Last Updated on January 24, 2024
South of St. Augustine on Florida’s east coast, Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches offer miles of pristine honey-colored sandy beaches, dolphin adventures, parks, preserves, and also trails for hiking and biking.
Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches stretch 19 miles along the shimmering Atlantic Ocean.
It’s a perfect destination for cruising Florida’s coastline, playing on the beach, swimming with dolphins, and paddling through aquatic preserves.
You may observe a migrating whale swimming along the coast, or a sea turtle laying her eggs in a sandy nest.
While enjoying this salty getaway, don’t miss some tasty cuisine from seafood to barbecue, and even an adult beverage with a waterfront vista.
Visiting the Palm Coast and Flagler Beaches
From chill time to adventure, the area provides many delightful excursions. Here are some ideas to make your trip truly memorable.
Hang Ten on Flagler Beach
Start in the charming community of Flagler Beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, where this cozy beach town meets at the central pier. Locals gather with friends to watch surfers ride some of the best waves on the East Coast.
The laid-back beach vibe coupled with vast unimpeded ocean views is an inspiring backdrop to charming eateries, retro motels, surf, and eclectic gift shops. If you want to catch a wave, the local surf shops will help you with the equipment and lessons.
If hungry, enjoy a meal at Flagler Fish Company, known for its creative dishes and fresh seafood.
Flagler Fish Company Address: 180 S Daytona Ave, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
For a cocktail, visit the oceanfront The Island Grille and try a thirst-quenching Rum Shark Bite or their signature Bloody Mary.
The Island Grille Address: 1224 S Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Hit the Farmer’s Market & Flagler Surf Art & Stuff
The Flagler Beach Farmer’s Market is open Fridays and Saturdays from 7 am to 4 pm, however, since this has such a laid-back beach vibe, know that various vendors set up at different times and close when they sell out.
Flagler Beach Farmer’s Market Address: 315 7th St S, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
If you love a good farmer’s market, don’t miss Fantastic Florida Farmers’ Markets in Fall 2023.
If you go on a Friday, walk over to 211 S. Third St. and stop by Flagler Surf Art & Stuff. They open from 11 am to 5 pm on Thursdays and Fridays (and by appointment on the weekend).
The fun store features over 15 local artists and crafters and is home to the famous “Please don’t make me cross the bridge.” T-shirt.
Flagler Surf Art and Stuff Address: 211 S 3rd St #6, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Transport into a Cruisin’ State of Mind
Cruise from Flagler Beach to Marineland along A1A, the scenic coastal route that parallels the Atlantic Ocean. Pull off the road to admire views of the sea-foam green waters and watch the waves roll to shore.
Highway A1A continues through upscale Palm Coast the Flagler Beaches and the oak tree-covered community of the Hammock, reminiscent of “old Florida.” Locally owned motels, restaurants, and art galleries are tucked among the mossy oaks.
Cruise on to the county’s northern end and you’ll be at Marineland (population 16), which is both a town and home of a marine park spanning nearly 80 years of history.
Marineland Address: Marineland, FL
Smell the Roses & Hike the Coquina
Keep cruising north to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. Once a plantation dating to the early 1800s, it was named by a former owner who was a distant relative of George Washington.
The park offers formal gardens with azaleas, camellas, and roses situated amongst acres of sprawling, shady oak trees with a view of the Matanzas River.
The ocean side allows visitors to hike extensive coquina rock formations stretching along the Atlantic shoreline.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy either the quiet gardens or the rocky shore.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Address: 6400 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Swim with a Dolphin
Along the Atlantic Ocean at Flagler County’s northern tip is Marineland Dolphin Adventure.
This is world’s first oceanarium dating to 1938 and to this day, still one of Florida’s original roadside attractions.
Movies and television shows from The Creature of the Black Lagoon to Seahunt were filmed here while spectacular dolphin shows thrilled visitors.
Today, Marineland Dolphin Adventure is focused on marine animal conservation and research, but dolphins are still the stars.
Marineland’s Dolphin Encounter programs range from observing bottlenose dolphins, a Dolphin Touch and Feed experience, or the popular Swim with the Dolphins experience.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure Address: 9600 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Tour the Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Lab
Across the street, consider a tour of the Whitney Lab Sea Turtle Hospital, a rehabilitation center for sick and injured sea turtles.
Whitney Lab Sea Turtle Hospital Address: 9505 N Ocean Shore Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Visit an Old Sugar Mill Plantation
Savor a stunning scenic drive through a 150-acre Florida hammock to the Palm Coast Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park.
