St Johns County Community Information - History, Schools, Restaurants, Beaches and More!

by Joanie McCutcheon

In 1821, St. Johns County was one of the two original counties established after Florida was surrendered to the United States.

The St Johns River runs along the western border of the county and the Atl

antic Ocean is on the eastern border, making for amazing sunrises and sunsets, depending on where you are located.

The St Johns River flows north from the Orlando area to Jacksonville and exits in to the Atlantic Ocean in north Jacksonville by the Mayport Naval Station (NAS Mayport).

Manatee are known to be seen up and down the river and during winter months, they are located in the warmer waters close to the springs that feed the river. (Blue Springs State Park south of DeLand does a “snout count” daily on how many manatee are in their springs. January is a great time to visit Blue Springs State Park!)

St Johns County’s largest city is St. Augustine, established in 1565 and is the oldest city in America. Aviles Street, just west of A1A Ale House, is the oldest street in the US. The intra-coastal waterway flows through St Augustine allowing for beautiful views and waterside dining.

 

St Johns County Schools

Currently, the St Johns County school district is comprised of:

  • 18 elementary schools (K–5)
  • 7 K-8 school (K–8)
  • 7 middle schools (6–8)
  • 9 high schools (9–12)
  • 2 alternative center (K-12)
  • 3 charter schools (including a vocational-technical college)
  • 1 virtual school
  • 2 state colleges (Flagler College & St Johns River Community)

For more information regarding St Johns County schools, please click the following links:

http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

http://www.flagler.edu/

http://www.sjrstate.edu/

 

The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind

The Florida School for the Deaf & Blind is a state run school located on 82 acres overlooking the Intracoastal in St Augustine.

Founded in 1885, the school has grown to the largest Deaf & Blind school in the United States, offering 47 buildings where students live in dormitories during the week and then transported back to their homes all over Florida for the weekend.

The current state budget is $30M which currently serves about 600 students on the St Augustine campus and another estimated 400 toddlers and infants statewide, along with their parents through the Parent Infant Program.

The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind offers their students 11 team sports: football, flag football, goalball, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, basketball, cheerleading, soccer, track & field, and cross country running. The school is a member of the FHSAA – Florida High School Athletic Association and competes with both private and public schools throughout Florida and the country.

 

Dining

Delicious places to eat:

  • Metro Diner (Featured in Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives )
  • The Reef Restaurant
  • Caps on the Water
  • Aunt Kates on the Water
  • Hurricanes
  • A1A Ale Works Restaurant and Taproom
  • Taps Bar and Grill
  • Woodpeckers BBQ
  • Parlor Donuts
  • Starbucks
  • Dunkin Donuts
  • PDQ
  • Kingfish Grill on the Water
  • Beaches at Vilano
  • Columbia Restaurant
  • Salt Life Food Shack
  • Harry’s Seafood, Bar & Grill
  • Georgie’s Diner
  • The Conch House Restaurant
  • Sunset Grill
  • Beachcomber Restaurant
  • Crave
  • The Tide’s Oyster Co. & Grill
  • A1A Burito Works
  • Black Molly Grill
  • Ned’s Southside Kitchen
  • Hurricane Patty’s
  • Ice Plant Bar – Farm to Table Fare
  • Catch 27
  • Prohibition Kitchen
  • Pizza Time
  • Barnacle Bills

 

Shopping

Our favorite places to shop:

  • City of St Augustine Specialty Shops on St George Street
  • St Augustine Premium Outlet Mall
  • Pink Nickel
  • Makk Fashion
  • Faux Paws
  • Red Pineapple
  • Blue Sky Surf Shop
  • Surf Station
  • Cottonways
  • Aqua East Surf Shop
  • Publix
  • Walmart Neighborhood Market
  • St Augustine Amphitheater Farmers Market
  • Home Depot
  • Lowes
  • Dollar Tree
  • Barnes and Noble
  • Staples
  • Marshalls
  • ULTA
  • Office Max
  • Goodwill
  • CVS
  • Walgreens

 

Hospital

Facilities to help you heal:

  • Baptist Medical Center South – Emergency Room
  • Flagler Hospital, St Augustine
  • Brooks Rehabilitation, St Augustine

 

Historic Sites

Amazing historical sites to visit:

