3 Best Sights in Northeast Coast, Florida

Though it's officially a Jacksonville city park, this popular spot on the northern side of the St. Johns River is often grouped with Amelia's beaches. It's one of a handful of beaches on which you can drive; no special permit is required; however, four-wheel-drive vehicles are highly recommended. Families with lots of beach equipment like the option of parking close to the water, but it takes vigilance to avoid soft sand and incoming tides. The ocean side offers good surfing, bodyboarding, and surf fishing. On the northwestern side is a shallow, sheltered lagoon that's a favorite with windsurfers, paddleboarders, and parents of small children. The southeastern side offers views of the aircraft carriers and destroyers at Mayport Naval Station. Rough campsites are available. The park is also an important stop for migrating birds, so at certain times of the year, some areas are closed to vehicles. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); showers; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; windsurfing.

Built in 1792 by Zephaniah Kingsley, a landowner who produced Sea Island cotton, citrus, sugarcane, and corn with the aid of about 60 slaves, this is the oldest remaining cotton plantation in the state. Take a self-guided tour of a barn and 23 tabby (a concretelike mixture of sand and crushed shells) slave houses to learn about the lives of the people who labored here. Weekend open-house hours are available, yet limited from 10 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm to protect the structure.

These parks, including Big and Little Talbot islands, have 17 miles of gorgeous beaches, sand dunes, and golden marshes that hum with migratory birds and native waterfowl. Come to picnic, fish, swim, snorkel, or camp. Little Talbot Island, one of the state's few undeveloped barrier islands, has river otters, marsh rabbits, raccoons, alligators, and gopher tortoises. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, and the north area is considered the best surfing spot in northeast Florida. A 4-mile nature trail winds across Little Talbot, and there are several smaller trails on Big Talbot.