Augustine is the perfect place to relax in the sun for everyone Augustine’s beaches stretch from Vilano Beach north of the city to Crescent Beach in the south The Intracoastal Waterway naturally divides the mainland from the barrier islands with their miles of gorgeous coastline with many public areas for beach recreation and relaxation Augustine’s beaches are often at the top of the list St Augustine’s beaches provide a variety of options from idyllic State Parks to public beaches only a block or two from restaurants Augustine Beach where cars are allowed in designated areas be sure to check out the great local bars and restaurants that line A1A Observe beach rules for safety and to preserve the natural habitats Keep in mind that no alcohol or glass is allowed on the beach itself Personal watercraft vehicles must be launched from area boat ramps and not directly from the beach While you are visiting the St Augustine area we want to provide you with all the information about our beaches that we can so that you have a safe and fun experience You will find all the beach related information for St Johns County beaches on the St Johns County (SJC) Connect App for driving conditions and areas of the beach that may be closed due to tidal conditions This App replaces the “Reach the Beach App” used in the past Users can find all their beach-related updates and details under the ‘more’ tab within the SJC Connect App Download the SJC Connect App Johns County has wheelchairs specially designed to roll on the sand so that everyone in your family can experience the fun of the beach A three day notice is required to reserve a beach wheelchair There is a limited supply of chairs and during the spring and summer months they book up quickly Delivery of the chair must be on one of the public beaches managed by St Johns County You may make a reservation up to one year in advance and can be reserved for up to 7 days The delivery time on the first day of your reservation can not be guaranteed and must be returned by 3pm where the chair was originally delivered on the last day of your reservation For more information and/or make a reservation you may call, 904-209-0331, or click here for Beach Accessible Wheelchair information page. Vehicles are permitted on Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, and Crescent Beach within designated areas. However, access may be limited dependent on weather, sand, or tides. This may include the closing of vehicle access ramps or a limit of 4-wheel drive vehicles only. Traffic is regulated and a ten mile per hour speed limit is strictly enforced.  St Johns County Facebook page is updated regularly for beach driving conditions Beach driving and access ramps can be found at the following locations: Vilano Tollbooths are open daily from 9:00am – 5:00pm through the end of August Beach passes may be purchased at tollbooths at the above access ramps Daily Pass:  Residents & Non-Residents – $10.00 Handicapped & Active Military – $5.00 100% Disabled Veteran with proper identification – Free Annual Pass:  Resident – $50.00, Non-Resident $ 100.00, Handicapped – $40.00, Disabled Military are eligible for a free annual pass by presenting military ID or a letter from Veterans Affairs verifying disabled status.  For more information, including where to purchase and cost qualifications, can be found on the St. Johns County Website Crescent Beach is located in the southern area of St natural setting and is a great place for beachcombers It is convenient to excellent RV and camping facilities Location: Just south of the intersection at A1A and State Road 206 about 15 minutes south of historic downtown St Augustine and is dedicated to preserving a fragile dune system that is home to the native Anastasia Island Beach Mouse and gopher tortoises This area of pristine beach offers full services to visitors including parking on and off the beach Location: South A1A just two miles from St Phone: (904) 209-0752 Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily Augustine Beach is located on Anastasia Island where you can enjoy white sand beaches RV and cabin camping areas are located nearby Vehicles are permitted on the beach within designated areas Location: Old A1A Beach Boulevard south of State Road 312 at the St Anastasia State Recreation Park is a protected bird sanctuary and consists of 1,700-acres and five miles of beautiful beach equipment rentals such as umbrellas and beach chairs Vehicles are prohibited from driving on the beach in this area Augustine Lighthouse and the Surf Station approximately one mile from the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island Hours and Admission fees: Hours are generally 8:00 am until sundown passengers in a vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass This serene beach is a local “best-kept secret” offering a wide variety of vacation rentals parasailing and Sea Doo rentals and several parks You can charter a deep sea fishing boat or a sailboat from this area Location: North A1A just over the Usina Bridge less than five minutes from historic downtown St North Beach offers a serene oceanside environment and two campsites Enjoy the ocean and the Intracoastal waterway North Beach features great seafood restaurants Location: North A1A just past Vilano Beach approximately five minutes from downtown St South Ponte Vedra Beach is located in northern St Johns County and just south of Ponte Vedra and the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour beach access is limited and no vehicles are permitted on the beaches Location: North A1A about 20 minutes from downtown St Location: North Beach Access Lot at 1600 S South Beach Access Lot at 2200 S .Ponte Vedra Blvd Location: South end of Ponte Vedra Beach on Highway A1A. 1109½ Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra. Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park Map fishing and beach-combing are popular activities on this coquina type beach Web Web (This story will be updated regularly to include new information.) a robust information source for what's happening in America's oldest city The events follow in chronological order. We invite readers to share your happenings with us at Lviti@gannett.com First Friday ArtWalk: Friday, May 2, filled with art galleries, museums and art-related businesses that cultivate St. Augustine as an art destination for its guests and residents. Go to https://tinyurl.com/yj7c4fbm The Finger Mullet Film FestivalThe Finger Mullet Film Festival will be held at Crisp-Ellert Art Museum on May 2 Designed to spotlight experimental art and St the free event kicks off with an opening reception at 5 p.m Augustine Beach and the Beach Art Studio will host Art & Bark in the Park on May 3 from noon to 5 p.m Community Hospice & Palliative Care/St. Johns County will host the Derby Run ― a night of food, fun and fashion ― on May 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Tringali Barn. For more details, go to https://thefoundationcares.org/upcoming-events/derby-run First Coast Cultural Center’s 6th Annual Beaches, A Celebration of the Arts gala on Sunday, May 4 at the TPC Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on FCCC’s website at https://firstcoastculturalcenter.org/beaches-a-celebration-of-the-arts-2025 The St. Augustine History Festival will tour 30+ historic properties May 7-11. Go to staugustinehistoryfestival.com for more information St. Augustine Food + Wine FestivalThe St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival will take place May 7-11 at the at Ancient City Farmstead. Go to http://www.staugustinefoodandwinefestival.com for more information The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Evenings: “Nature’s Repair Kit: The Science of Sea Star Regeneration” on May 8 at 6 p.m. with Veronica Hinman at the UF Whitney Laboratory Lohman Auditorium, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. Register to watch online: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SoD3IuszR1G_GiZrmSBeXQ St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Veterans Kayaking: May 8, at Trout Creek from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information, go to https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ St. Augustine's Betty Griffin Center presents Mom Com, a comedy show featuring Alet Wiest, Wendy Gillis Comedy, Jess Torres and Roz McCoy on May 8 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bella Vista Italian Restaurant, 540 State Road 13 N., Fruit Cove. To learn more and sign up today, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mom-com-tickets-1303401150929 St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: San Sebastian River Kayaking: May 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The guided trip heads up the San Sebastian River to explore the diverse wildlife of the marshes. For information, go to https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Bel Canto Singers of DaytonaThe Bel Canto Singers of Daytona perform "Hope Eternal" on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica in downtown St. Augustine. Tickets are available at: http://www.staugustinecommunitychorus.org and at https://www.ticketleap.events/events/staugcc St. Johns County Parks and RecreationSt. Johns County Parks and