Coastal Beach Recreation

The A1A Ocean Shore Scenic Highway begins at the Volusia/Flagler County line and extends north 7.3 miles to the northern city limits of Beverly Beach.  The A1A River to Sea Trail section of the Byway stretches 11 miles north from Beverly Beach to the St. Johns County line traveling through the Hammock. The Scenic and Historic A1A Highway connects all of St. Johns County to the Duval County line. This provides a continuous scenic corridor from county line to county line along A1A.

The Scenic A1A corridor is home to a state and nationally recognized nature preserve, and the town of Marineland –- first of the designated Florida Department of Community Affairs Remarkable Coastal Places. You will want to experience all that this area has to offer, including golf, tennis, fishing, sailing, swimming, bird watching, and hiking.

There are many river-to-sea adventures along the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Highway.  This National Scenic Byway takes you on a journey of discovery to pristine areas. It is a journey back to the rich, preserved natural environment of the barrier islands between the river and the sea and through centuries of exploration and preservation.   Free, conveniently located public parking, connecting bike paths, trails, boardwalks, and dune crossovers allow visitor to access the natural resources.

The small, quaint beachside communities of Beverly Beach and Flagler Beach offer you picturesque buildings festooned with flowers.  The Flagler Beach pier, adjacent to A1A, provides the visitor and resident great opportunities to see the city and beaches from a unique perspective.

A1A also offers you opportunities to explore salt marshes and the Intercoastal Waterway through access at Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, Betty Steflik Preserve, and Silver Lake.

You may wish to visit the Flagler Beach Museum to view historic pictures of the town and some of its more famous visitors, such as Amelia Earheart and Charles Lindbergh, who landed on the small runway through the marsh on the Westside of the barrier island.

There are opportunities to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste the bounties of nature as you travel along the corridor and visit its varied and exciting parks and preserves.  Some will provide dramatic vistas and exciting historic reenactments; others may evoke a calm feeling that makes you want to sit and soak up the beauty, the fragrances, and the tranquility.  Another may lead you to seek a better understanding of the interrelationship of the water and land in the “Cradle of Life,” as the estuary is called.  It is a 72-mile journey that may take only hours to drive, but days to explore.

If you enjoy wildlife, don't miss the St. Augustine Alligator farm.  This zoological park happens to be one of Florida's oldest -- plus, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places!

Anastasia State Park also has a lot to offer in the way of wildlife...not to mention the beautiful beaches and tons of trails and activities! And then there is the destination to return to forever...the beautiful St. Augustine Beach, rich in history and recreation for all.

Along this “path” of discovery, there are thousands of acres separating the ocean and rivers—many that have been preserved as when Europeans first landed in the Americas.  Learn about man’s early visits to the area as he gathered the bounty from the estuary and the ocean.  Experience history as it comes to life in historic St. Augustine; walk around plantation ruins among the oaks; and visit the Flagler Beach Museum for a touch of “Old Florida.”


Other areas of interest to check out include:

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
Faver-Dykes State Park
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
GTM Reserve
Association of Tennis Professionals and Players Golf Association
Bicycle and Pedestrain Paths
Riding Routes