Ponte Vedra Beach offers a range of ways to explore, depending on your interests: at Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park, the pink coquina sand stands out; at the GTM Research Reserve, the visitor center brings together natural and cultural history, alongside outdoor activities. There’s also golf, exhibitions and live concerts. As you plan, you can first consider whether you’d like to focus on the coast, nature, sports or culture.
Coquina Sand and Natural Areas
Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park has a distinctive pink coquina sand beach. In the 1960s, the Mickler family sold the land to the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department. The county then developed the area as a public beach access point and named it in honor of the family. A wheelchair-accessible boardwalk leads to the park through sand dunes about 20 feet high.
Bird Island Park offers a different natural highlight. There are opportunities for birdwatching, and the landscape includes dunes and wetlands. This adds another interest to the beach setting: birdwatchers will find a specific place to enjoy their hobby here, while Mickler’s Landing is characterized by its coquina sand beach.
The visitor center at the GTM Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach has exhibits on natural and cultural history, aquariums, an audiovisual theater and a nature shop. Facilities may change over time; check the latest visitor information before your visit. Kayaking and canoeing are also among the recreational activities at the Reserve. Since water conditions can affect their use, take them into account when planning.
The GTM Research Reserve trail network includes 10 miles of nature trails and former service roads. It passes through hammock, scrub and flatwoods landscapes and is used for hiking and biking. Check trail conditions before setting out. The Reserve offers different options: kayaking and canoeing on the water, and hiking and biking on land.
Golf in Ponte Vedra Beach
TPC Sawgrass has two PGA Tour championship courses designed by architect Pete Dye. The history of the property includes THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, built in 1980 as the permanent venue for THE PLAYERS Championship. So golf offers a specific historical connection as well as the courses themselves.
TPC Sawgrass offers free tours of the clubhouse and the famous 17th Island Green. Check in advance to see if a tour is available, as details may change. This tour has a different focus from the nature offerings at the Reserve: it highlights the clubhouse and a distinctive part of the golf facility.
Exhibitions and Live Concerts
The First Coast Cultural Center hosts community events and presents rotating exhibitions by local, regional and national artists. The media represented include painting, photography, ceramics and mixed media. As the exhibitions change, each visit offers a chance to see different works of art rather than focusing on a single form of expression.
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall hosts live concerts spanning a wide range of genres, from electronic music and classic rock to folk and chamber music. Together with the Cultural Center, the Concert Hall offers a cultural perspective that differs from the focus on beaches, nature and golf.
The attractions mentioned offer different highlights and give you a basis for choosing your own travel focus.
Discover more destinations: Vilano Beach, Wauchula, Fruit Cove, St. Augustine, Saint Johns
Return to the main travel overview: St. Johns.