Recreation presents Auggie's Storytime on May 15 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Canopy Shores Park. For information, go to https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ St. Johns County Parks and Recreation presents Homeschool Plants and Flowers on May 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at canopy Shores Pavilion. For information, go to https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ St. Johns County Parks and Recreation presents San Sebastian Paddleboarding on May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. along the San Sebastian River. For information, go to https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Augustine's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church hosts a Welcome Home Event on May 18 as an opportunity for Orthodox Christians looking for a parish home to visit Learn the church's ministries and philanthropic outreach efforts with local charities while enjoying food and a silent auction JJ Grey and Live Wildly presents: JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue 2025 at The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on May 24 and 25. The 2025 JJ Grey Blackwater Sol Revue lineup includes JJ Grey & Mofro, 49 Winchester, The White Buffalo, John Anderson, Andy Frasco & The U.N., The Marshall Tucker Band, and Huntley. Got to https://www.theamp.com/events/detail/jj-grey-2025 for event details Memorial DayVolunteers are needed to place American flags on headstones at the St Augustine National Cemetery on May 23 at at 9:45 a.m Augustine National Cemetery on May 26 at 10 a.m by the local Military Officers Association of America-Ancient City Chapter and Veterans Council Craig McKinley will serve as keynote speaker St. Johns County Parks and Recreation presents Night Under the Stars on May 31, from 9 to 10:30 p.m. Learn about the night sky — constellations, star names and more — from the Ancient City Astronomy Club in this hands-on stargazing event. Visit https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog for more information Go to https://www.theamp.com for a complete schedule of events at the St Go to https://lightnermuseum.org/calendar-category/events for a complete schedule of events at the Lightner Museum Go to https://www.limelight-theatre.org for a complete schedule of plays showing at St Cafe 11Go to https://originalcafe11.com/upcoming-events for a schedule of music events at St. Augustine's Cafe 11 Go to https://www.aclassictheatre.org for a schedule of A Classic Theatre Historic Coast Cultural/The WaterworksGo to https://historiccoastculture.com/event for a schedule of historical and cultural events taking place in St Go to https://historiccoastculture.com/categories/performing-arts for a list of performing arts events taking place in St Go to https://www.3rdspaceimprov.com/events for a complete list of February events taking place at Third Street Improv or contact Events – Third Space Improv St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime MuseumGo to 150 Years of History! - St Augustine Light House for a complete list of events held at the St Send your events to be listed to Lviti@gannett.com Augustine features centuries-old architecture A leader in the travel and tourism industry Kara Franker has served in executive leadership roles for several destination organizations Kara has been featured as a travel expert for Southern Living she serves as Editor-in-Chief of several luxury lifestyle print magazines in the Miami Palm Beach and Aspen markets for Modern Luxury Carianne Luter Anne Maxwell Aaron Farrar ST – The Matanzas River poured over the seawall into downtown St Augustine early Thursday morning as Hurricane Milton powered its way across Florida streets were flooded near the Bridge of Lions and traffic was unable to go over the bridge eastbound toward Anastasia Island It was reopened in both directions by 8:30 a.m and by noon most of the streets downtown were dry with some scattered debris water started to creep onto Avenida Menendez near the bridge again and the Bridge of Lions was closed to traffic Officials told News4JAX the bridge was closed because of flooding in the street on Anastasia Island by the bridge and they didn’t want cars to stall out a mandatory evacuation order was lifted at 5 p.m The order was for all of Evacuation Zone A and the portion of Evacuation Zone F located south of State Road 206 While the evacuation order has been lifted officials urge residents in flood-prone and low-lying areas to proceed with caution some roads and locations within the community remain impassable Residents who utilized storm shelter services are encouraged to safely return home and assess their property please contact the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550 Police were seen in the area directing traffic and News4JAX crews were not allowed to cross the bridge from Anastasia Island starting around 2 p.m The county reported more than 20 roads were impassable around high tide People who live downtown told News4JAX their homes weren’t affected by the morning flooding MORE: St. Johns County sheriff urges residents to stay inside until deputies survey flood damage, power gets restored Before sunrise, News4JAX crews registered wind gusts up to 35 mph, whipping palm trees, and watched as water from the river rushed into town, at least half a mile inland. As the streets gradually flooded, cars worked to find alternate routes. Waters started to recede slightly after high tide around 3 a.m., but officials warned the water could rise again Thursday afternoon. It was a sleepless night for residents in St. Augustine as they anticipated the impact of Milton. “Last night the wind was incredible,” said St. Augustine resident Phil Castillo. “I was nervous all night, checking walking out here, looking around,” said Ben Marion, who lives in Davis Shores. Despite street flooding overnight in downtown St. Augustine and Davis Shores, people were prepared, and many were relieved to find their property OK on Thursday morning. Castillo lives and owns a business downtown. “And we checked on the business this morning. Everything was great. And I have a lot of other friends that have business downtown also, so I checked on their businesses also,” Castillo said. In Davis Shores, Ben and Angela Marion also made it through the night without significant damage, even though water creeping high into their driveway made them nervous. “We just prepared for the worst and hopedgot for the best, and it turned out pretty lucky,” Angela Marion said. About 20 minutes south of downtown St. Augustine, Crescent Beach was lashed by strong surf, wind, and high water. “We have some of the dune erosion out there. And we just got that renourishment about 9 months ago. But hey, that’s what it was there for, and it saved us. We lost probably 30%," said Malcolm Fabrey. Fabrey is the condo association president at the beachfront Summerhouse Condos, where wind peeled the roofs off two buildings. He said after learning everyone was OK, his first thought was insurance. “We want to try and get somebody here as quick as we can, because as long as that roof is exposed, there’s going to be more damage inside," he said. St. Johns County was feeling the effects of Hurricane Milton hours before the Category 3 storm made landfall on Florida’s west coast. The Sheriff’s Office reported major flooding in Flagler Estates and Hastings at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and planned to asses the damage Thursday morning. According to St. Johns County officials, there were 5-plus feet of water south of SR 206 in Hastings and Flagler Estates. No injuries were reported Thursday afternoon but assessments were ongoing. Deputies urged residents not to walk or drive through floodwaters. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Jamal St. Cyr is an award-winning sports anchor who joined the News4Jax sports team in 2019. