A Guide to St. Johns County
From the historic charm of St. Augustine to the coastal beaches of Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County is a gorgeous spot in Northeast Florida. The local restaurants make sure that the food scene is lively and full of flavor, and the multitude of attractions make it the perfect spot for everyone in the family.
Want to take a deeper dive into St. Johns County? Find Your JAX has got you covered! Take a look at what makes this county so great:
Lively Food Scene
St. Johns County knows what it’s doing when it comes to tasty dishes! With the wide variety of restaurants across the county, you are sure to never go hungry while you’re here:
Palm Valley Fish Camp offers numerous seafood dishes, like their signature ceviche or spicy shrimp linguini, and delicious drinks, making it the perfect spot for all seafood lovers who want to dine on the water.
If you’re looking for something with a more laid-back atmosphere, enjoy dinner with a view while dining on Caribbean cuisine at Beaches at Vilano. Located right off the Tolomato River, Beaches is an award-winning restaurant where patrons can relax and enjoy a “no worries” Caribbean Island atmosphere.
There’s no better spot for dinner and a show than Prohibition Kitchen. This pub is located in the heart of St. Augustine on St. George Street and offers various craft cocktails and tasty bar food dishes, making it the perfect spot for a night out with friends. Make sure to check out their music calendar to see who will be performing each night!
From their delicious family recipe Italian dishes to the wide selection of wines to choose from, Catullo’s Italian is a must-visit in Nocatee for an authentic Italian meal. With dishes like mushroom tortellini and short rib cannaloni, there is something for everyone to dig into here.
Photo Credits: Visit St. Augustine
Family-Friendly Attractions
Have little ones? St. Johns County is full of family-friendly attractions making it a good spot for all ages:
If you’re a fan of animals, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm is an ideal way to spend the day. Home to many exotic animals, such as Komodo dragons and sloths, this attraction is fun for the whole family.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is located right in the heart of St. Augustine, and will leave you with a whole new perspective! With thousands of wonders and oddities to explore, this museum is a must-visit in St. Johns County.
Attention all sports fanatics! Home to THE PLAYERS, this iconic golf course is located in Ponte Vedra Beach and is a beautiful spot to play with friends. Featuring two different award-winning courses, TPC Sawgrass is a golf lover’s dream.
If you’re a Nocatee resident, make sure to check out the Nocatee Spray Waterpark on the next sunny day! This park not only offers large swimming pool, but also multiple waterslides for the thrill-seekers. For the younger ones, there is also a spray park called “Scuttle Cove” so they can join in on the fun!
Photo Credits: Supreme Golf Blog
Take a Walk in the Past
Home to the nation’s oldest city, St. Johns County is right up a history fanatic’s alley. Step back in time and explore the past at one of these attractions:
Want to add in a spooky factor while exploring the area’s history? There’s no better spot than St. Augustine to do so! The city offers multiple ghost tours like “Ghosts & Gravestones” or “A Ghostly Encounter,” so there’s ample options to choose from.
The Castillo de San Marcos fort is a St. Augustine staple and gives visitors the opportunity to actually walk inside its historic walls and view various artifacts. Built by the Spanish back in 1695, this is the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
Located on St. George Street, take a tour of this American treasure that reflects the homestead life of the Minorcan Settlers as well as school life in the 1800s. All visitors receive a diploma after exploring the Old School, kitchen and gardens!
Photo Credits: Visit St. Augustine
Various Water Sources
There’s no better way to enjoy the region’s 220 days of sunshine than hanging out by the water. The multitude of water sources in St. Johns County gives residents multiple spots to take advantage of JAX’s ideal climate:
Craving a beach day? Spend the day soaking in the sunshine and enjoying the salty water at one of the various beaches in the county! Want to add a bit of thrill? Check out St. Augustine Surf School to take a surf class. If sight-seeing is more your speed, Three Brothers Adventure Tours offers a dolphin, manatee and sea turtle tour!
FYJ Pro Tip: Your furry friend is allowed to join you at many of these beaches! For more information, click here.
If you want to take your boat out for the day, the Intracoastal Waterway is the perfect spot to do so! Need some gear before heading out? Palm Valley Outdoors offers bait and boating gear, as well as paddle boards and kayaks that to rent for the day.
Guana River offers various options on how to spend your day by the water. From fishing to taking a kayak or paddleboard out for a spin, there are so many activities to choose from.
Photo Credits: St. Augustine Surf School
There is still so much to explore and uncover about St. Johns County! Visit Find Your JAX’s YouTube to take a personalized tour of St. Augustine from a local resident and see why she loves calling this city her home or click here to learn more about the county’s various neighborhoods.
Stay tuned as we showcase how you can #FindYourJAX throughout each of the region’s counties!