For a historical glimpse of a Florida sugar plantation, this is the place to visit.
During the 1830s, the Bulow family grew sugar cane, cotton, rice, and indigo using slave labor.
Ruins of the antebellum plantation, a sugar mill, a springhouse, and the home’s foundation and slave cabins remain after the family abandoned the homestead during Florida’s Second Seminole War.
Bulow Plantation Ruins State Park Address: 3501 Old Kings Rd S, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Hike or Ride the Mala Compra Trail
Outdoor travelers always enjoy the Mala Compra trail. Park at Hammock’s Bing’s Landing on the west side of A1A (one of several access points).
Hike or bike the 1.5-mile trail to the beach through the maritime oak hammock and also ocean scrub.
Or choose to mountain bike the more advanced, technical 5.5-mile trail. Or if you also only wish to visit the beach, drive the Mala Compra Beach road directly to the beach. Whether hiking or driving, the serenity of the beach and coquina rock formations is your reward.
Mala Compra Beach Address: Mala Compra Rd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Get Your Barbecue Fix
After the beach, follow your nose to Captain’s BBQ located at Bing’s Landing.
According to locals, and anyone who has dined here, Captain’s is one of the best barbecue joints around.
Pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, and smoked turkey sandwiches coupled with collard greens, cucumber salad, mac & cheese, and also smoked baked beans make it finger-lickin’ good.
Chase the meal with a homemade cheesecake while overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Captain’s BBQ Address: 5862 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Become a Florida Cracker
Become a Florida Cracker at the Florida Agricultural Museum.
Take a walking tour of the state’s “ag” heritage spanning the 1880s to the 1940s.
Explore a pioneer homestead, visit a turn-of-the-century store, admire horses and farm animals, or take a guided trail ride (call for reservations) in the surrounding countryside.
Peer into barns, a sawmill, the granary, and a commissary stocked with goods, tools, and furniture.
You will also likely gain an appreciation for the challenges of Florida’s rural living.
Florida Agricultural Museum Address: 7900 Old Kings Rd N, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Meet a “Princess”
Well, you won’t meet a real princess at the 1500-acre Princess Estate, an Adirondack-style hunting lodge dating to the late 1800s. But once upon a time, royalty did call this place home.
Purchased by Henry Cutting in 1886, it was passed on to his widow who then married an exiled Russian prince.
The property, originally named Cherokee Grove, was eventually renamed Princess Place Preserve.
The lodge is also the oldest homestead in Flagler County with the first in-ground swimming pool (fed by an artesian spring).
Overlooking the Matanzas River, the lodge is composed of coquina shells, and the outdoor sitting porch is notably supported by Florida cedar and cabbage palm trunks.
Tours of the lodge are available. Hiking and equestrian trails wind through pine and hardwood forests offering a scenic backdrop of “old Florida.”
Princess Place Preserve Address: 2500 Princess Place Rd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Paddle your Heart to Serenity
Get on the water in one of the area’s most stunning preserves, known as the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve (GTM).
Paddle through mangrove-lined backwaters and salt marshes.
Enjoy the serenity of this coastal estuary and admire the wildlife. Watch closely, dolphins and manatees may swim by.
Tour this stunning natural environment with a paddling excursion with a master naturalist from Ripple Effect Ecotours.
Ripple Effect Ecotours Address: The Town of Marineland Marina, 101 Tolstoy Ln, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Flagler-Style Accommodations
There are many places to stay in Flagler County depending on your taste and preference.
Si Como No Inn
For nostalgic charm, also consider Si Como No Inn, a colorful updated motel in Flagler Beach offering direct beach access.
Si Como No Inn Address: 2480 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
How about an Atlantic sunrise? Consider beach camping at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area.
You can enjoy surf fishing, swimming, sunbathing, and endless beachcombing.
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area Address: 3100 S Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
Palm Coast Hammock Beach Resort
For luxury accommodation,s try the Palm Coast Hammock Beach Resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
It provides full amenities including spacious waterfront rooms, on-site restaurants, pools, a water park, a spa, a fitness center, and also golf.
Palm Coast Hammock Beach Resort Address: 200 Ocean Crest Dr, Palm Coast, FL 32137
No matter what you choose to do in Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches, there is something for everyone who seeks to get away from it all.
Check out more recommendations for fun getaways:
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- 20 Best Places for Glamping in Florida in 2023
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park: A Hidden Treasure
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