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group On Wednesday, rumors began swirling online about a “1700s ghost ship” that washed ashore near St. Augustine in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton Never mind that Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 exactly a week before the alleged ghost ship sighting and paying no heed to the fact that Milton made landfall on the opposite side of the state the story managed to creep its way across social media platforms With more than 21,000 shares on the original post, it was clear that people had, once again, taken a bite of the apple only to realize it was an onion − the satirical kind While the claim is certainly a timely one with Halloween just around the corner, the unfortunate reality is that the source of the story, Casper Planet is a Facebook page that writes fun (and completely fake) news stories in the same vein as The Onion In a follow-up “story” posted to its page Friday morning titled “Tourists Outraged After Discovering Non Existent 1700s Pirate Ship in Florida ‘Wasn’t Real’ All Along,” the page continued its fun with the story “Shockwaves rippled through the tourist community this week as visitors to Florida’s famed beach where the ‘legendary’ 1700s pirate ship washed ashore after Hurricane Milton discovered an inconvenient truth: the ship doesn’t exist,” read the post Augustine’s ‘1700s ghost ship’ may not be real but it’s still a fun storyAccording to Casper Planet’s post the ghost ship “emerged from the ocean’s depths as the Category 4 storm [Hurricane Milton] churned the Atlantic The Gulf of Mexico is technically part of the Atlantic Ocean but Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key Its path essentially bisected Florida as it cut across the peninsula traveling east as it left Florida’s eastern coast as a minor hurricane near Brevard and Indian River counties which is roughly 120 miles from the northernmost part of the area The satirical story used a fake quote from a made-up marine archaeologist to add to the story’s legitimacy simply appear out of the ocean during a hurricane − it’s both fascinating and chilling,’” said the completely fictional Dr NBC affiliate First Coast News spoke with Chuck Meide, the director of the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum who further debunked the story by shedding some light on what happens to most shipwrecks His first issue with the story was the ship’s depiction Most of the wood from a ship hundreds of years old would have been eaten by “critters like ship worms.” In the cases where some of the ship does survive the lower part of the ship is typically the only thing to remain as it gets buried beneath the seafloor The plausibility of a hurricane causing a ghost ship to wash ashore is actually rooted in reality A 45-foot “ghost ship” washed ashore in Pensacola Beach on June 18 as Tropical Storm Alberto was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. The boat, named Lady Catherine III, was battered, but no one was onboard, according to Weather.com It was eventually found out that the boat belonged to a Texas man who had to abandon the ship earlier that month after running into the storm In 2017, another 45-foot sailboat called Cuki broke loose from her anchorage in Key West during Hurricane Irma The boat floated more than 300 miles up Florida’s eastern coast before it ran ashore at Spessard Holland South Beach Park The boat remained at Spessard Holland South Beach Park for two years before it was demolished is imprisoned at the Jackson Correctional Institute in Malone He was sentenced last July for sexual battery attempted obstruction of a criminal investigation and 20 counts of possession of child pornography Johns County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for all residents and visitors in Evacuation Zones A and B as well as Zone F (only south of State Road 206) due to the imminent threat posed by Hurricane Milton The areas under evacuation include the entire cities of St Residents in any area of the county living on waterfront properties or in flood-prone areas RVs or mobile homes are also required to evacuate the same time that emergency shelters will open “There’s going to be a time when we will not be able to get in and rescue you,” St Augustine spokesperson Melissa Wissel said People who have experienced flooding in previous storms should leave as soon as possible Johns County issued a mandatory evacuation order for all health care facilities The evacuations included the Allegro facility in St Residents were being moved to Allegro’s facility in Fleming Island “The early issuance of this mandatory evacuation order for health care facilities is to facilitate the coordination of logistics and transportation ensuring patients and residents in these healthcare facilities continue to receive care,” the announcement said A complete map of evacuation zones, a list of shelters and additional emergency planning information can be found at visit www.sjcfl.us/hurricane or call the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550 Three storm shelters are open Wednesday to accommodate evacuees: Residents who require transportation to a storm shelter should call the Emergency Management Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550 Transportation will be provided for those in need Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois By Dan Macdonald - Jacksonville Daily Record The new restaurant will serve seafood and upscale Southern-inspired meals also holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s most charming Whether you’re a longtime resident or visiting the area for the first time we’ve gathered all the resources you need to find where to stay what to do and other community information about our unique little village << View All Events information is noted below for local Easter Sunday Sunrise Services in St An event every week that begins at 9:45 am on Tuesday and Thursday A robust one-stop information source for what's happening in America's oldest city Jam-packed with all things fun, the events follow — as best — in chronological order. We invite readers to share your happenings with us at Lviti@gannett.com Public Instant Photography: Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Vaill Point Park. Polaroid Instant Cameras will be provided. Fees and Registration required. Click here to register Paddleboard Trip: Thursday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Deep Creek. Equipment will be provided. Fees and registration are required. Click here to register South Hampton Golf ClassicRetired NYPD Detective Richard Volpe joined forces with Tunnel to Towers Foundation to host the South Hampton St. Johns Golf Classic on Friday, Nov. 8. Click here for details Warren Clark will be on hand to sign his illustrated book, The Mystique of Spanish La Florida on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the Lincolnville Festival 2024 located at the Willie Galimore Center located on 399 Riberia St Tinsley EllisWorld-renowned Atlanta-based guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Tinsley Ellis performs acoustic at Cafe Eleven in St. Augustine Beach on Saturday Holiday Market in the SouthHoliday Market in the South will be hold on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort St. Augustine’s Alligator Farm Zoological Park will host a night market on Friday Local artisans will feature handcrafted gifts Shop for holiday gifts while supporting conservation The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department will host the Family Color Run 5K on Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. at the St Johns County Fairgrounds. Rescheduled because of a hurricane - or three - the event is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Click here to sign up The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is honoring local veterans on Thursday A panel of veterans will discuss how their military experience impacted their lives Fees are required for members and nonmembers The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will host Veterans Day by showcasing a timeline of U.S Military heroes from 1821 to present day on Saturday Old Town Trolleys is partnering with Patriot Service Dogs to sponsor service dogs for disabled veterans by donating one dollar from every ticket sold on Nov Ford’s Garage is giving veterans a choice of one free American Standard Burger or one entrée up to $15 per U.S The offer is valid for dine-in at participating locations with proof of service (valid ID) Electrifying Chicago blues masters Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials — newly inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame — will perform live at Cafe Eleven in St. Augustine Beach on Tuesday Tale Tellers of St. AugustineTale Tellers of St. Augustine will celebrate personal spiritual and historical stories on Wednesday St. Johns County Parks & RecreationVeteran Pickleball: Wednesday, Nov. 13 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Treaty Park. This free program is designed in partnership with the VA to provide military veterans with all abilities the opportunity to play pickleball. Click here to register The University of Florida Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience's Evenings at Whitney Lecture Series will be held Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. with “Florida Loves Manatees: A Cultural History of Manatees in Florida” by Dr. Steven Noll. The free lecture will be held at the lab's Lohman Auditorium. Click here for details Team Freya and the Children's Organ Transplant Association Jersey Mikes Fundraiser Friday St. Johns County Parks & RecreationDeep Creek Kayak Trip: Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Deep Creek. Explore Durbin Creek with St. Johns County Park Naturalists. Click here to register St. Augustine's Matanzas Riverkeeper will host "Shuck for a Truck," a series of oyster roast fundraisers beginning on Nov. