Three-tenths of a mile past the right turn to the Usina Bridge to Historic Saint Augustine is one of the area’s historically significant beaches, as well as a terrific beach for skimboarding and other watersports. Virtually all of the beaches along the A1A Coastal Byway are sought out by the surfer community for their consistent waves and beautiful views. Vilano Beach lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Tolomato River. The beach is also the home of the annual late-summer Run Drop Slide Pro/Am Skimboard competition.
When Henry Flagler brought northern tourists on his trains to the two luxury hotels in St. Augustine, The Ponce de Leon, and The Alcazar, Vilano Beach was their oceanfront playground. Ferries brought a guest over the Tolomato River to Vilano, connecting to horse-drawn trolleys that delivered the wealthy visitors to the beach. This was one of the centerpieces of Flagler’s tourism lures to Florida.
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Visitor Tip
16.7 miles heading south on the byway.
19.1 miles – South Ponte Vedra Park North beach parking/walkover
___ miles – Mid-Beach Parking and Walkover
22.7 miles – Lower beach access, bathrooms, playground on west side
____miles – Usina Boat Ramp Park
____miles – Boating Club Road Boat Ramp
____miles – North Beach Park
Points Of Interest
- Ponte Vedra Beach
- Bird Island Park
- Mickler’s Landing
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas
- Guana Tolomato Matanzas Environmental Ed Center
- Nease Beachfront Park
- Vilano Beach
- Colonial St. Augustine
- St. Augustine
- The Flagler Factor
- America’s Tourism Capital 1890-1930
- Anastasia Island
- Fort Matanzas – National Monument
- Marineland and UF Whitney Lab
- Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
- Malacompra Plantation Archaeological Site
- Betty Steflik Memorial Reserve
- Flagler Beach Pier
- Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park