With the new year comes New Year’s resolutions. While many resolutions include promises of getting fit and healthy through eating and exercise, another popular resolution is spending more time with family. Fortunately, spending more time with family in the coming year is one that is easy to keep in the St. Johns County, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville area.
Florida, in general, is well known for a wide variety of family-friendly activities and the greater St. Johns County area is no exception! Here are some great places to explore in St. Johns County, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, each sure to help you keep your New Year’s resolution of spending more time with your family in 2020.
Source: Alligator Farm
The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine not only offers an alligator show but also features a plethora of educational and exciting exhibits with gators galore. In between wildlife shows, you and your family can watch alligator feedings, ride the zip line, or enjoy the playground.
Explore the fort of Castillo de San Marcos. If you are like many residents of the area, you might have missed this 17th century military fort, unique to North America. As the oldest masonry fort in the U.S. it exemplifies the bastion system type fortification and is one of only two forts in the world built of coquina (limestone). Enjoy the adventure, the history, and the view!
Just a few miles south of St. Augustine is the Dolphin Conservation Center where you and your family can experience the ultimate adventure – swimming with the dolphins. Children of all ages will enjoy learning about the beautiful creatures and conservation efforts, creating art with dolphin artists, touch and feed the dolphins, or even take a kayak tour.
What could be better than a day at the beach with the family! Head over to the coast for a day of swimming, surfing, and sunning on one of the area’s beautiful beaches. Build sandcastles, look for shells, and enjoy a picnic on the beach. Bring along your favorite beach games and have fun!
Only a few short steps from the beach, Adventure Landing is filled to overflowing with activities to enjoy together. From the splashes and laughter of the water park, including a relaxing lazy river, to the thrilling roller coasters, Adventure Landing has the perfect diversion for everyone in your family! Challenge one another to arcade games, laser tag, go-cart racing, and mini-golf, and include special prizes from the delights of the candy shop for the winners!
Featuring railroad exhibits along with a steam train car to explore, the park is also home to a home, chapel, and train depot. In the main museum, everyone will enjoy seeing the historic photos from the coastal communities and marvel at the evolution of swimwear! In addition, the museum offers traveling exhibits throughout the year.
A fun place for a day of exploration and adventure, Big Talbot Island State Park promises boating, fishing, and kayaking. Bone Yard Beach delivers with scattered driftwood, 30-foot bluffs and old trees lining the beach. Pack a picnic and create your own park adventure.
The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary welcomes unwanted big cats – lions, cougars, black leopards, bobcats, Siberian tigers, and white tigers – as well as coatimundis and foxes. You and your family are invited to meet the cats of Catty Shack Ranch, learn about them, and watch a feeding on the nighttime tours.
Source: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Zoos are always fun, and the Jacksonville Zoo promises an around the world tour of animal habitats and wildlife from Florida, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. Take the family and enjoy a day of giraffe feeding, a train ride, Butterfly Hollow, the Range of the Jaguar, and so much more.
Along the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, you and your family will find the MOSH, where everyone can have fun and learn all about science, from the ocean to the stars. The history of Northeast Florida is also showcased from the prehistoric inhabitants to today’s inhabitants.
For those who make St. Johns County home, this simple list will get you well on the way to keeping your New Year’s resolution to spend more time with the family!
If you’re considering moving to St. Johns County, you should definitely consider the brand new Beacon Lake community of single-family homes and townhomes. At Beacon Lake, the natural beauty of northeast Florida’s coastline is combined with lakefront or preserve views and resort-style community features to create your dream lifestyle. In addition to beautiful homes, Beacon Lake promises exceptional amenities including a 43-acre paddle friendly lake and a state-of-the-art amenity and fitness center.
Want to know more about Beacon Lake? Join our VIP list to stay up to date on our coastal-inspired homes, construction updates, and more! You can also fill out a form for any other questions on our Contact Us page.