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Genung’s Fish Camp. Click here for details Homeschool Birding: Friday, Nov. 15, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Alpine Groves Park. Join the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation and the St. Johns Regional Audubon for a morning walk at Alpine Groves where students will learn skills and techniques for navigating a birding journey. Binoculars are suggested. Click here to register Ancient City Auto Club Car ShowAncient City Auto Club Car Show returns on Nov to 3 p.mm at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind The Lightner MuseumWhat's a Hobby? Workshop: Geology Rocks!: Collecting Rocks + Minerals will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 5-10. Kids will study the museum’s rock and mineral collection and will paint their own rock. Parents must remain with their children for the duration of the workshop. The workshop is included with the price of admission. Preregistration is required presented by Jenna Alexander Studio and Sunday Gathering Table The multiplatinum alternative rock band Sixpence None the Richer will perform at Café Eleven on Nov. at 8 p.m. Click here for details The St. Augustine Music FestivalThe St. Augustine Music Festival presents Alexei Ramanenko, celloist, in concert during a “Sundays with SAMF” on Nov.17 at 3 p.m The 2024 International Open, a professional billiards tournament featuring 9-ball, 10-ball, and 14.1 play, will host the world’s best players from Nov. 18 through Nov. 26 at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort St. Johns County Parks & RecreationBook Club: Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Canopy Shores. Join a group of avid readers for a lively discussion of this month’s book. Click here to register Veteran Archery: Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds. This program is designed in partnership with the VA to provide military veterans with all abilities the opportunity to participate in archery. Experience is not required. Reservations required. Click here to register St. Johns County Parks & RecreationGuided Bike Ride: Thursday, Nov. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cora Harrison Preserve. Participants will ride to Armstrong and back to Cora Harrison on a paved bike path. The program is free. Bikes are required. Click here to register On Friday, Nov. 22, St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller celebrates National Adoption Day with a special ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Richard O. Watson Judicial Center. Click here for details. Click here to RSVP Riding High: Vintage Bicycles from the Keith Pariani Collection: The new exhibition of vintage bicycles and cycling memorabilia from the private collection of St Augustine bicycle aficionado Keith Pariani opens on Nov Visit St. Augustine Distillery's Whiskey Wonderland on Friday The free event will feature food the Heart & Soul food truck the Dewars band and a tree lighting ceremony Lincolnville's Corner MarketLincolnville's Corner Market Kick Off Night of Lights Musical Event will be held on Saturday The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is hosting Lighthouse Illuminations: Tides, Tidings, & Trees from Nov. 22 through Jan. 11. Ninety-minute tours run at 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Click here for details Veteran Art: Friday, Nov. 22, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Vaill Point Park for clay sculpting. The program is free. Click here to register Musicians will perform in the Ximenez-Fatio House gardens on Saturdays from Nov Romanza Concert SeriesOn Point will perform on Nov at The Waterworks located on 184 San Marco Ave Nights of Pints runs from Nov. 23 through Jan. 1 through Ancient City Brewing Downtown Taproom, Ancient City Brew House Augustine’s Annual Nights will be on display from Saturday WildHeart Boutique’s farewell Closet Cleanout Market will take place on Nov. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 137 King Street, Ste 101.  Click here for details Colonial Oak Music ParkBadfish will be performing with Seranation at Colonial Music Park on Nov The Lightner Museum's Wreath Workshop will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wine and charcuterie will be available. Click here to register Veteran Fishing: Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Butler Beach Park. Equipment suggested; however, gear will be provided. A valid shore saltwater fishing license is required. The class is free. Registration is required. Click here to register will host their Annual - free - Thanksgiving Community Dinner on Thanksgiving Day Augustine's Ketterlinus Gym located on 60 Orange St The Wildflower Clinic will offer free general wellness checks Memorial Lutheran Chapel School will sponsor a Kids Zone Contact Buzz featuring Lauren from Bad Dog Mama will play at the Tradewinds Lounge at 9 p.m Vilano Beach Holiday Village2024 Vilano Holiday Village community event takes place on Saturday, Nov. 30 in Vilano Beach. Presented by Vilano Beach Main Street, the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council evening festivities begin at 4 p.m. Details can be found here Click here for a complete schedule of events at the St Click here for a complete schedule of plays showing at St Click here for a schedule of historical and cultural events taking place in St Click here for a list of performing arts events taking place in St Click here for a list of bands performing at Cafe Eleven The Daily Briefing: Get the latest St. Augustine news in your email each day. Sign up for The Record's newsletter Send your events to be listed to Lviti@gannett.com Proceeds will benefit the St. Joseph Neighborhood Center, a Sisters of St. Joseph ministry.  Ten inch – foil wrapped Poinsettias are available in Red or White. Click here to order online or visit: https://ssjfl.org/ssjsa-shop/p/poinsettia-sale-benefiting-st-joseph-neighborhood-center The Latest: Tropical Storm Debby churns across the US Southeast Ronan Larrabee comes to the beach all the time, and like many, was surprised by the sight. “Last time I came out here, I sat up on that, like, the lifeguard tower,” Larrabee said. “Sand went all the way out there, and then, after yesterday, that five-foot wall from all that water.” Dylan Rumrell, mayor of St. Augustine Beach, said he was a little surprised to see the water reappear under the pier so soon. “I’m really disappointed,” Rumrell said with a smile. “I said November. It’s August. And so, I said, by November, they would be fishing, but you know it’s coming. It’s a natural thing that happens. The renourishment project is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.” The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has placed close to 2.5 million cubic yards of sand on the critically eroded beaches of St. Augustine, extending three miles south from Anastasia State Park. The project cost around $33 million. The USACE is building a beach for storm protection, recreation, and environmental purposes. Namely for sea turtles and shorebirds to nest. Jason Harrah is a project manager with the USACE Jacksonville division. “So, it’s kind of a multi-faceted approach, but zooming in on St. Augustine, specifically, we’ve been building this project under federal authorization since about 2003,” Harrah said. “What we’re doing is, we are building about a three-mile project that extends from Anastasia State Park in the north, goes past the pier all the way past a street near the Sea Colony area. And that project gets renourished, typically, every four to five years, or it can be done sooner after major hurricane events.” With the new sand in place from that project, the USACE said waves and currents would spread the sand to nearby parts of the coast through a process called equilibration. Harrah explained that section of the coastline near the pier is among the most, if not the most erosive, in all of St. Johns County. For those reasons, he said the goal is to build that area up. “Essentially, like extra layers on the cake, putting more sand there, knowing that storms will hit that,” Harrah said. “And we want it to do that because then it will move that sand to the southern beaches and fill in the templates all the way down for the three-mile project. So, we kind of built that notch there. We know that the storms are going to start hitting it. It’ll form that cliff, what we call an escarpment that you’re seeing now, and that doesn’t mean the sand is lost.” “The pace of the re-shaping is in large part dependent of wave and storm activity. The greater the coastal storm activity, the shorter the duration of the equilibration process. In time, the St Augustine Beach Pier will reach out into the ocean again. It would appear that Hurricane Debby has started that process.” “Mother Nature, I’ve said this before, Mother Nature is going to win no matter what you do,” Rumrell said. “But we still have to protect the assets.” In the meantime, Larrabee is grateful for the project and all it’s doing to protect this place he loves so much. “They came in here and did all that restoration, gave us all this beach back,” Larrabee said. “Up there, where the hotel is, there used to be all this sand for people to sit out here. But a couple months ago, you couldn’t, because the water went all the way up to the rocks in front of the front of the hotel. So, it’s a lot better now that we got a beach.” The beach renourishment project is federally funded. Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She anchors News4Jax at 5:30 and 6:30 and covers Jacksonville city hall. Join us for the annual United Methodist Women Holiday Market and Bake Sale at St You’ll find a selection of Christmas items Augustine Beach is getting rave reviews from travelers Tripadvisor named the beach among the top 25 in the U.S. in its Travelers Choice Awards for Best of the Best Beaches The travel guidance guru on Thursday unveiled its lists of highest-rated beaches for 2025 based on a comprehensive analysis of global beach reviews on Tripadvisor over the last year rated by real travelers who shared their experiences Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell told the St Augustine Record that he was honored by the accolade "I'm glad that TripAdvisor is starting to see what I've been telling people for years," he said Augustine Beach is the best beach to live in Florida!" Florida's top-rated beach was Siesta Beach 4 in the world — after Elafonissi Beach in Crete "Whether you want to relax or fill your day with activities or simply admire the sunset — it's up to you It's easy to get to via public transportation and has plenty of shops and restaurants nearby." Siesta Beach was the only Florida beach and one of only three U.S. beaches to make the list of top 25 in the world. However, Florida beaches dominated Tripadvisor's Best of the Best 25 U.S. Beaches list for 2025 with nine of them in the Sunshine State Here are the top beaches for 2025 according to Tripadvisor's Best of the Best Beaches In Tripadvisor's top 25 beaches in the country for the next year Florida?Siesta Beach is located on the Siesta Key barrier island in Sarasota County 6): "Clearwater Beach is a family-friendly beach with powdery 9): "With its soft sand and sparkling blue waters Bahia Honda State Park is the perfect spot for a laid-back beach day and be sure to bring your camera: It's a great place for photos and you'll definitely want to snap pics of the fantastic sunset." palm trees swaying in the breeze—Sombrero Beach is the perfect spot for a relaxing beach day Go swimming or snorkeling in the turquoise waters Andrews State Park is where to go if you're looking for soft so there's plenty of room to have a picnic or search for seashells you can do that too (you might even spot some wildlife on your adventure)." 15): "Fort Lauderdale Beach is a lively spot with tons to do 19): "Panama City Beach is a family-friendly spot with soft white sand and clear waters and there are lots of activities you can do throughout the day (make sure to stay to catch the next-level sunset) Grab some seafood at a restaurant nearby." 20): "Henderson Beach State Park stands out with its white sand dunes and crystal-clear waters Cruise along the boardwalk then rent a chair and umbrella on the shore and soak up the sun Take a walk on a trail or go birdwatching."Panama City Beach scenic beach with hard-packed sand perfect for leisurely walks too!) with easy parking and a quiet atmosphere Pro tip: Get there early to check out the incredible sunrise." For romantic getaways and unique vacations Augustine bed and breakfast Inns are excellent accommodation options when it comes to staying in the Nation’s Oldest City Beachfront Bed & Breakfast is conveniently 10 minutes to Historic St tranquil atmosphere and spectacular sunrises make this the perfect romantic hideaway for Honeymooners birthdays and special occasions exclusively for guests over 21 Choose from our spacious suites or separate cottage accommodations Our luxury amenities include an outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi combined with our friendly ambiance and personalized service makes Beachfront B & B a place where dreams come true Most of our B&Bs are situated on the cobblestone streets of the Downtown Historic District and bayfront area, which is a short walk from shopping, dining, and attractions many of the bed and breakfasts are situated in original historic homes that date back to the 19th century Though most of St. Augustine’s B&Bs are focused on short-term accommodations, some have small private villas that are suitable for long-term vacation rentals.Whether it’s the charm of downtown or the sandy shores of the beaches cozy location through our bed and breakfast listings 44 Spanish St., Agustin Inn, Bayfront Marin House, Bayfront Westcott, Casa de Suenos, Centennial House, Old City House, and St. George Inn Augustine Bed and Breakfast where you'll Experience History elegant rooms and suites with a variety of stunning views which may include the bay Augustine from just outside the front door while enjoying attentive service and comfortable accommodations inside our circa 1920's historic inn We offer 8 charming rooms with king or queen size beds with private baths charming porch spaces and brick courtyards within walking distance of shops and attractions we will coordinate your every wish and spoil you every second Your rate includes breakfast each morning; signature herbal teas and other beverages and treats throughout the day; and daily evening social hour including hors d’oeuvres the Inn encompasses both the east and west side with two magnificent courtyards overlooking the imposing Castillo de San Marcos and City Gate Our accommodations range from intimate rooms to elegant suites; all thirty-five rooms and suites have captivating views of the city's many landmarks Augustine Beach and exclusively for grown ups Beautiful rooms and suites featuring: elegant linens Delicious morning breakfasts overlooking the ocean Web Web Web Web The events follow — as best — in chronological order. We invite readers to share your happenings with us at Lviti@gannett.com Paul Church will host a pet blessing ceremony on Saturday Johns County Pet Center is hosting a dog adoption event at Francis Field on Saturday The ACCORD MuseumThe ACCORD Museum will host a Freedom Trail Tour with historian David Nolan 9 a.m. to Noon Saturday and Sunday, Feb 1-2 at 399 Riberia Street. Details can be found here The American Battlefield Trust, Maria Jefferson, Sofia Fleming and Ponte Vedra Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution have collaborated to exhibit American Revolution Experience at the Oldest House Museum at the St. Augustine Historical Society, Feb. 1-21. Learn more at www.battlefields.org Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum“Sweet Beginnings: Unwrapping St. Augustine’s Chocolate Legacy” will be held at the Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum Feb. 1 through Feb. 28. at 48 King St. Details can be found at www.govhouse.uflib.ufl.edu Mike Sands, president of the Tropical Orchid Society and owner of Tangled Roots Nursery, will lecture on therepopulation of native orchids and other epiphytes in Florida on Feb. 4 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Memorial Lutheran Church located at 3375 US 1 South. For more information contact the https://www.staugorchidsociety.org/. The Butler Beach History Walk takes place Wednesday The Ximenez-Fatio House host the "I Lived Here, As Well: Going Home" Tour Feb 6 through March 1 sharing stories of the harsh conditions of slavery and life after freedom The Last Cast: Sunset Fishing Program from 4 to 7 p.m. Click here for details Movie in the Park: The Game Plan will be shown on Feb. 7 from 6 – 9 p.m. at St. Augustine's Treaty Park Fort Mose 1738 Pop-Up Fashion MartFort Mose pop-up 1738 Fashion Mart runs from Feb. 7 until March 7. The Fashion Mart will be open Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. at the St. Augustine Art Association at 22 Marine Street. For more information email info@staaa.org or call 904-824-2310 First Friday ArtWalkThe Art Galleries of St. Augustine features the First Friday ArtWalk on Friday, Feb. 7 with art galleries, museums and art-related businesses that have helped to cultivate St. Augustine as an art destination for guests and residents. Click here for an interactive map Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Snarky Puppy on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at https://www.axs.com/events/774409/snarky-puppy-tickets Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: KEM on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at https://www.axs.com/events/816312/kem-tickets Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Tower of Power on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at https://www.axs.com/events/774417/tower-of-power-tickets Conquer the Trails 5K takes place on Saturday, Feb. 8. Race proceeds will be donated to Fur Sisters – Furever Urs Rescue. The race begins at 9 a.m. at the Trail Mark Welcome Center. Information can be found at Conquer the Trails 5K — ATRA Anastasia State Park will host a Guided Bird Walk on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 8:15 to 10 a.m. Participants will walk the beach, boardwalks, trails and other areas of Anastasia State Park to observe seabirds, shorebirds and wading birds. The program is free with park admission. