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Steeped in history amid a backdrop of scenic beaches, bountiful birdlife and unspoiled natural beauty, Northeast Florida appeals to a wide range of travelers.
The region is distinguished by intriguing natural features, such as the north-flowing St. Johns River, the longest river in the state and one of 13 American Heritage Rivers in the cou ntry; thousands of acres of unspoiled marshland; and undeveloped barrier islands with miles of beaches, preserved as parks. Big Talbot Island State Park features a dramatic driftwood forest and stunning bluffs. Little Talbot Island includes desert-like dunes, maritime forests and salt marshes populated with marsh rabbits and bobcats. Amelia Island State Recreation Area’s 200 acres of undeveloped sea island offer a glimpse of the original Florida—kayak tours are a good way to see dolphins, manatees and otters in this region.
So richly varied are the birds in this region that it will become part of the first section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a planned 2,000-mile highway trail throughout the state. Along Fort Clinch State Park’s Willow Pond Nature Trail, look for m igratory warblers, mourning doves and painted buntings. Anastasia State Recreation Area is home to sandpipers, gulls, pelicans and terns along the beaches and herons and egrets in the lagoon and tidal marshes. At Guana River State Park in Ponte Vedra Beach, sea ducks, common loons and northern gannets might be spotted offshore during winter months. In the interior, from the observation tower at Capo Creek, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, white and glossy ibis, egrets, herons and other wading birds can be seen.
Northeast Florida presents a charming quiet side. Along the picturesque St. Johns River are small towns that recall old Florida. These include Palatka, a tourist destination attracting northerners who traveled by steamboat; Green Cove Springs, with a railroad museum and historic homes; and Welaka, now home to the Welaka National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium. Putnam County, considered the Bass Capital of the world, is a favorite not only with anglers but with nature lovers, who can head out on the Cross Florida Greenway or Florida National Scenic Trail through Ocala National Forest.
Other off-the-beaten path places to explore in Northeast Florida: Princess Place Preserve, a unique historical and environmental site containing the oldest standing homestead in Flagler County; the Old Spanish Quarries, where coquina shells were used to build many colonial structures in St. Augustine, including the Castillo de San Marcos; and Bulow Plantation State Historic Site near Flagler Beach, once the site of a prosperous plantation of sugar cane, cotton, rice and indigo. |
