Are you looking for a beach getaway that offers a unique blend of two states? Look no further than the beaches along the Florida-Georgia border!
Whether you’re seeking an escape from the bustling cities of northern Florida or just want to relax at a scenic beach, this area has it all.
Get ready to explore miles of stunning coastline, take in breathtaking views, and discover some of the best-kept secrets in Florida and Georgia.
If you love the beach, the Emerald Coast is a great place to spend some time. You’ll love the emerald green waters and the beautiful white sands of the beaches here.
You’ll find fishing trails and canoes for rent. You can also rent stand-up paddleboards and paddleboats.
From the stunning white sand to the crystal blue waters, this region is a paradise that must be seen to be believed.
Whether you’re searching for a relaxing retreat or an adventure-filled journey, there’s something for everyone here. From Daytona Beach to St. Pete!
Uncovering the Hidden Paradise of Florida’s Georgia Border Beaches
1. Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach is a picturesque Florida beach town, located about a half-hour’s drive from Jacksonville, Florida. The town offers warm ocean waters and a white-sand beach and is renowned for its abundance of sport fish.
The area also offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, with several national forests and wildlife refuges within easy reach.
Atlantic Beach is a popular vacation destination for snowbirds looking to escape the cold.
It is not to be confused with the famous beach in New York, but both share similar names and are well-known for their laid-back beach culture.
The town is also home to several fine independent restaurants and an eclectic and creative vibe.
The Atlantic Beach area is also home to Point Lookout State Park, which offers visitors unspoiled, natural beauty. The area is relatively undeveloped, and the wildlife that resides there is absolutely stunning.
Visitors to the park can enjoy fishing, shell collecting, and just relaxing on the beach. There are also two cool lighthouses that are worth seeing.
The beaches are not staffed with lifeguards, so you should bring your own sunscreen and a hat.
The Atlantic Beach area of Florida is near Amelia Island, which lies five miles south of Georgia. It has miles of white sand and is home to a state park with 200 acres of wilderness.
You can also enjoy horseback riding directly on the beach and wildlife watching.
2. Jacksonville Area Beaches
Neptune Beach
Neptune Beach is a coastal town that is part of the Jacksonville Beaches community. It is located in the northeastern part of Florida and is known for its beautiful beachfront and its romantic sunsets. It’s the perfect getaway for nature lovers!
This beach offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy beachcombing, fishing, and surfing.
It also offers a variety of dining options and boutiques. The area is considered a quiet beach community and offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and boutiques.
This city is a popular beach destination for vacationers from Georgia. However, it is not a bustling town, and its crime rate is far lower than the national average.
While the beaches in Neptune Beach are pristine, there are not any major resorts. As a result, the cost of living is high, but the town does have a small number of rental homes.
Little Talbot Island State Park
You can also explore the Talbot Islands, a group of 200 acres of natural land and beaches that stretch across two bridges. The park features several trails, including the Dune Ridge Trail Loop, which winds through the dunes and marshlands. There are also restrooms at the Ranger Station.
Little Talbot Island, which is located in Northeast Florida, is home to five miles of white sand beaches. You can also hike, kayak and camp here. At the campground, you can find sites with electrical hookups and in-ground fire rings.
Sandy Creek Park
Jacksonville Beach, Georgia is known for its sandy shoreline. The area offers a wide variety of outdoor activities and great food. If you are looking for an activity for the whole family, Sandy Creek Park has something for everyone.
You can go for a walk along the trail or enjoy a round of disc golf. There are also shelters, picnic areas, basketball courts, ballfields, and other features for kids to have a fun day at the park.
When you’re done playing, you can take your dog for a run around the park. There are two to three-acre dog parks that have water spigots and mutt mitts. All dogs are welcome to join you at the park.
Another popular thing to do in Jacksonville Beach is to visit the Beaches Museum and History Park. This place takes you back in time to the early European settlements of the area.
3. Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is a Florida beach resort town that is popular with families and retirees. It offers more than 13 miles of soft, white sand beaches.
This resort town is also popular for its golf courses and outdoor recreation.
The beaches are great for swimming and sunbathing. Visitors can also enjoy a day of fishing, crabbing, or kayaking at Fernandina Beach State Park. The park is located on 1,400 acres and is a great place to play. There are hiking and biking trails, as well as a half-mile fishing pier. You can also book a charter boat tour.