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/anastasiastatepark Veterans Kayaking: Feb. 13 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Moultrie Creek. Designed in partnership with Veterans Affairs for military vets of all abilities. Details can be found here Sunset Kayak Trip: Friday, Feb. 14, at Trout Creek 4 to 6:30 p.m. Celebrate love and nature with a romantic sunset paddle. Registration is required. For details, contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Fort Mose Jazz & Blues SeriesFort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Dinner Party featuring Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper and Kamasi Washington on Friday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at https://www.axs.com/events/774424/dinner-party-tickets Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: Macy Gray on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at https://www.axs.com/events/776114/macy-gray-tickets Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band with special guest Sierra Green and TheGiants on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. Ticket information can be found at the ticket link: https://www.axs.com/events/776118/the-dirty-dozen-brass-band-with-special-guest-sierra-green-and-the-gia-tickets The St. Johns County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics a 1.9 mile, non-competitive, and pace-controlled run will be held on Feb. 15 at Francis Field. Participants will be escorted by a law enforcement motorcade through historic downtown. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Florida. To register click the link: https://give.specialolympicsflorida.org/site/TR/LETR/General?team_id=13491&pg=team&fr_id=2045… Augustine Beach Arts & Craft Show will be held Saturday and Sunday Johns County Ocean Pier Park Pavilion from 10 a.m The Lighthouse 5K & Fun Run to benefit The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum takes place on Saturday, Feb. 15. Registration can be found at Lighthouse 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run with signup at runsignup.com/Race/FL/StAugustine/Lighthouse5KRunWalkandFunRun The St. Johns County Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics will be held on Feb. 15 at Francis Field. The1.9- mile, non-competitive, and pace-controlled run will be escorted by a law enforcement motorcade. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Florida. Additional information can be found here Augustine's Anastasia Catholic Church hosts a Faith For ticket information and sponsorship details contact Brian Schoonover at 904-471-5364 Tale Tellers of St. AugustineTale Tellers of St. Augustine presents Chris Kastle, award winning songsmith, storyteller, poet and singer, on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 2 p.m. at The Waterworks. Advance tickets are available online and at taletellers.org Anastasia State Park will host a Guided Bird Walk on Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 8:15 to 10 a.m. Participants will walk the beach, boardwalks, trails and other areas of Anastasia State Park to observe seabirds, shorebirds and wading birds. The program is free with park admission. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/anastasiastatepark St. Johns Trail Itinerary Workshop will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 3111 Agricultural Center Dr. from 1 to 4 p.m. Click here for details Book Club: Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Beluthahatchee and Canopy Shores. Join a group of avid readers for a lively discussion of this month’s book. For details, contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Veterans Archery: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Designed in partnership with Veterans Affairs. Click here for details Auggies Storytime: Wednesday, Feb. 19 10 to 11 a.m. at Vaill Point Park. Parks and Recreation's wise and friendly gopher tortoise, Auggie celebrates story time. Click here for details History in the Shadow of the Tower: Discovery of Fort Mose will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. The lecture highlights the archeological findings and Fort Mose's role as the first free African settlement in North America. Registration is required. Information can be found at www.staugustinelighthouse.org/events Fort Mose's Flight to Freedom, reenactments of the freedom seekers' journey between 1687 through 1763, will be held at Fort Mose Park Feb. 20-22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information can be found at fortmose.org/flight-to-freedom/ Homeschool Fishing: Friday, Feb. 21, at Vaill Point Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A one-day, hands on fishing clinic teaching the basics in a supportive, interactive environment. Registration and fees are required. For details, contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ The Daily Briefing: Get the latest St. Augustine news in your email each day. Subscribe to The Record's newsletter Tropicon '25 Book Expo & Writing Convention will be held Feb. 21-23 at the Renaissance Resort World Golf Village. The event features almost 100 authors from a myriad of subjects. Registration information can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/tropicon25-saint-augustine-book-expo-writing-convention-tickets-894750010367 Florida ASL FestivalFlorida ASL Festival will be held Feb. 21- 22. Friday night festivities begin with a Deaf Night Out event in downtown St. Augustine. Saturday, Feb. 22 festivities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. More information can be found at www.flordiaasl.com Weed Wrangles will meet Saturday, Feb. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mary Street access point. Join Naturalist Will Pate in helping to protect parks and green spaces by removing invasive species that threaten natural areas. For details, contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ International Antique Tackle Show will be held Feb. 21-23 at St. Augustine's World Golf Renaissance Hotel. More information can be found at www.fatc.net K Raptor Run will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 8 a.m. at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. More information can be found at www.alligatorfarm.com Book Club: Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Beluthahatchee and Canopy Shores. Join a group of avid readers for a lively discussion of this month’s book. Click here for details or contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Veterans Fishing: Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Butler Beach. Click here for details or contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Playground Storytime: Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 10 - 11 a.m. at Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park. Click here for details or contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Veterans Art: Friday, Feb. 28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Vaill Point Park. Click here for details or contact the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department at https://secure.rec1.com/FL/stjohns-county-fl/catalog/ Click here for a complete schedule of events at the St Click here for a complete schedule of plays showing at St Click here for a schedule of music events at St. Augustine's Cafe 11 Click here for a schedule of historical and cultural events taking place in St Click here for a list of performing arts events taking place in St Click here for a complete list of February events taking place at Third Street Improv or contact Events – Third Space Improv Send your events to be listed to Lviti@gannett.com  Today is election day. Voters across America — including those in the sunshine state — are heading to the polls Who will be the next president of the United States? Others would place a right to hunt and fish in the state constitution eliminate public financing for some statewide campaigns make school board elections partisan and adjust a portion a home's homestead exemption for inflation each year Live results: After the polls close, check back for St. Johns County results Live results: Check back after the polls close for live results from across Florida The 2024 General Election is open to all registered St not many people in the county still have to vote The elections office said that as of Tuesday morning Johns County's 230,160 registered voters had already cast ballots either by mail or at one of the in-person early voting sites 29,245 had no party affiliation and 3,757 were listed as "other" parties And don't try to drop off your completed mail ballot at your election day precinct either they have to be dropped off in person at the Elections Office Ballots must be received by the Elections Office before 7 p.m For those who haven't voted yet, the Supervisor of Elections is encouraging voters to study and mark sample ballots before heading to the polls Florida polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. According to the Florida Supervisors of Elections website Sample ballots are available online The Daily Briefing: Get the latest St. Augustine news in your email each day. Sign up for The Record's newsletter Click here to find your polling place Click here for candidate information Augustine: * An asterisk indicates a new polling location The Supervisor of Elections Office can be reached at 904-823-2238 or click here for additional information – Few cars or people were out and about Wednesday in St Augustine’s flood-prone neighborhood Davis Shores The National Weather Service has issued hurricane and storm surge watches for St. Johns County ahead of Milton’s landfall County officials have issued mandatory evacuations and those living on waterfront property or in flood-prone areas MORE: Mandatory evacuations begin in St. Johns County ahead of Hurricane Milton and low-lying flood-prone areas are also required to evacuate Augustine’s streets as