Best Summer Beach Vacation Planning Tips
![Ponte Vedra Inn and Club pool kids](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/PVIC-pool-kids-1-v1578934459.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=778bbe8135d499faa373fa7cee1cc1b7 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/PVIC-pool-kids-1-v1578934459.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=4e2a36172cd4b4e8c1c207d1a21c7837 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/PVIC-pool-kids-1-v1578934459.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f78cf340d03896419d280a21d8a32202 750w)
Where to stay and what to do in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach? We’ve got you covered!
Florida’s Historic Coast offers so many options for beaches, attractions and dining, you’ll need a little help planning. Don’t worry. We’re here for you. Summer on Florida’s Historic Coast features outstanding beaches, amazing historical sites, fun attractions, great restaurants and world-renowned golf (early morning tee-times suggested). In fact, there are so many exciting opportunities available that planning the perfect vacation can be a challenge. Here are some helpful hints on making the most of your summer beach vacation.
Places to Stay
On Florida’s Historic Coast, summertime means family time at the beach. And there’s no better place to enjoy sun, sand and the gentle Atlantic surf than along 42 miles of shoreline. For families, there are spacious accommodations to meet any preference and budget.
Ponte Vedra Beach has upscale seaside resorts offering activities for the entire family, including outstanding dining and spas. Step onto the beach from your room at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Bring the family for a stay in one of the Villas at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort and Spa with kitchenettes and spacious living areas.
Just across the Bridge of Lions from downtown St. Augustine, Anastasia Island has 12 miles of beautiful white sand beaches. In St. Augustine Beach, there are no towering buildings to block sea views or cast long afternoon shadows across the sand. Instead, unobtrusive hotels and condos provide perfectly-sized family accommodations.
The Guy Harvey Resort has exquisite oceanfront views and the resort’s fishing team will get you hooked up with gear and a great guide.
Enjoy beachside stays at the Embassy Suites Oceanfront Resort with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, made-to-order breakfast and a poolside bar. Experience the laid back pace of Old Florida at the quaint La Fiesta Ocean Inn and Suites.
For larger parties, there are also numerous privately-owned seaside homes available for rent, plus there are oceanfront camping spots among the natural beauty of Anastasia State Park and Ocean Grove Resort.
North Beach Camp Resort's beautifully wooded campground spans a barrier island from the Atlantic Ocean to Tolomato River and is just five miles north of downtown St. Augustine.
Enjoy beautiful Crescent Beach with a stay at Beacher’s Lodge Oceanfront Suites. You can bring your pet along on your vacation at this resort with roomy suites and kitchenettes.
Vilano Beach is a favorite among the locals. Stay steps away from the shore at the recently opened Holiday Inn Express Vilano Beach. There’s plenty of room for your group at the Saint Augustine Beach House.
Couples also have many options, including staying in St. Augustine’s historic district and making a short summer sojourn to the beaches whenever the mood strikes. Choose from exquisite hotels like the beautiful Casa Monica Resort & Spa or Hilton’s Historic Bayfront, or become part of the Oldest City’s romance and history by choosing from more than 30 charming bed and breakfast inns.
Dock your boat at Marker 8 Hotel and Marina with breathtaking views of the historic district’s skyline. Some things to consider: To take advantage of lower rates, check on mid-week stays. Don’t mind a short walk to the beach? Rates can be lower at accommodations across the street from the ocean.
Things to Do
The beaches of Florida’s Historic Coast provide the perfect location for splashing in the surf, riding the waves (lifeguards are present from May-September), soaking up the sun, reading that new novel or simply relaxing to the gentle swish of waves caressing the sand. And when evening comes, there are dining options both at the beach, in Ponte Vedra and in downtown St. Augustine.
From the dining room, you can see the sea at The Reef just north of Vilano Beach. Across A1A is dining with a Intracoastal view at Cap’s on the Water – a local favorite – and for real family seafood, Aunt Kate’s is nearby. For something completely different, head over to St. Augustine Beach for an experience your friends and family won’t soon forget. Outer Banks Boil Company will prepare a classic seafood boil pot to-go consisting of red bliss potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, authentic andouille sausage, sweet Vidalia onions and jumbo shrimp steamed to perfection. You can add-on lobster, crab legs, clams, mussels, scallops and whether you steam or they steam and bring to you, you’ll be in heaven without leaving the beach.
For that funky seaside vibe, try Salt Life Food Shack or Beachcomber St. Augustine, both in St. Augustine Beach. Want a break from the sand and sun? For the kid in all of us, try the Marineland Dolphin Adventure or climb to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for an amazing view. An evening stroll down St. Augustine’s pedestrian-only St. George Street with its shops and restaurants is a “must-do.” Want to stay dry and have fun during an afternoon rain shower? Take the kids indoors to enjoy the interactive exhibits at the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum or check out the original Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum.
THINGS TO DO
![Kayak at the GTM](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=589783b3ea94859a0c7369348608fe82 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=6417790c4934599f2d9dd8bd3e30ac2a 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=e9521bcddbf22ca6505c87137413b69c 768w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=4452d99e4f1254a20759c86a2ef77190 1024w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=8e95c239251068077d4f199384dcee49 1200w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=8902a3ce3a49f9b2fbabcd8115981fc0 1440w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Kayak-at-the-GTM-v1572988423.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=ffbe16119dc8cf05e5ae27418bdd9430 1920w)
Natural Experiences in Ponte Vedra
Get Out and Enjoy Ponte Vedra Naturally
![Three Sharks teeth on bed of shells found in St. Augustine Florida](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Sharks-teeth-v1559945652.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=e1d8fc72c2cad7eb72b9ecd84a7e735d 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Sharks-teeth-v1559945652.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=6a8ec5c05539c9a96b7b90f89b9a7e28 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/Sharks-teeth-v1559945652.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=2d2e391e9ca8d904d612d84d2066a534 750w)
How to Find Shark Teeth in St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra Beach
It has been 500 years since Ponce de Leon first saw the magnificent beaches of St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra…
![Birding](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=bdf870a2295299e77e371045d59b89a7 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=cec1dfaf15ddf23e9e16e69c8dfd8b93 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=d422da28cc5ad4762a10d485a20ad8d9 768w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=40807abb345dd5b8ad66a4bcfeacb808 1024w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=d3ec478a0746e263f04d92c0282cf167 1200w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=004421451633225a38da77b308b53954 1440w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/Birding-v1556726734.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=aa7691f8fb1a6990052f32f9c52634f2 1620w)
Outdoor Activities in the St. Augustine Area
Nature Lovers, Fishermen and Birders Flock to St. Augustine and Its Beaches
![life guard on a St. Augustine Beach in FL](https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=213&q=80&w=320&s=79690fdb5168153cc94ff3caa4b9d93c 320w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=360&q=80&w=540&s=a96864a54f395f95364ff27b90ea07e8 540w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=512&q=80&w=768&s=3027493e1185b51ed0e78410e77fde5a 768w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=683&q=80&w=1024&s=cb804069b61422472ff8edbaf72075ff 1024w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=800&q=80&w=1200&s=a48db02c6cf3b3fdbe0aebe2d78018bc 1200w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=960&q=80&w=1440&s=a07398ee1941eba564c3f19cd5045685 1440w, https://fl-historic-coast.imgix.net/images/meta-images/BEACH_GUARD-v1555351867.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=min&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1280&q=80&w=1920&s=3520476fe0274182f977692d6a4e8682 1920w)
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…
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