of Lights - Shared Experience3076 Harbor Drive
St Augustine, FL 32084
Nights of Lights - Glitter Package - Dinner Cruise3076 Harbor Drive
St Augustine, FL 32084
World Famous Nights of Lights with Red Boat Tours260 Vilano Road
Vilano Beach, FL 32084
Nights of Lights - Twinkle Package3076 Harbor Drive
St Augustine, FL 32084
Nights of Lights EV Ride - presented by GhoSt Augustine162 St. George St., Ste 19
St. Augustine, FL 32084
History and Art, a Holiday Décor Exhibition at Ximenez-Fatio House Museum20 Aviles St.
St. Augustine, FL 32084