locals brace for impact from Milton overnight “Because of the damage that we’ve seen with Helene everybody’s taking this very seriously,” said Davis Shores resident Susan Weeks Sturm She said most of her neighbors have evacuated including her 97-year-old mother– even though she resisted at first “Just that power outage is probably very real and it could be some time before we get power back again And we just know in the dark if we’re flooded it’s just a real unsafe situation for her.” COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: When and how Hurricane Milton will impact Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia Flooding is a major concern. The National Weather Service warns life-threatening storm surges 3 to 5 feet above ground are possible in vulnerable areas of coastal St. Johns County. St. Augustine’s Fire Chief warned Tuesday areas that flooded during Nicole or Irma are likely to flood again with Milton. The memories of other storms are still present for many, like longtime Davis Shores resident Angelo Deniakos. “High water’s been the issue, with Matthew in 2016 and Irma 10 months later,” he said. He’s waiting this one out, clearing his garage floor in case of flooding and preparing for the possibility of power outages with a backup generator. “Feeling pretty good as far as our prep,” Deniakos said. While residents in St. Augustine, are wary and watching Milton closely, they’re more concerned about areas closer to the hurricane’s projected path. “Our hearts and prayers are with everybody on the West Coast,” Sturm said. “We have many family friends who are over in that area that we’re very worried about.” St. Johns County has three open shelters for those who need a place to go. Residents who require transportation to a storm shelter should call the Emergency Management Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550. Transportation will be provided for those in need. Augustine Beach was somewhat quiet Wednesday and it wasn't just because of the cloudy skies Johns County — which operates the pier — has fenced off the last 100 feet of it to the public It’s the pilings at the very end of the pier that prompted the end of the pier to close that was before sand was brought in during the beach renourishment project "They were previously submerged in water," Dan Whitcraft explained He said the pier’s pilings are basically big metal tubes with concrete inside Did you know? This Florida city landed a spot on National Geographic’s ‘Best Fall Beaches’ list. See where, why "We had a report of a piece of the metal shroud around the piling had peeled back," Whitcraft said He also explained that the thinner pieces of Kevlar peeling from other pilings are not cause for concern The inspection company recommended the county shut down the eastern portion of the pier until a deeper evaluation is done How did the metal start to peel off to begin with but it could have been hit by a piece of equipment during the renourishment project," Whitcraft said Augustine Beach has had a pier since the 1930s This latest concrete version was built in the 1980s Whitcraft said the latest report said the pier had another 10 years He did not know yet how much it will cost to repair this issue "We want to make sure public safety is first and foremost," he said This story was first published by First Coast News Of the nearly 143 million who traveled to Florida in 2024 choosing the Sunshine State was a no-brainer Florida’s natural beauty spans sand and sea making it one of the top travel destinations in the United States choosing a particular town or city in Florida can be a bit trickier especially with Orlando’s theme park fame overshadowing its smaller communities But look no further: if you are on the hunt for Florida destinations with natural these eight stunning towns enchant all who pass through Whether visiting for their award-winning beaches or striking landmarks steeped in Florida history these towns will help you take home some truly unforgettable photos and memories in 2025 Bordered by the St. Lucie River on Florida’s Treasure Coast, Stuart is a waterfront town known for its stunning beaches and world-class angling USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards voted Stuart the #1 Best Coastal Small Town in the nation Voters applauded the community’s natural beauty and coastal charms when Stuart took the still-impressive #2 spot With a mild climate and an average temperature of 72°F local shores like Stuart Beach and Bathtub Beach can be enjoyed year-round showcasing views of the Roosevelt Bridge and passing boats on the shimmering St The Riverwalk also connects Stuart’s downtown to its best parks and facilities which offers picnic gazebos on the waterfront and several scenic walking trails The Fishing Pier and Public Dock are another popular stop along the Riverwalk allowing travelers to cast a line in this “Sailfish Capital of the World.” Steeped in over 450 years of history, the "Nation's Oldest City" of St. Augustine captivates visitors with a wealth of sites and attractions reflecting the town’s storied past Augustine is home to pristine shores like St the town’s seafront is often more of a backdrop and itinerary-filler for those looking to delve deeper into its cobblestone streets the Castillo de San Marco is one of the town’s most striking landmarks a limestone mixture of sea shells and coral it shines as the oldest masonry fort in the country the Historic Downtown also features countless structures dating back to the 1700s including the Oldest House Museum and Gardens the lavish villa was built by an eccentric millionaire in 1883 its intricate patterns and striking domes still stealing breaths to this day The latter is both closest to Everglades City and the most popular the park showcases a vast and bewitching tropical wilderness Whether booking a Private Wildlife Tour with local operators like Tour The Glades or exploring the “mangrove jungle” aboard an Everglades City Airboat Tour your time in the Florida Everglades will be nothing short of extraordinary Punta Gorda is another picturesque Southwest Coast town set apart by its position on the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor waterfront leisure and recreation are a thing of beauty in this Florida town taking a sightseeing cruise with King Fisher Fleet there is no shortage of ways to embrace Punta Gorda’s natural beauty Visitors can also stop at sites along the Harborwalk visitors can enjoy palm-tree-lined walking paths the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is another charming place to relax on the water with lush natural surroundings The Gardens span 30 acres of breathtaking wetlands a small residential town famous for its white sands and turquoise waters While this idyllic barrier island community is quite affluent there are plenty of affordable ways to enjoy its splendor The main way is by visiting Gasparilla Island State Park which can be enjoyed for a mere $3USD vehicle fee and $6USD toll bridge fee Another hour from Boca Grande will bring you to Venice a Gulf Coast town with 14 miles of gorgeous beachfront The town’s most popular shore and namesake Venice is also a hot fossil-hunting destination Venice shines even brighter for its fossils since it is the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.” the town’s annual Sharks Tooth Festival will celebrate this feat at Centennial Park in its Historic Downtown Downtown Venice is a beauty worth exploring in itself The charming palm-tree-lined district boasts over 100 shops and restaurants like Fossil Frenzy and the Abondanza Italian Deli along with cultural attractions like the Venice Museum Although Panama City Beach is often dubbed “The Spring Break Capital of the World,” this northwest Florida town has plenty of fun for families as well Its 27 miles of beachfront are consistently ranked among the top beaches in the US by TripAdvisor travelers can take a water shuttle to Shell Island for dolphin sightings The park’s rock jetty has since transformed into an artificial reef from coral and sponges to rays and octopuses If you are traveling with your four-legged friends Panama City Beach also has dog-friendly beaches About an hour-and-a-half south of Miami, Key Largo, the “Diving Capital of the World,” has some of the prettiest underwater scenes on earth. Located in the upper Florida Keys on an island of the same name this aquatic destination features unique attractions like Jules’ Undersea Lodge Each has its own spectacular mix of coral reefs and marine life like sea turtles and reef fish Some especially notable diving sites include the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary home to the underwater Christ of the Abyss statue the first undersea park in the United States Visitors can also explore this second setting on a glass-bottom boat tour or snorkeling adventure travelers can enjoy natural scenes and wildlife on land at Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park The area features over six miles of nature trails through lush tropical surroundings with a wide variety of birds and butterflies flying overhead With Florida reporting record-breaking tourism in 2024 it is safe to assume similar numbers are on the horizon for 2025 If you have hopes of adding to this statistic