Beaches & Waterways
St. Augustine Beach St. Augustine Beach has everything for a day of fun, including a beachfront park, fishing pier, splash park and a pavilion. There are also
Riverwalk in downtown Jacksonville allows residents to take a stroll or jog along the beautiful river. Keep your eyes peeled for manatees or dolphins, which frequent the river.
Other First Coast Rivers
in St. Augustine, the Matanzas Bay and Matanzas River give sight to
Many bodies of water throughout
landmarks like the Castillo de San
the First Coast provide a multitude
Marcos, St. Augustine Lighthouse and
of outdoor fun, like fishing and
Bridge of Lions. On the Amelia River,
boating. The Tolomato and Guana
you can enjoy historic sites such as
oceanfront restaurants, beach vollyball
rivers surround Guana Tolomato
courts and more.
Matanzas National Estuary Research
Vilano Beach
Reserve in St. Johns County, while
Located on the north side of the
Fort Clinch State Park with radiant riverbanks and salt marshes.
St. Johns County Ocean Pier, photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com
Matanzas Inlet, Vilano Beach is a great spot for surfing, paddleboarding and skimboarding due to its heavier surf and strong current. The beach also offers access for four-wheel-drive vehicles depending on the conditions of the sand.
WATERWAYS The Intracoastal The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway runs 40 miles throughout the First Coast. It splits the southside region of Jacksonville from the beach communities with its saltwater inlets, man-made canals and sounds. Many residents enjoy activities such as kayaking, fishing, boating, paddleboarding, tubing and jet skiing.
St. Johns River
Mickler’s Landing, photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com
The longest river in Florida runs right through the First Coast, spanning 310 miles from Mayport to Indian River County. Residents can enjoy many activities on the river, such as kayaking, boating and fishing. The
Photo courtesy of Floridashistoriccoast.com
Photo by Catherine Wysoczanski
