Reconnect with Nature in St. Augustine!
Looking to "unplug" a bit and reconnect with Nature? Well, St. Augustine is surrounded in State Parks, and specializes in ecotourism that helps spread the joy of our local wildlife, in a sustainable way.
| Ever wanted to learn how to surf, but didn`t know where to start? St. Augustine Surf School is a family owned, family operated surf school with lifetimes worth of surf experience and ocean safety. They offer solo lessons, group lessons, and surf camps for the kids. After you learn how to surf, or if you already knew how, you can rent a board from them also and bring it back to your oceanfront rental home! |
| Location: |
4085 A1A S, St Augustine Beach, FL 32080 |
| Phone: |
(904) 806-4754 |
| Don`t leave Florida without seeing at least one gator! And who needs one gator, when you can have over a hundred? The Alligator Farm doesn`t just have gators, though. They also have pythons, lemurs, Komodo dragons, exotic birds, and some of Florida`s own wildlife. Take one of the zipline courses, and if you`re brave enough try the Dark Side of the Moon course that takes place at night! |
| Location: |
999 Anastasia Blvd, St Augustine, FL 32080 |
| Phone: |
(904) 824-3337 |
| At Anastasia State Park you can enjoy hiking, picnicking, seashell collecting, and there`s even a playground for the kids. Ancient Dunes Nature Trail is a beautifully shaded trail under a canopy of old oaks, and cool on most days of the year. |
| Location: |
300 Anastasia Park Road, St Augustine, FL 32080 |
| Phone: |
(904) 461-2033 |
| At Action Kayak Adventures, they specialize in kayak fishing and ecotours. Go out on the Guana River with Bart Swab, a Florida native and naturalist who has been fishing these waters since childhood. If you`re opting for the ecotours, make sure to bring a camera! |
| Phone: |
(904) 325-0344 |
| Are you ready for a mouthful? The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, or more succinctly, the GTM, is a beautiful nature reserve that in large part can be found across the street opposite of the ocean at the majority of out beach homes! The area includes some coastal land and land along the Guana, Tolomato, and Matanzas Rivers, hence, the GTM! There are several trails at the GTM, most of them looping and all of them have benches throughout, so it`s perfect for a gentle hike more focused on taking in Florida`s natural beauty. The GTM also hosts events from time to time such as guided hikes and family seining! |
| Location: |
505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 |
| Phone: |
(904) 823-4500 |
Vilano Beach Nature Boardwalk
| If a short boardwalk is more your style, then give the Vilano Beach Nature Boardwalk a try! Tucked away behind the nearby Publix in Vilano Beach you will see a small awning and sign if you keep going down Vivian Brown Ave, that`s the entrance to the boardwalk. Enjoy an in-depth look at the marsh that marks Florida`s natural beauty and enjoy beautiful mosaic art along the way! |
| Location: |
128 Vivian Browning Ave St. Augustine FL 32084 |
| Established by conservationists, historians, and agriculturalists the Florida Agricultural Museum was created the help preserve Florida`s agricultural history. You can see several building ranging from the years 1880 to 1920 and see how people survived in Florida well before air conditioning and refrigerators were commonplace! The museum also offers horseback riding tours through their 460 acre property. Ride past wooded trails, around a lake, and over the highway on a wildlife bridge! The tours are suitable for riders of all experience levels. They also offer riding lessons and horseback riding summer camps! |
| Location: |
7900 Old Kings Road N. Palm Coast, FL 32137 |
| Phone: |
(386) 446-7630 |
| What could be a cooler way to experience Florida beaches than on horseback? Equestrian Adventures of Florida, based out of Palm Valley, offers beach tours, trail tours, state park tours and custom ride packages, as well as riding lessons! Perfect for romantic getaways, celebrations, or simply to see Florida`s natural beauty as it was intended! |
| Location: |
Bridle Path Lane Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
| Phone: |
(386) 846-8386 |
| With over 100 acres and 2,000 animals, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is the gem of the city of Jacksonville, and definitely worth the trip out of St. Augustine! The animal exhibits are divided by continent and include animals from Africa, South America, Australia, and the brand new Asia pavilion which introduces the Land of the Tiger! Special feeding exhibits include the Stingray Bay where you can pet and feed rays, the adorable Lorikeet Parrots of Australia, and get face to face with reticulated giraffes at the Giraffe Overlook! My personal favorite exhibit is Wild Florida, where you can see Florida`s most precious aquatic mammal, the Florida Manatee! You truly don`t run out of things to see at the Jacksonville zoo! |
| Location: |
370 Zoo Parkway Jacksonville, FL 32218 |
| Phone: |
(904) 757-4463 |
