Ponte Vedra Beach: Beach, Golf and Culture

Ponte Vedra Beach brings together several distinct themes: a pink Coquina-sand beach, golf, wildlife viewing, and culture. When planning your trip, it helps to set a simple priority: Would you most like to experience a distinctive coastal landscape, learn about golf history, or focus on nature and culture? The following places each offer their own highlights.

Coast and history at Mickler’s Landing

Mickler’s Landing Beachfront Park has a distinctive pink Coquina-sand beach. The park is accessible via a wheelchair-accessible wooden boardwalk through sand dunes about 20 feet high. The sand’s color, the dunes, and the boardwalk give a visit to the coast specific features that go beyond the place’s name.

The park’s history is also connected to its name. In the 1960s, the Mickler family sold the land to the St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department. The county then developed the area into a public beach access point and named it in honor of the family.

Wildlife viewing and outdoor activities

Bird Island Park offers a different nature-focused experience: it includes dunes and wetlands and provides opportunities for birdwatching. If you’d like to include birdwatching alongside the coastal scenery on an outing, you’ll find a distinct focus here.

The GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center in Ponte Vedra Beach houses exhibits on natural and cultural history, aquariums, an audiovisual theater or auditorium, and a nature shop. Facilities may change over time. If any of these offerings are important to your visit, check the latest visitor information beforehand.

Kayaking and canoeing are among the recreational activities at the GTM Research Reserve. Water conditions can affect their use, so check them before planning a paddling trip. This way, you can base your choice of activity on the conditions on the water rather than solely on your interest in kayaking or canoeing.

Golf at TPC Sawgrass

TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach has two PGA Tour championship courses designed by architect Pete Dye. The THE PLAYERS Stadium Course was built in 1980 as the permanent home of THE PLAYERS Championship. This connects the golf offering with the history of a course built specifically to host the tournament permanently.

TPC Sawgrass also offers free tours of the clubhouse and the famous 17th Island Green. If a visit like this interests you, check tour availability in advance. This lets you distinguish between golf at the two championship courses and a guided tour with specific stops.

Art, events, and live music

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, among others. The exhibitions change, so the experience depends on the works on display at the time.

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall hosts live concerts across a wide range of genres, from electronic music and classic rock to folk and chamber music. Its visitor information includes details about special seating options, designated parking, and restrooms. If any of these details are important to your plans, check the hall’s latest information before your visit.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint Johns, Wauchula, St. Augustine, Vilano Beach, Fruit Cove

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