Another popular tourist attraction is the Fernandina Beach Pinball Museum. The museum features over twenty arcade games and machines dating back to the early twentieth century. Admission is $14, and the owner will give you a lesson on the history of pinball.
One of the best things to do in Fernandina Beach is exploring its historic district. It contains over 400 structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you want to explore the city’s history, you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride or a trolley.
Other attractions include the Amelia Island Museum of History, which is housed in the old Nassau County jail.
You can explore the history of the Civil War, black beach communities in the Jim Crow era, and more. You can also learn about shark teeth and crabbing at the Nature Center.
There is a wide variety of shopping and dining options in the area. Fernandina Beach is home to several festivals. These include the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, which is held in October.
The Fernandina Beach Shrimp Museum is another place to visit. The museum includes photographs, artifacts, and a video. Guests can find out more about the history of the shrimp industry and the local community.
Visitors can also check out the many upscale hotels and restaurants in the area. The Fernandina Beach area is known for its beautiful Victorian-era architecture.
Some of the popular tourist attractions in the area are Baseball Diamond, Elm Park, and Hickory Street Park.
While Fernandina Beach is known for its pristine parks and outdoor recreation, there are many vacation rentals available in the area.
These rentals range from plantation houses to modern executive villas. Many of these vacation rentals offer full kitchens, private patios, and high-speed Internet.
A Fernandina Beach vacation is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a relaxing getaway. This Florida beach is known for its shell-studded shoreline, soft, white sand, and water sports.
During the winter months, the climate is dry, making it ideal for those who love the outdoors. However, the weather can be humid, especially in the summer.
Those who plan to visit Fernandina Beach in the summer should make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. The beach does not receive much rain during the summer.
This area is a popular place for birdwatching.
Whether you’re looking for a fun family vacation or a relaxing romantic getaway, Fernandina Beach is the place for you.
4. Dungeness Beach
If you’re searching for a relaxing and fun vacation spot near Florida, you should definitely consider taking a trip to Cumberland Island.
Pristine beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests surround this uninhabited island. The scenery is breathtaking and the wildlife in the area is plentiful. You can spend hours enjoying the natural beauty and the warm ocean waters.
There is plenty to see and do on this island.
Cumberland Island is a National Park and is home to 17 miles of undeveloped beach, making it one of the most isolated parks in the country.
A ferry ride from St. Marys, Georgia, gives you easy access to this emerald-green paradise. Once there, you can take your pick from luxury accommodations or camp in the park.
For those who prefer to stay closer to home, there are several resorts and campgrounds that cater to families with kids.
However, if you’re looking for a more adventurous experience, you can rent a boat to explore the island.
There are ruins to be found on the island as well. These include a recreation hall, a dock, and servants’ quarters.
During the Great Depression, the Carnegie family left the island and the many “cottages” they had built for their summer vacations went uninhabited.
But, with the arrival of the National Park Service, the Carnegie family estate was restored and opened to the public for tours.
One of the best ways to see the entire island is to take a 5-to-6-hour Land and Legacies vehicle tour. While the name is a bit of a mouthful, it is the only way to see the whole thing in one visit.
If you want to see something truly impressive, you should also check out the ruins of the Dungeness mansion.
This former stately home stood in ruins for decades. It is a magnificent sight to behold at sunrise when the old house is bathed in light. Some of the more notable features of the building include a graveyard and Spanish moss.
The best time to visit is in the early spring or during the late fall/early winter months. When the weather is warm, the beaches are wide and secluded, perfect for playing.
Although there are no lifeguards on the beach, the water is clear and safe to swim in.
Another noteworthy item to take note of is the nearby J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This 4.5-mile area is open to pedestrian traffic and bicycles.
Whether you’re here for birdwatching, crab fishing, or family fun, there are a variety of activities for all interests.
There are other things to do on the island, including taking a hike on the trails. While you’re at it, you may want to stop by the nearby Cedar Old Growth Nature Preserve.
Whether you’re here for a weekend getaway or a weeklong vacation, you’ll find everything you need and more. Make sure to plan ahead and bring along plenty of food, sunscreen, and bug spray.
What Happened to Dungeness Mansion?
The ruins of the Dungeness mansion on Cumberland Island are part of the National Seashore. This is a relic of the era of wealth and excess known as the “Gilded Age.”
