Travel suggestions

Question

We will be flying into Jacksonville the first week in November & staying a week in St Augustine. We plan to explore that area for at least 3 days & then visiting areas south for the remaining 4 days. What are places within 2 hrs not to miss. Also thinking of extending a week & heading a bit north (flying out of Jacksonville). We love history, gardens, biking & kayaking. What are your favorite places to visit. We are good with 2-3 nt stays for that week.

Answer

St. Augustine is a fantastic base for exploring Northeast and Central Florida, especially if you enjoy history, gardens, biking, and kayaking. Spending 3 days in St. Augustine allows you to see the highlights, and then you have a variety of destinations within a 2-hour radius to explore further south or north.

In St. Augustine itself, must-see activities include:

Historic District walking tours, including Castillo de San Marcos and the old city gates.
Lightner Museum and Flagler College for architectural and historical beauty.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Fountain of Youth for family-friendly history and wildlife.
St. Augustine Beach for a bike ride along the shoreline or casual kayaking in nearby waterways.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and local gardens like the St. Augustine Wild Reserve for unique experiences.

For the 4 days heading south, within roughly 2 hours drive, consider these destinations:

Daytona Beach / Ormond Beach: Great for biking along the beach and riverfront, exploring the historic boardwalk, or visiting the Marine Science Center.
Daytona International Speedway & Motorsports attractions: A fun stop if you enjoy cars or racing history.
Ocala National Forest: Offers excellent kayaking and canoeing on Juniper Springs or Alexander Springs, plus hiking and scenic drives.
Blue Spring State Park: Ideal for kayaking and observing manatees (seasonal, late fall through early spring), and biking trails around the park.
New Smyrna Beach: Quaint town with beach access, kayak rentals, and bike trails.

If you extend north toward Jacksonville for a final week, consider:

Amelia Island / Fernandina Beach: Historic downtown, beach biking, kayaking in salt marshes, and lovely gardens. Two-night stays are ideal.
Jacksonville Beaches: Ponte Vedra Beach and Jacksonville Beach for biking and casual coastal exploration.
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve: Kayak or bike through this preserve to see salt marshes, historic forts, and scenic rivers.
Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: Beautiful historic gardens and art collections along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.

Overall, your itinerary could be structured as:

3 days in St. Augustine exploring historic sites, gardens, and kayaking in the Matanzas River.
4 days south visiting Daytona, Ocala National Forest, Blue Spring, and New Smyrna for biking, kayaking, and outdoor exploration.
Optional northern extension for another week: Amelia Island, Jacksonville beaches, and Timucuan Preserve with 2-3 night stays at each location.

This plan gives a mix of historic towns, outdoor adventure, and scenic beaches while keeping travel under 2 hours between destinations, perfect for a relaxed, exploratory trip.

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