St. Johns County Living

A relocator's notebook for Northeast Florida

Things to do

The county beyond the weekend itinerary

A relocator does not need every attraction. You need a handful of places that still feel good on a random Thursday.

Boardwalk through coastal dunes toward the ocean

This season: warm Atlantic water, afternoon storms, and the version of the county you should experience before you decide.

Historic St. Augustine

Castillo de San Marcos, the bayfront, and a slower walk through Lincolnville. Go early or on a weekday if crowds change how you feel about a place.

Public beaches

St. Augustine Beach, Vilano, and Ponte Vedra access points are the everyday luxury. Bring cash for parking where it is required and check flag conditions.

State parks and marshes

Anastasia, Guana Tolomato Matanzas, and the river marshes are why people stay after the first summer. Kayaks teach the county better than a bus tour.

Golf, without making it a personality

TPC Sawgrass is the famous name. World Golf Village and dozens of daily-fee courses are how residents actually play. You do not need a membership to enjoy the landscape.

Food that is not only tourist supper

The historic district has plenty of visitor menus. The better relocator habit is to eat where the high-school families eat on a Wednesday — in the beach towns, Nocatee, and along 312.

Festivals with a calendar

Nights of Lights, First Friday, and seasonal beach events give the year a shape. If you visit once, try to overlap one of them and one ordinary Tuesday.