In the late 18th century, the English-born James Oglethorpe built a hunting lodge on Cumberland Island. He called it “Dungeness” after the English county seat. A few years later, the mansion was destroyed in a fire.
Andrew Carnegie, a successful steel magnate, decided to build a new mansion on the site. It would be designed as a 60-room Scottish castle.
There were also 40 smaller housing structures for 200 servants. One of the earliest buildings on the property was a “tabby” (or revival) house. During the era of the Civil War, the tabby was abandoned.
After the death of General Nathaniel Greene, his widow finished the construction of the four-story tabby mansion. She also built Greyfield, a private hotel for the Carnegie family.
But when the Great Depression hit, the family lost interest. Rather than raze the property, the Carnegies donated the tabby and the land to the National Park Service.
Lucy Carnegie, the wife of Andrew Carnegie, spent more time on the Dungeness estate than her husband did. She built several other estates for her children on the island. When her husband died, she continued to live in the rebuilt mansion.
In the late 1800s, the Carnegies purchased the Dungeness estate from the Nightingale family. They paid $35,000 for the property.
However, the stock market crashed in the early 1900s, and the family abandoned the island. The mansion was burned down in 1959.
Today, the ruins of the Dungeness mansion are located on the southern tip of the island. These ruins are one of the most visited sites on the island.
Many visitors take a tour of the grounds and visit the ruins. While the ruins are safe to explore, you cannot enter the mansion itself.
The original Dungeness mansion was a 59-room Scottish castle. However, the ruins are only 12 acres. The site is surrounded by a salt marsh.
At one point, the ruins were home to a golf course, recreational complex, and tennis courts. Although the ruins of the original structure are not accessible, the newer structure is still standing.
In addition to the ruins, visitors can tour Plum Orchard, a private estate that is operated by the National Park Service. There are six hunts a year where deer and feral hogs can be shot. You can also learn about the history of the island.
What City Is On The Border Of Florida And Georgia?
Are you curious about what city lies on the border of Florida and Georgia?
Then look no further! Many people don’t realize that there is a city that straddles both states, known as the City of Chattahoochee.
Chattahoochee, a city that sits on the border of Florida and Georgia, is a hidden gem worth exploring!
This small town has been called “the best-kept secret between two states” and is an interesting blend of both Southern culture and tradition.
The city of Chattahoochee was founded in 1823 and has served as an important stop along the Apalachicola River.
It is known for its rich cultural heritage with deep roots in Native American and European cultures.
The city also boasts some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the area including hiking trails, fishing spots, and more. There are plenty of restaurants offering creative takes on traditional Southern dishes such as barbecue and seafood.
Chattahoochee is home to several attractions, including the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida Caverns State Park, Lake Talquin State Park, and Providence Canyon State Park.
There are also many historical sites such as the Battle of Natural Bridge Monument in nearby St. Marks which commemorate major Civil War battles fought in this area.
From its unique history to its vibrant culture, Chattahoochee has something for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you’re looking for outdoor activities or culinary delights, Chattahoochee has it all.
Bonus: A Must-Visit Georgia Beach!
St. Simons Island
If you are interested in history, St. Simons Island is the perfect place to spend a few days. The island is home to a restored 1811 lighthouse.
It was burned down by Confederate troops during the Civil War but was rebuilt by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society.
The lighthouse’s observatory is open for visitors to tour and includes 129 steps. The town has two public schools.
East Beach offers one of the widest beaches on St. Simons, as well as public restrooms and picnic tables. In addition to the beach, the area is also home to Gould’s Inlet, which is a popular spot for bird watching.
South of the inlet, visitors can explore the World War II Home Front Museum and the historic Coast Guard Station.
Bicycle riders will appreciate the island’s hard-packed sands, which also make for a good bike ride. There are also three marinas on the island for pleasure boaters.
The island is also home to an undeveloped 608-acre parcel in the northeast corner of the island. The property is home to ancient shell middens, a salt marsh, a tidal creek, and the shoreline of the river.
In addition, the remnants of the John Couper plantation can be seen along the coastline.
The area is popular for bird watching and ecotourism. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other activities off the beach.
You can also go golfing or bike riding. For a more adventurous vacation, you can also enjoy horseback riding and boating.