  • Fort Matanzas National Monument, St Augustine
  • Flagler College, St Augustine
  • Old Jail and Paranormal Investigations, St Augustine
  • Old City, St Augustine
  • Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine
  • Memorial Presbyterian Church, St Augustine
  • St Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, St Augustine
  • Mission of Nombre de Dios, St Augustine
  • St Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, St Augustine
  • St George Street, St Augustine
  • Colonial Quarter, St Augustine
  • Villa Zorayda Museum, St Augustine
  • Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, St Augustine
  • Oldest House Museum Complex, St Augustine
  • Fort Mose, St Augustine
  • Pena-Peck House and Woman’s Exchange of St Augustine
  • Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, St Augustine
  • Black Raven Pirate Ship, St Augustine
  • Bridge of Lions, St Augustine
  • Old Senator 600+ Year Old Live Oak Tree at the Villa 1565 Hotel Parking Lot

 

Parks and Beaches

Surf, Sand and Serenity:

  • Alpine Grove Park, Switzerland/Fruit Cove
  • Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • Vilano Beach and Pier
  • St Johns County Ocean Pier
  • St Augustine Beach
  • Micklers Beach, Ponte Vedra
  • Mills Field, Fruit Cove
  • Veterans Park, St Johns
  • Anastasia State Park, St Augustine
  • Durbin Park, St Johns
  • Palencia Park, St Augustine
  • RiverTown Park, Fruit Cove
  • Davis Park, Ponte Vedra
  • Frank Butler County Park West, St Augustine

 

Bed and Breakfast

Comfy places to rest your head and fill your tummy:

  • Beachfront Bed and Breakfast, St Augustine Beach
  • Peace and Plenty Inn, St Augustine
  • Bayfront Marin House, St Augustine
  • Victorian House, St Augustine
  • St Francis, St Augustine
  • Casa de Solana Bed and Breakfast, St Augustine
  • At Journeys End Bed and Breakfast, St Augustine
  • The Kenwood Inn, St Augustine
  • Old City House Inn & Restaurant, St Augustine
  • St George Inn, St Augustine
  • Carriage Way Bed & Breakfast, St Augustine

 

Golf

Hit the links on these public and private courses:

  • TPC Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Julington Creek Golf Club, Fruit Cove
  • Cimarrone Golf Club, St Johns
  • St Johns Golf & Country Club, St Johns
  • The Golf Club at South Hampton, St Johns
  • Stillwater Golf and Country Club, St Johns
  • Marsh Landing Country Club
  • The PGA Tour Golf Academy, St Augustine
  • First Tee – Non-Profit Youth Golf Based Personal Growth Programs, St Augustine
  • Slammer & Squire Golf Course, St Augustine
  • King & Bear Golf Course, St Augustine
  • The Palencia Club, St Augustine
  • Marsh Creek Country Club, St Augustine Beach
  • Royal St Augustine Golf & Country Club, St Augustine
  • Palm Valley Golf Club & Practice Range, Ponte Vedra

 

Water Activities

Fun in the sun:

  • Freedom Boat Club - Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach & St Augustine
  • Julington Creek Marina, Mandarin
  • Mandarin Holiday Marina, Mandarin
  • Mandarin Park Boat Ramp
  • Hagan Coastal Outfitters (Hagen Ace Hardware), Mandarin
  • Surf Station, Anastasia Island/St Augustine
  • Anastasia Watersports, Anastasia Island/St Augustine
  • Florida Water Tours, St Augustine
  • St Augustine ECO Tours, St Augustine
  • Extreme Water Adventures for Flyboarding Hydro Flying, St Augustine
  • Bluewater Adventure, St Augustine
  • St Augustine Paddle Sports, St Augustine
  • Pit Surf Shop, St Augustine Beach

 

Boating and Fishing

Relax on the water:

  • Freedom Boat Club - Julington Creek, Jax Beach & St Augustine
  • Devils Elbow Fishing Resort & Boat Rental, St Augustine
  • Emory King Charter Boat, St Augustine
  • St Augustine Boat Rentals, St Augustine
  • Game On Fishing Charters, St Augustine
  • St Augustine Fishing Charters, St Augustine
  • Drop Down Sport Fish Charters, Camachee Cove Marina, St Augustine
  • Ancient City Sport Fishing, Camachee Cove Marina, St Augustine
  • Brian Walker Fishing Charters, Camachee Cove Marina, St Augustine
  • The Legend Fishing Adventures, Camachee Cove Marina, St Augustine
  • Florida Water Tours, Camachee Cove, St Augustine
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