Surfside Park

Vilano Beach, FL

Surfside Park in Vilano Beach is a beautiful, quiet beach located near historic St. Augustine. It’s a great place to spend the day. The park offers a nice, wide beach, fun waves and clean water. There are also restrooms, ample, free, parking, and a picnic pavilion. Surfside Park is a great beach to visit when looking for something quiet while visiting the area.

BEACH TOWN

Charming Vilano Beach is kind of a throwback in time. The town consists mostly of beach bungalows and small hotels lining A1A. The center of the town is near the fishing pier where numerous restaurants and shops line the street. There’s not much going on in Vilano but therein lies the beauty. With busy Jacksonville to the north and touristy, St. Augustine nearby, it’s nice to find this little oasis.

CLICK HERE FOR ANOTHER OASIS NEAR HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE

HURRICANE IRMA HIT HARD BUT YOU’D NEVER KNOW IT

In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the First Coast hard and, in particular, Vilano Beach. The erosion was severe and caused significant property damage. Thankfully, the town has rebuilt and aside from the shelly sand (I assume from beach renourishment), the town and beaches have bounced back beautifully.

CLEAN WATER

One of the negatives of the northern beaches around the Mayport Inlet is the darker, coffee-like, water caused by the St. John’s River. In case you didn’t know, the St. John’s is the only a few rivers in the U.S. that flows north. As a result, the beaches near its mouth tend to have darker water. To be clear, the water isn’t dirty, it’s simply darker due to the nutrient-dense, tannin’s from the river bottom. As you travel south around Ponte Vedra and then to Vilano the water becomes much clearer and, consequently, nicer looking!

PLENTY TO DO IN NEARBY ST. AUGUSTINE

It goes without saying that one of the main draws of the area is the incredibly, popular, St. Augustine. The beauty of Surfside Park is its proximity to the historic town and the numerous activities available.