these beautiful small towns will make every second of your getaway worthwhile Whether strolling Stuart’s scenic Riverwalk you will find that Florida's small towns offer a charm and character that larger cities simply cannot match photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Come participate in the Alex’s Capes & Tiaras 5K on Saturday 2024 starting at the Shores Riverview Club Never one to shy away from glitter and glitz we are honoring Alex with our annual memorial 5K So bring your capes and tiaras and run for fun…or for a good TIME Proceeds benefit NMD United and the Alex Landis Difference Maker Scholarship Alex co-founded NMD United with the mission to bring understanding resources and connections to those living with Neuro Muscular Diseases Registration Fee: $30.00 | Price Increases to $35.00 after May 31 Click event website link to register and for all the details Citing traffic concerns in the existing neighborhoods west of St Johns County Commission on Tuesday denied the proposed Osceola Lakes development The project would have led to the construction of more than 600 homes on 145 acres of land The project called for up to 640 single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes between Wildwood Drive and Watson Road. Pitched as a workforce housing project the development would have included roughly 200 residences capped at — using this year’s numbers — $267,000 for five years During roughly two hours of comments from the public supporters and opponents of the project stated their cases to the County Commission Opponents urged the county to recognize the existing traffic issues in the area — the difficulty of making left turns onto two-lane roads and the lack of shoulders to name a few — and to keep such a dense development far away from what some characterized as a sleepy neighborhood Supporters of the Osceola Lakes development repeatedly pointed out that high housing costs in St. Johns County have priced out essential workers like firefighters making living near where you work unattainable One supporter of the project was Robert Regan. He said he never thought he’d be speaking in front of the County Commission in favor of “more development in Florida.” But as he finishes up preparations to become a firefighter, and with one child at home and another on the way, he said people like him who want to move from Duval County to St. Johns need more options Regan said he’s familiar with the concerns “Florida’s always been like this since the 1920s — people coming in “All these people living in houses that are half a million dollars we’re going to shut this down because we’re good many of whom said they are proponents of workforce housing said the project just didn’t make sense where it was proposed.  who lives nearby where Osceola Lakes would have been built said people just starting out in their careers shouldn’t expect to be able to buy a home Starting his career as a law enforcement officer and he doesn’t believe that his friends at the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office would be able to afford to buy a home in Osceola Lakes If the developer really wanted to support workforce housing they’d restrict the prices of more than just a third of the proposed homes.  they should build all the homes in there workforce It’s not fair to that community or the schools.” Developers argue that it’s dense neighborhoods like this one that cover the costs of building cheaper workforce housing A representative for Osceola Lakes said just that: “We can’t save enough 2-by-4s to build the affordable housing without the density.” the developer — who was not identified in the documents beyond the name of a blind trust — would have funded improvements to nearby U.S The nearby elementary and middle schools could support more capacity so they would be pitching in another $600,000 to make up for potential new students while members of the County Commission recognized the need for more housing that would keep teachers and other essential workers from commuting from nearby counties “While I think that the workforce component is much needed and the contributions from the developer — the hard dollars — are great,” St Johns County Commission Chair Sarah Arnold said it’s still not enough to offset my concerns of infrastructure Only one commissioner voted in favor of the project: County Commissioner Roy Alaimo.  More people need to be able to live where they work and he would not let the perfect be the enemy of the good By Steven Ponson Augustine Beach pier will be closed indefinitely until it can be repaired This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time Wondering what those huge, dark blobs in the ocean are this winter opting for the scenic route along the Eastern coast instead of I-95's typical chaos Per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission North Atlantic right whales are one of the three species of large baleen whales They are described as having stocky black bodies with no dorsal fins and their blow spouts are shaped like a “V.” Their bellies may be all black or have irregularly shaped white patches These whales can weigh up to 140,000 pounds and get up to 52 feet in length Right whales got their name from whalers decades ago who claimed they were the "right" whales to hunt. They swam slowly in coastal waters, floated when dead, and yielded large amounts of oil and baleen, the bristly plates that filter their food they were almost hunted to extinction until it was banned in 1935 How many right whales are left?As of 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates approximately 370 individuals are remaining including about 70 reproductively active females right whales are still one of the most endangered large whales in the world NOAA experts and activists say the marine animals now face a high likelihood of extinction largely due to human activities They are protected by the Endangered Species Act NOAA Fisheries announced a partnership with the Center for Enterprise Modernization a federally funded research and development center The partnership with MITRE focuses on the development of technologies and engineering approaches related to whale detection Right whales are typically sighted off Florida between November and April Why do North Atlantic right whales go to Florida Where do they go in the summer?Are they just like snowbirds and prefer to vacation in the Sunshine State North Atlantic right whale's only known calving ground is located off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. According to the FWC, pregnant females migrate from their northern feeding grounds to the sheltered waters of the calving ground to give birth to their young Right whales spend the summer off in New England and Nova Scotia If you see a right whale, FWC officials ask to report the sighting immediately by calling one of the following numbers 16877-WHALE-HELP (942-5343)888-97-WHALE (94253)(volunteer sighting network maintained by Blue World Research Institute)When calling be prepared to give this information to the operator: State tourism blog VisitFlorida gives whale watchers these suggestions for spotting right whales VisitFlorida also asked whale experts for tips when looking for marine mammals One man is dead following a Wednesday morning apartment fire in a St. Augustine Shores neighborhood, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue to the fire in the 1800 block of Prestwick Place to find smoke showing from a lower unit of the apartments off Shores Boulevard The firefighters on scene quickly extinguished the blaze RELATED | Read more Jacksonville-area crime news his cause of death to be determined by the medical examiner fire department spokesman Jeremy Robshaw said Damage from the fire was minimal and contained to one room The state fire marshal has investigated the fire Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome Founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, St. Augustine is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – more commonly called the "Nation’s Oldest City." Stroll the narrow lanes and visit historic landmarks such as Castillo de San Marcos, Ponce de Leon's "Fountain of Youth," and the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse consider family fun (a beach on the Atlantic) outdoor adventures (kayaking an inland waterway) More than four centuries of history here owe much to the Spanish and English to Greeks and Native Americans and African Americans This coastal community is rich in flora and fauna that can be experienced from the seat of a bicycle George Street to Ponte Vedra Beach's upscale vibe The local cuisine reflects the coastal location (fresh seafood) and centuries of culture (Datil peppers) The greatest champions are celebrated here One of the greatest golf holes is played here Augustine is 50 miles south of the Jacksonville International Airport and 55 miles north of Daytona Beach founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain By Carrie McLaren My family recently visited St Augustine for a day of exploring and making memories While the city has numerous spots rich with.. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. All rights reserved. VISIT FLORIDA® is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | Contact Us